Keeping Playtime a Priority During the School Year

It's no secret that playing outside makes kids happier and healthier. Not only does it provide a sense of freedom and a great way to relieve stress, it also encourages healthy habits. The physical activity and challenges that outdoor play provide mean kids sleep better, eat better, and develop healthier habits. Unfortunately, outdoor play is disappearing. 70% of moms played outside when they were kids while only 31% of their kids do. CLIF Kid is dedicated to reclaiming play all year long.

Making Birthday Celebrations Special

Make your child's next birthday party even more special with these easy ideas.

Snack Hacks for Kids on the Go

Check out these snack hacks to turn wholesome snacks into portable ones for busy kids on the go.

Mickey Mouse Cupcakes: Baking with Kids

Personal Creations inspired this post about cooking with kids. I received a complimentary product but no other compensation.

Cat Cupcakes

Cupcakes decorated with cat faces are fun to eat and the perfect treat for kids to help make.

Sugared Grapes Recipe for Kids

Sugared grapes are the perfect treat for a tea party or summer afternoon snack and they're very easy to make. Plus they're made without egg whites, so they're safe for kids to eat.

2 Ingredient Edible Candy Dough

This candy dough is made from only two ingredients and is completely edible, so it's a sweet twist on regular play dough.

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

Making a gingerbread house from graham crackers and leftover holiday candy is a great way for kids to spend a winter afternoon when it's too cold to go outside.

12 Frozen Treats: Kid's Co-op

I'm so sorry for missing the Kid's Co-op last week! We were busy getting ready for my son's birthday party and it completely slipped my mind. To make it up to you, here are twelve great recipes to make frozen treats for the kids (or you!) this summer:

Bus Driver Appreciation Gift

Well, I waited until the very last minute to come up with thank you gifts for my son's bus drivers, so they had to be really easy. They were also inexpensive and quick to put together. And who doesn't like chocolate?

5 Penguin Snacks: Kid's Co-op

Welcome back to another week of the Kid's Co-op! This week I'm featuring the cutest penguin-themed snacks ever. What kid wouldn't love these?

Sledding Penguins Frozen Banana Snack

These cute little sledding penguins are a fun snack for winter. If your kids like chocolate-covered frozen bananas, they're sure to like this dressed up version too!

Hot Tamale Heart Cupcakes

If you're looking for a simple way to decorate your Valentine's Day cupcakes, these Hot Tamale toppers are easy to make.

3 Halloween Books and Activities

Blythe from Education.com is here guest posting today about 3 Halloween books and activities that are easy and fun to do with your kids. You can find more information about each activity by clicking on the image.

Frozen S'mores and Camping Books for Kids

My husband's not big on camping. In fact, I don't think he's ever gone in his entire life and he's not about to be talked into it this late in the game. My poor children had never had a camping experience until we visited my sister's family while they were camping. Of course, they loved it and one of their favorite parts was the s'mores.

He may not like camping, but my husband has a sweet tooth and he came up with the idea of making frozen s'mores at home. (The man will stop at nothing to get out of sleeping in a tent.) It was a great idea - these s'mores are made using the broiler so you can make them any time of year, but because they're frozen, they make an especially good treat for a hot summer day.

 

50 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Lorax Style

Earth Day is April 22nd. A great way to celebrate is to read a book about protecting the environment, but books like The Lorax are also great to read any day of the year. Here are 50 ideas.

Make Your Own Lorax-Inspired Pixie Sticks

I've been meaning to try making my own pixie sticks for a long time and with Earth Day coming up, it seemed like a good opportunity to make them with a Lorax theme. Of course, these would be a fun extension for The Lorax anytime.

Make Your Own Slushies: Science for Kids

On a recent trip to Target, I picked up some Slushy Magic cups that were on 70% clearance. The idea is that you freeze the ice cubes provided, add any liquid containing sugar, and put the cap on before giving the whole thing a good shake. They work fine and the kids love them. But it says right on the box that the ice cubes are made from just salt and water. It seemed so simple that I started wondering if you could make your own. I was also a little curious about how it worked.

How to Fake a Barbie Birthday Cake

Right before my daughter turned three, she was eyeing up a Barbie cake at our bakery with a pretty steep price tag.  The obvious solution was to bake one myself but I had no confidence in my ability to bake a cake that size that wouldn't turn out burnt on the outside and soupy in the middle. Instead, I made it out of Rice Krispie treats and supplied enough cupcakes so nobody would know I faked it.

12 Cat in the Hat Activities

In honor of Read Across America today, I'm going to do two things: read to my kids and share great ideas for The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess from the Virtual Book Club for Kids.