Weekend Activities

This earth-friendly science activity will give your garden a boost!Ages: 3+Supplies:• Clay (1-2oz per seed ball)• Seeds (wildflower, sunflower, grass)• Soil (1oz per ball)• WaterProcedure:1. Form your clay into a ball, then flatten the ball like a pancake.2. Use your fingers to sprinkle water on the clay until it feels moist on both sides.3. Add soil to both sides of the clay “pancake."4. Add your seeds of choice on top of the soil on one side of the clay.5.  Roll the clay into a ball and place it in the sun to dry.When you are ready to use your seed ball, toss it into the garden where you want your seeds to grow.  It will take a while, but you should see some new sprouts soon!Extra FunWrap a dry seed ball in cellophane and tie a ribbon around it.  Make a tag explaining what kind of seed ball it is and how to use it.  Share with a friend or neighbor! ????

PART 3

If you’ve enjoyed sprouting your very own seeds and creating a visual demonstration of the photosynthesis process, it’s time to do a double take with a super cool plant cloning exercise. Here’s how:

Seeing Double!

Photo credit: https://www.clickandgrow.comDid you know that you can clone a plant without using a seed? Yup, it’s true. You can take a cutting from an existing plant, place it in water, and it will grow whatever it’s missing. For example, place a plant’s roots in water and it will grow a stem and leaves. Or place a stem and leaves and the plant with grow roots. Demonstrate this natural magic at home with your own plant cuttings!1. Cut 6” pieces from two different plants with at least four leaves each.2. Strip the leaves on the bottom third of the stem and place each stem in a separate cup of water, making sure no leaves are under water.3. Label your plants and place them in a sunny spot.4. Check on them each day, measuring them for growth, checking for new leaves, and comparing and contrasting any differences or similarities between your two cuttings.5. For add on cloning activities, check out this Nancy B Science Project Worksheet!If your kiddos enjoyed this experiment, they’re going to love Nancy B’s Science Club! This line of scientific tools and real-life journaling activities provides hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life. Science enthusiasts can choose from binoculars, a microscope, telescope, aquascope, compost kit, and more, each including a meaty journal full of activities ranging from discovery and observation to creative writing and drawing. Also, check out the Educational Insights' Discovery & Exploration page for even more curious tools and toys for little and big kids![caption id="attachment_6275" align="alignnone" width="770"] Nancy B’s Science Club® AquaScope™[/caption]

PART 2

If your little green thumb couldn’t get enough of our Let It Grow germination activity, it’s time to get ready, get set, get growing with this fun at-home photosynthesis project! Follow these simple, step-by-step instructions to visually demonstrate this incredible process:

Just Breathe!

Photo credit: sciencewithme.comPhotosynthesis is the process plants use to make their own food. This process requires just three things: carbon dioxide from the air, water, and sunlight.Plants absorb the carbon dioxide through small pores in their leaves. Special chemicals in their leaves allow them to absorb sunlight. And they use their roots to absorb water.Once a plant has absorbed sunlight, it uses that energy to split the water molecules absorbed by the roots into hydrogen and oxygen. The plant uses the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide it’s absorbed from the air to create glucose – or plant food! But what happens to the oxygen? Let’s find out!1. Pick a green leaf from a plant.2. Place it in a container of water and find out! (Psst… the graduated cylinder in the Nancy B’s Science Club® Stir-It-Up Chemistry Lab is perfect for this activity.)3. After about an hour, you’ll see lots of tiny bubbles. This is the oxygen being released from the leaf during the photosynthesis process! Use a magnifying glass for a closer look.Now that you know how plants thrive and grow, check out how they grow hydroponically with our seed germination activity. Click here for simple instructions!If your kiddos enjoyed this experiment, they’re going to love Nancy B’s Science Club! This line of scientific tools and real-life journaling activities provides hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life. Science enthusiasts can choose from binoculars, a microscope, telescope, aquascope, compost kit, and more, each including a meaty journal full of activities ranging from discovery and observation to creative writing and drawing. Also, check out the Educational Insights' Discovery & Exploration page for even more curious tools and toys for little and big kids!

PART 1

Plant the seeds of learning with a few of our favorite at-home activities designed to provide hands-on experience with scientific tools and processes! Start with this fun seed germination activity – and don’t worry, if you’re saying ‘seed what?’ we’ve got you covered!Photo credit: https://www.lovethegarden.com/What is germination?  It's the process by which an organism grows from a seed or similar structure. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed.

Root It Out!

Inside every seed is a plant just waiting to come out! Seeds can be big or small and come in all shapes and sizes, but the process of germination, or a seed developing out of dormancy, is the same. And you can do it at home!1. Wet a paper towel with water and place four or five seeds (pea or bean seeds are great!) on top.2. Wrap the towel around the seeds, place it in a sealable plastic bag, close the bag, and put it in a warm place, like on the windowsill.3. Wait a few days, then open the bag, unwrap the towel, and check your seeds. Have they germinated? You’ll know if you see the start of small roots coming out of one end of the seed. This means they’re ready to be planted!4. Dig a small hole in the dirt of your garden, drop them in, and pack the dirt around them, and be sure to water them dailyORPlace the germinated seeds in the basket of the Nancy B’s Science Club® Way to Grow Hydroponics Kit, place the baskets in the water-filled flasks, and watch through the water as your plants grow.[caption id="attachment_6211" align="alignnone" width="843"] Nancy B's Science Club® Way to Grow Hydroponics[/caption]If you enjoyed the germination process, you’re going to love our photosynthesis activity – here is a free printable with step-by-step instructions![caption id="attachment_6218" align="alignnone" width="680"] Click to Download[/caption]And if your family can’t get enough of science, they’re going to love Nancy B’s Science Club! This line of scientific tools and real-life journaling activities provides hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life. Science enthusiasts can choose from binoculars, microscope, telescope, aquascope, compost kit, and more, each including a meaty journal full of activities ranging from discovery and observation to creative writing and drawing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaYPxTcKbPQ&t=17s 

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21, so we’re sharing some our favorite ideas for fun family activities, homemade gifts, and other ways to make dad feel like the superhero he is!

1. Nom Nom Nom – Start the day off right by making some of dad’s favorite dishes! Let the kids help -toddlers can press the button on the blender and help whip up a smoothie (this one’s our fave!); preschoolers can use a butter knife to slice a banana for oatmeal topping.[caption id="attachment_6163" align="alignnone" width="517"] Food Network: Frozen Fruit Smoothies[/caption]

2. Head Out for a Ride – Gather the scooters, bikes, and trikes and make the most of the gorgeous June weather! Take a trip around the block, to the park, or along the shore. Don’t forget your helmets![caption id="" align="alignnone" width="766"] Photo credit: parentmap.com[/caption]

3. Get Your Giggle On – Let your kids take turns filling out lines on this fun, Father’s Day mad lib,  then read it to dad together. Looking for more serious feels? Have each of your kids answer these 10 questions about dad, then share their responses.

4. Play a Game – Does dad love chess? Checkers? I she a sports lover? Let him choose a game to while away the afternoon! May we suggest this rowdy word game that is guaranteed family fun: Blurt!^® Sports Game!

5. Make a Print – Pick up a canvas and some paints, take off your kids’ socks and shoes, and make some prints! Find adorable ideas for toddler hand and footprint Father’s Day art on our Father’s Day Pinterest board, like this perfect-for-handy-dads footprint painting.

6. Color Him Happy –Older kids can color their own Father’s Day greeting cards using these free, downloadable templates from EI! Choose a card featuring one of your kiddo’s favorite EI characters in full-color or choose a DIY coloring card and let them get creative. There are even cards for Grandpa!  simply click images to print or visit our website for  more cute printable cards![caption id="attachment_6171" align="alignnone" width="1440"] [/caption]

7. Give a Gift – Your Father’s Day gift doesn’t need to be extravagant. A Mason jar filled with dad’s favorite nuts and a sweet, homemade tag, a hand-painted wooden spatula for the grill, or a boxed-up batch of his very favorite, ooey-gooey fudge brownies are enough to show dad how much you care.

8. Hit the Park – Grab the balls, bats, and a frisbee and head out to the park for an afternoon of family fun in the sun. Pack a picnic and take a break in the shade when you’ve worn all your wiggles out.[caption id="attachment_6179" align="alignnone" width="748"] Photo credit: Muse Academy[/caption]

9. Shoot for the Stars – Set up a telescope, like the GeoSafari® Omega Refractor, and soak up a stellar night of starry skies, complete with s'mores! Find four easy fire-free ways to cook up these sweet treats, here.[caption id="attachment_6180" align="alignnone" width="842"] GeoSafari® Omega Refractor Telescope[/caption]

10. Snuggle – Grab the blankets and pillows, let dad pick his favorite movie, and end this special day with a whole family snuggle fest![caption id="attachment_6181" align="alignnone" width="774"] Photo credit: https://www.lifehack.org[/caption]

No matter how you choose to celebrate dad, a day filled with family will always feel special! 

[caption id="attachment_6158" align="alignnone" width="1024"] 5 Tips to Help Your Child Make New Friends - Scholastic.com[/caption]In part one of our friendship series we shared the many and compelling ways that making and playing with friends supports your child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, along with some simple things you can do at home to help your child learn to be a good friend.Now it’s time to talk about helping your child make a new friend! For some kids, making new friends is as easy to sitting down next to a small stranger in the sandbox. For others, making friends is a little bit harder. Whether your little one is outgoing or reserved, the suggestions below will help make their first forays into friendship a smashing success!1. Provide Limited Options – Having a friend over? Put your child’s special toys away, leaving just two choices out – say Playfoam® and Legos – and let the kids choose what to do. If they can’t agree, you may need to intervene with “Let’s let our guest pick first this time, and you’ll choose first next time.” (Talking about how we treat guests in our home before a friend comes over can make this solution go smoother.) Or let them each play what they want, side by side. They may choose to engage as they play or not – either way is okay![caption id="attachment_6150" align="alignnone" width="600"] Playfoam® - photo credit: @playingwithchanel[/caption]2. Keep It Short – Limit the amount of time the toddlers and preschoolers play with one activity to roughly 10 minutes. Unless they both seem really engaged, offer another set of activities to choose from, checking in on that one after another 10 minutes. And keep the play date short, too. Better to end it while the kids are having fun than to wait until someone melts down! An hour together is a good goal for toddlers and two hours is plenty of time for preschoolers.3. Serve Snacks – If the fun starts to stall or things start to get sticky, offer a snack! Snack time is a good distraction and gives the kids a chance to regroup and start fresh when they’re done. Check out our School Lunches and Snacks for Kids Pinterest boards for some super snack and awesome meal ideas! Odds are your child’s friend’s caregiver will stay while the kids play, but if not be sure to ask about any food allergies when they drop off.[caption id="attachment_6151" align="alignnone" width="486"] Photo credit: Kristine's Kitchen[/caption]4. Go Outside – The park, playground, or backyard are perfect places to play – and to burn off some of that endless kid energy! Pack buckets and shovels for sandbox time. When the kids are ready to move on from that, offer outdoor exploration tools like the GeoSafari® Jr. Kidnoculars®, Walkie Talkies, or My First Telescope.5. Stay Close – In some cases you may need to join in the fun to keep things rolling. Play a game like 1-2-3 Froggies™ or My First Game: Bears in Pairs with your kiddo and their pal or doodle along side them as they color in some of their favorite EI characters and scenes using free, downloadable EI coloring pages. Even if you don’t engage directly, stay within earshot so you can quickly intervene if the kids hit a speed bump.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="680"] Unicorn Magic, Sprinkle & Twinkle Coloring Sheet[/caption][caption id="attachment_6156" align="alignnone" width="680"] Dino-mite Crown Activity[/caption]Like anything, making friends takes a bit of practice, but with a little prep and guidance, your kiddo will find just the right friends to share in their adventures! Looking for a bit more perspective? Check out some friendship reflections from the mom of a 10-year-old, in our past blog!

[caption id="attachment_6113" align="alignnone" width="830"] Photo credit: PBS.org -  Helping Young Children Learn To Make Friends[/caption]Grandma wisdom says, “In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips.” As your toddler tootles toward preschool, they’re also headed toward the first of many childhood friendships. And although it feels like a family’s love is all a child needs, these friendships are a positive and necessary milestone in your child’s natural development. They’re the chocolate chips!Baking  delicious cookies is a fool-proof way make a special friend's day! Here's the famous DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie recipe to help! Enjoy baking time with the kiddos while teaching them the spirit of giving and sharing. They will love the warm fuzzy feeling when surprising their friends with a special homemade treat. Adding a little note with Grandma's words of wisdom will add the perfect personal touch.[caption id="attachment_6108" align="alignnone" width="1021"] The infamous DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip cookies.[/caption]Building and sustaining friendships develops a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Navigating friendships helps kids understand the concept of loyalty and teaches them about acceptance. Playtime with friends promotes patience, builds decision making skills, enhances communication and language skills, and provides an outlet for imagination, creativity, and energy. Disagreements provide practice with compromise and conflict resolution. Spending time at friends’ homes gives kids a glimpse into other lifestyles and family units, broadening their perspective. And, of course, later on, friends provide a peer group to provide support and encouragement when you are not around.Those are some pretty compelling reasons to nurture your child’s friendships. So how do you go about helping your little one make good friends? The first step is learning how to BE a good friend – and that starts at home. Here's a great kid's book that can help start the conversation. Below are some of our best tips and tricks for modeling and practicing being a good friend:• Talk and Listen – Ask your child a question and really listen to their response. Then ask more questions about what they’ve said, or restate what you heard them say, to show that you are listening and that what they have to say is important to you.• Observe – See something, say something. When you see your child exhibiting positive and friendly behaviors say something out loud! “I love that you let Grampa pick tonight’s story!” or “It was great that you and your brother found something you both wanted to play!”.• Practice – Game play is a great way to practice choosing an activity, deciding who goes first, taking turns, and winning and losing gracefully. Ask your kiddo if they’d like to play a game (you’re modeling how to invite a friend to participate in an activity). Then set out a few favorites, like The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game® or Pancake Pileup!™ Relay Game. Tell your little one that they can either choose the game or go first, but not both, then follow their lead.[caption id="attachment_6109" align="alignnone" width="680"] Photo credit: @my_sensorium[/caption][caption id="attachment_6110" align="alignnone" width="680"] Photo credit: @preferredtherapytoys[/caption]• Keep Things Light – Whether you’ve been sent down the long slide playing Chutes and Ladders or your block tower tumbles, laugh it off and try again. Teaching your child to roll with the punches and be a good sport will make them even more fun to play with.With a little practice and a lot of support, your kiddo will be ready for their first play date in no time! Be on the lookout for part two of this piece, Teaching Your Child to MAKE a Good Friend, including five of our favorite tips for hosting a successful play date.Check out this great article from Popsugar: How to Help Your Child Become a Good Friend for more helpful hints.