June 2011

Science play to do with kids

by kath_red on June 10, 2011

in Kids Crafts

Home all summer long? Long days with kids seem too much? You need to get imaginative experimental.

Kids bored, are you bored .. maybe you are in need of some creative experimentation? Get cooking in the kitchen, make some mud then make some soap! … Go on do it! Here are a few experimental science and kitchen based activities you can do with your kids.

Kids of all ages can get involved at some level with these activities – don’t worry about mess – put on your play clothes and let the creativity loose. Give them a little bit of freedom to explore, give them room to stretch their imaginations and see where their creativity takes them!

  1. Watch this video (above) its a fun music video for kids, “Science is Real” by They Might be Giants [via Treehugger]
  2. Make some cool treats
  3. Cook with the kids.
  4. Make tossed icecream.
  5. Make pesto.
  6. Make some soap.
  7. Recycle crayons.
  8. Make bath puffy paint.
  9. Bake some cookies.
  10. Experiments with soap.
  11. Colourful kitchen science.
  12. Mystery messages.
  13. Make chalkboard paint.
  14. Read my 10 favourite things for kids to do.
  15. Make natural homemade playdough - More playdough.
  16. Building Structures into Geodesic Shapes (then eat them!)
  17. Create a sand and water table.
  18. Discover aerodynamics.
  19. Make slime.
  20. Get more experiments and kid activities in my Action Pack.

 

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For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website

Family Friendly Books {Day 4 Giveaway}

by kath_red on June 9, 2011

in Reviews

I am very excited to bring you a week of special giveaways and reviews of books that are perfect for parents and kids wanting to get active, healthy and creative. Thank you to these special publishers who have donated books for the giveaways: Chronicle Books, Klutz, Shambhala Publications and Lark Crafts.

Each day over the next week I will showcasing some very cool books, activities, tutorials and products that will enhance your family’s creativity time, give you some new ideas and ways to get creative, explore the outdoors, learn about science and cooking – all with a family friendly twist.

All in celebration of Issue 4 of the Action Pack: a Mega-mag for kids who want do stuff – available now in our shop. You can also sign up for our newsletter, grab some freebies, and purchase past issues that never go out of date – all at our new website.

There is one copy of each of these books to give away – so four lucky whipup.net readers have a chance to get one of these books. To win a copy of one of these books please leave a comment below telling us a little about your kiddos favourite [non-screen] thing to do.

Each day’s competition will be open for 48 hours. And the winner will be contacted via email.

Winners will be contacted via email.

Today’s giveaways are:

Klutz: A Book of Lanyard & Lacing and Scoubidou Kit.

My daughter loves Klutz kits. It is so fun to open up the book/kit/package and find everything there that you need to get started making straight away. No need for a trip to the craft store – no need to wait till the weekend – it’s all ready to get started. Good clear diagrams and photos along with all the materials – it’s just a matter of finding the right kit for you. This Klutz Scoubidou kit comes with enough bright and glittery scoubidou lace (and extra beads and clips) to make every project in the book (key chains, jewellery etc). If you haven’t come across Scoubis before – and have no idea what this is then you are in for a treat – Scoubidou (Scoobie or Lanyard) is a plaiting and knotting craft, aimed at children – it is lots of fun and very colourful.

Fantastic Recycled Plastic: 30 Clever Creations to Spark Your Imagination. By David and Robin Edgar. Lark Books (November 3, 2009).

This is such an original and interesting book by a couple of artists (who have a plastiquarium website and sell their fish plastic artworks on etsy) who use post-consumer goods to create their art. The projects in this book will inspire you to recycle, learn more about plastic, and make some cool things. Make insects, cars, fish, jewellery and more – all from recycled plastic – collect those detergent bottles and yogurt containers and get making!

Every Day’s a Holiday: Year-Round Crafting with Kids. By Heidi Kenney. Chronicle Books (September 8, 2010).

You will know Heidi as the super talented author/maker from My Paper Crane. I have been a fan of Heidi’s for-like-ever! Her work is fabulously fun and silly and appeals to all ages. And now she has written a super festive book of children’s crafts. The book has a range of projects – from simple projects kids can make themselves – to more complex project for adults to make for the kids (I love this kids project - fun invitations to make) peak inside here.

It’s a Jungle Out There!: 52 Nature Adventures for City Kids. By Jennifer Ward. Trumpeter (June 14, 2011).

Jennifer really believes in the ability of nature to help our children learn, develop and grow. And nature is there for the taking – its free – just go outside and experience what it has to offer – open up the naturally curious minds of children to the wonders and joy of life. In this latest book Jennifer offers 52 nature-focused explorations, adventures, observations, and games that can help you and your child connect to nature while living in the city. I simply love Jennifer’s chapter headings – not your usual seasons – Activities for ‘fair and inviting weather’, for ‘balmy days’, ‘for crisp days with a sense of seasonal shift’, for ‘brisk, bright or billowy days’ and activities to ‘experience the outdoors when the weather prevents going out and about’. From exploring the lives of snails and worms, to observing pigeons, making a ‘leaf-a-licious’ mobile and and creating pocket gardens. This book is aimed at the little ones – but there is something here for everyone.

Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links.

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Creative indoor things to do with your kids

by kath_red on June 9, 2011

in Kids Crafts

Home all summer long? Long days with kids seem too much? You need to stay indoors and get some creative play happening.

Don’t feel like heading outdoors? is it raining and windy – or is everyone just in need of some quiet creative time? Read a book aloud, create some family drawing time, bake a cake together… Go on do it! Here are a few more indoor things to do with your kids. Kids of all ages can get involved at some level with these activities – don’t worry about mess – put on your play clothes and let the creativity loose. Give them a little bit of freedom to explore, give them room to stretch their imaginations and see where their creativity takes them!

  1. Explore paint in different ways.
  2. Play pass the drawings.
  3. Make a toddler friendly craft corner.
  4. The artful parent has a list of 10 afterschool activities – for when you are stuck in a rut.
  5. Tip Junkie has a bunch of boredom busting activities.
  6. Article on how to encourage creativity in your child.
  7. Make some yarn dolls.
  8. Make some cardboard sculptures – more here.
  9. Make a music stick.
  10. Make an a-frame indoor tent.
  11. Hammer some nails.
  12. Make a cardboard play mat.
  13. Just get messy with stirring and mixing.
  14. Create an indoor treehouse.
  15. Find lots of craft projects at the skip to my lou kids craft camp series.
  16. Made by Joel has five crafts for father’s day.
  17. Make some story stones.
  18. Make a duct tape drum.
  19. Explore more in the Action Pack and download this nature journal project.

{ 7 comments }

For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website

Family Friendly Books {Day 3 giveaway}

by kath_red on June 8, 2011

in Reviews

I am very excited to bring you a week of special giveaways and reviews of books that are perfect for parents and kids wanting to get active, healthy and creative. Thank you to these special publishers who have donated books for the giveaways: Chronicle Books, Klutz, Shambhala Publications and Lark Crafts.

Each day over the next week I will showcasing some very cool books, activities, tutorials and products that will enhance your family’s creativity time, give you some new ideas and ways to get creative, explore the outdoors, learn about science and cooking – all with a family friendly twist.

All in celebration of Issue 4 of the Action Pack: a Mega-mag for kids who want do stuff – available now in our shop. You can also sign up for our newsletter, grab some freebies, and purchase past issues that never go out of date – all at our new website.


There is one copy of each of these books to give away – so four lucky whipup.net readers have a chance to get one of these books. To win a copy of one of these books please leave a comment below telling us your favourite ‘messy’ weekend family activity.

Each day’s competition will be open for 48 hours. And the winner will be contacted via email.

Winners will be contacted via email.

Today’s giveaways are:

Stupid Sock Creatures Book & Kit. Lark Books (October 28, 2006).

All you need to make one of these stupid, wacky, crazy and irresistibly fun sock creatures is inside this kit. The best thing about these monsters are 1. They are made from socks (perfect for using up lost and lonely socks) and 2. the patterns are super easy with no measuring needed (perfect for kids), 3. the instructions are easy to follow with lots of tips and tricks and 4. the end result is some very cute and silly and ‘stupid’ characters!

A while back I reviewed John Murphy’s second book “Closet Monsters”, where he makes monsters from recycled clothing – fun book too!

Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids. By Todd Davis. Chronicle Books (April 28, 2010).

This book is for dads – backyard DIY projects that handy and not so handy dads can make (mostly for but sometimes) with their kids. The projects range from super easy 1-hour projects like a paper plane to more adventurous day projects – like a rocket – to some trickier weekend (or 2 or 3) projects – like a treehouse – and lots in between. Really the projects are about men rediscovering their creativity, their shed and their tools and getting into fatherhood – enjoying their children – and having a darn good time!

Good Growing Kit. Klutz.

This seed growing kit will get your kids started on a lifelong journey of loving the garden. This kit includes a how-to book, garden seeds and a super sprouting tray for year round gardening. Like all Klutz kits this one is well written, laid out and explained in kid friendly language and with clear diagrams – plus the super fun bonus of all the materials you need to get started!

I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature. By Jennifer Ward. Trumpeter (May 13, 2008).

An activity guide, (with 52 ideas for kids ages 3-8 – an idea for each week of the year) to explore nature. From puddles, leaves, cold air and warm rain, clover and bird song and wiggly worms –  the projects are very open ended, with explanations where required. This is not a project based book – more of a gentle guiding hand to help both parents and children discover what is good about getting outside – in all seasons.

Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links.

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Free things to do with kids in your own backyard

by kath_red on June 8, 2011

in Kids Crafts

Home all summer long? Long days with kids seem too much? You need to outside get some backyard activities happening.

I am a big believer in getting outdoors in all weather – rain, wind or sunshine. If you have a backyard or a park or have access to an oval or woods then the easiest thing in the world to do is go and kick a ball with the kids, or go for a nature walk. Go on do it! Here are a few more outdoor things to do with your kids. Kids of all ages can get involved at some level with these activities – don’t worry about dirt – get them to wear their play clothes and let them get dirty. Let them explore, let them loose outside to find bugs, make mud puddles, play chase or kick a ball. Give them a little bit of freedom to explore, give them room to stretch their imaginations and see where their creativity takes them!

  1. Let your children explore – read this essay at the magic onions – lots of thoughtful questions.
  2. Lets explore has downloadable lists of free activities and ideas if you are stuck in a rut.
  3. When the kids are bored – use this neat idea from Brassy Apple to kick start some creativity. [and thanks Brassy Apple for the link below]
  4. Digital reflections has 100 free things to do with your kids this summer .
  5. New urban habitat has a few free activities for your toddlers.
  6. Blissfully domestic has a list of earth friendly projects you can do as a family.
  7. Grass stained guru has a list of 10 activities that all kids should get to do.
  8. Some tips from Nicole of planning with kids how to organise your family and kids to keep stress at bay!
  9. Try these 5 educational activities you can do in your own backyard.
  10. Join the playtime community at let the children play.
  11. Make eggshell planters
  12. Go fishing with your kids!
  13. The Crafty Crow has a list of gardening projects you can do with kids.
  14. Learn about worms.
  15. 15 ways to grow closer as a family.
  16. Gardening for kids.
  17. Go camping in your own backyard.
  18. More ideas for family fun in the backyard.
  19. More activities in the Action Pack. Free download on how to make a fish trap.

{ 3 comments }

For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website

Action Pack: Issue 4 {June + July 2011} The Great Outdoors Mega Issue

by kath_red on June 7, 2011

in Action Pack, Kids Crafts

Issue 4 (June + July 2011) of Action Pack: A MEGA-Mag for kids (aged 7+) just keeps getting bigger and better. The Great Outdoors edition is 60 pages (that’s double the size of the regular Action Packs) full of colourful activities, recipes, games and tutorials for outdoor fun.

Action Pack: A MEGA-mag for kids who want to do stuff is available in an easy downloadable PDF format, priced at only $6, and with no advertising.

In this pack you will find:

- Campfire cooking recipes, Weather science experiments and Outdoor art projects.

- This Action Pack also has a super great section on Boredom busting games for car trips and rainy days. And we know there are plenty of those at holiday time.

- This Action Pack has a lovely big section on crafts: Including detailed instructions on how to make a must-have utility belt and bag , flower press and nature journal to take along on your nature excursions with you, and nature jewels and a woven fly swat that you can make while camping or hiking, from materials you can find along the way.

- This Action Pack also has a whole section on adventure and survival. Including how to make your own fish trap, fishing rod, how to safely light a campfire and detailed illustrations on how to tie seven different knots that just might save your life!

This Issue of the Action Pack comes with a safety warning – some projects require the use of fire and sharp knives – some adult supervision may be required.

Our philosophy:

- We see kids as competent, creative and capable people. We believe that our kids are resourceful and clever and we try to enable them to develop their independence and creative minds within a secure and nurturing environment.
- We see learning opportunities everywhere. Learning should and can be fun. But we also know that parents are busy and cannot realistically be spending all weekend ‘playing’ with their kids. We want kids to get off the couch, away from the computer and learn the value and fun in making and doing stuff.

Find out more about the magazine here. Available now in our shop.

Instructions: After you have purchased the Action Pack you will receive an email with the link to where you can download the pdf. Save it onto your computer and then print out. It is a full colour 60 page document – but you print the pages you need as you need them. For optimum quality choose ‘best quality’ when printing, especially for the pages with illustrations. However feel free to print it out in black and white too.

Contact for more information: Action-pack[@]whipup.net

{ 1 comment }

For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website

Family Friendly Books {Day 2 Giveaway}

by kath_red on June 7, 2011

in Reviews

I am very excited to bring you a week of special giveaways and reviews of books that are perfect for parents and kids wanting to get active, healthy and creative. Thank you to these special publishers who have donated books for the giveaways: Chronicle Books, Klutz, Shambhala Publications and Lark Crafts.

Each day over the next week I will showcasing some very cool books, activities, tutorials and products that will enhance your families creativity time, give you some new ideas and ways to get creative, explore the outdoors, learn about science and cooking – all with a family friendly twist.

All in celebration of Issue 4 of the Action Pack: a Mega-mag for kids who want do stuff – available now in our shop. You can also sign up for our newsletter, grab some freebies, and purchase past issues that never go out of date – all at our new website.

There is one copy of each of these books to give away – so four lucky whipup.net readers have a chance to get one of these books. To win a copy of one of these books please leave a comment below telling us your favourite ‘quiet’ activity to do with your kids. Each day’s competition will be open for 48 hours.

Each day’s competition will be open for 48 hours. And the winner will be contacted via email.

Winners will be contacted via email.

Today’s giveaways are:

Rip the Page!: Adventures in Creative Writing. By Karen Benke. Published by Shambhala (Trumpeter July 2010).

This is a glorious book that invites upcoming readers and writers to explore creative writing in interesting and different ways – with techniques like brainstorming, secret codes, lists and dreams used as inventive and inspiring prompts, plus practical exercises that encourage the reader to write in the book (you might need one of these each for your kids if you are going to write in it) and just get to it! A very creative and inspiring way to encourage kids to explore their creative writing sides.

For those with younger kids you might want to check out The Write Start: A Guide to Nurturing Writing at Every Stage, from Scribbling to Forming Letters and Writing Stories by Jennifer Hallissy and also published by Trumpeter (December 2010) (I haven’t got a copy of this one to give away sorry), but it is worth getting if you have young kids and you want to get them into writing too. Jennifer has a wonderful blog with lots of resources to help you get started.

How Things Work: In The Yard (Blue Apple Books. March 2011) By Lisa Campbell Ernst.

The inner workings of 20 things kids might encounter in their own yards (such as dirt, puddles, ants and clouds) are explained with clear and simple language and with lovely diagrams – making this book perfect for early readers (suit ages 4–8.). The beautiful paper-cut illustrations are an incredible bonus.

Big Little Felt Universe: Sew It, Stuff It, Squeeze It, Fun!. By Jeanette Lim. Published by Lark Crafts (March 2011).

This is one of my daughter’s all time favourite sewing/craft books. She loves making cute and weird things – and is not so into making practical things (that’s the mum’s job). So this book is totally right for her. Plus all the projects are made from craft felt sheets which is readily available at most craft stores and very easy to work with. All the patterns are life-size (no enlarging needed) and the projects are all hand sewn – which might seem daunting at first – but it is just basic hand stitches – but it means that the projects are accessible to those without a sewing machine. Along with cute faux apples and cakes – there are also play drills and camping equipment to make too.

Hemp Bracelets (Klutz S.). Published by Klutz.

Who doesn’t like to make bracelets – this hemp bracelet kit is perfect for older (8+ kids), and great to get non-crafty kids into making stuff. And like all Klutz kits it includes all the materials and instructions to make the projects. Great value and great fun!

Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links.

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Family Friendly Books {Day 1 Giveaway}

by kath_red on June 6, 2011

in Kids Crafts, Reviews

I am very excited to bring you a week of special giveaways and reviews of books that are perfect for parents and kids wanting to get active, healthy and creative. Thank you to these special publishers who have donated books for the giveaways: Chronicle Books, Klutz, Shambhala Publications and Lark Crafts.

Each day over the next week I will showcasing some very cool books, activities, tutorials and products that will enhance your families creativity, give you some new ideas and ways to get creative, explore the outdoors, learn about science and cooking – all with a family friendly twist.

All in celebration of the upcoming release (tomorrow) of Issue 4 of the Action Pack: a Mega-mag for kids who want do stuff. You can sign up now for our newsletter, grab some freebies, check out some sneak peeks and purchase past issues that never go out of date – all at our new website.

There is one copy of each of these books to give away – so four lucky whipup.net readers have a chance to get one of these books. To win a copy of one of these books please leave a comment below telling us what you would like to see in future Action Packs (even if you haven’t bought one yet) or if you have bought an Action Pack – what you like best about them and what could be improved. Each day’s competition will be open for 48 hours.

Each day’s competition will be open for 48 hours. And the winner will be contacted via email.

Winners will be contacted via email.

Today’s giveaways are:

Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People Who Are Helping to Protect Our Planet. By Harriet Rohmer. Published by Chronicle books (August 2009).

Showcasing 12 examples of how regular people (many of them children and teenagers) are making a difference by creating change in their communities and for their environments throughout North America (from Alaska to Mexico). As well as these inspiring stories there is also a chapter on you can get involved and make change in your local community. It has a lovely kid friendly style with beautifully done illustrations too.

The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections. By Amanda Blake Soule. Published by Shambhala (Trumpeter 2008).

I interviewed Amanda about her book back here in 2008, since then she has gone on to publish two more books the most recent of which is due to be released later this year. This is a lovely inspiring book, reminiscent of her blog, full of creative ideas and projects as well as how to live in a meaningful and authentic way with children.

Rubber Band Powered Flying Machines. Published by Klutz. (June 2010).

All you need to make three rubber band powered airplanes. Everything is included in the kit, all materials and instructions. The planes are relatively light weight and not meant for rough play - for ages 8 and up. Seriously good fun.

Kirigami Menagerie: 38 Paper Animals to Copy, Cut & Fold. By Hiroshi Hayakawa. Published by Lark (2009).

Kirigami is a bit like origami – except it includes cutting the paper as well as folding. Kirigami Menagerie is not a small child’s craft book – it is more suited to more older children (and adults) who have a good grasp on using an exacto knife. Read a little more about the author and download a free project template from the book here. You can download patterns from the book here instead of tracing or photocopying them from the book (you will need the instructions from the book to make sense of these patterns).

Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links.

 


{ Comments on this entry are closed }

For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website

Important information about your whipup.net newsletter

by kath_red on June 5, 2011

in Features, Newsletter

Each week many of you get a whipup newsletter right in your inbox – you are one of over 6000 subscribers. Wow I know – 6000… that’s awesome! But it is time for a change.

Up till now I have used the feedburner service to send out my newsletter. There is a neat way to configure your rss feeds so that you can create a weekly newsletter. It’s a free service, pretty reliable and easy to use. I have been using it successfully for a couple of years now and have been very happy with it – for what it is.

But now I need more. After some research I have decided to go with a paid service – and have chosen aWeber. There are few reasons for the change – aWeber offers a lot more than a free service – including statistics, tracking, multiple newsletters etc…

In the next couple of days those of you that already receive my newsletter will be sent an email asking you to reconfirm your subscription. The subject of that email will be “Please confirm your subscription to the Whipup.net Newsletter”. You might want to look out for it.

My new newsletter will offer heaps more functionality to me, and lots more cool things for you too. And when you subscribe – or confirm your subscription with the new service over the next few days, you will receive a thank you present from me – in the form of a free sewing pattern via pdf download. Just a little something to thank you for your time in reading whipup.net.

If you don’t already subscribe you can do so right now!

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Awesome family blogs {you should check out}

by kath_red on June 5, 2011

in Kids Crafts

After the awesome kids blog post from a few days ago, I was reminded of heaps more super cool family and kids blogs, and thanks to reader suggestions I was introduced to a heap of new-to-me blogs as well. So here are more awesome kids + family blogs you should check out!

  • Caro & Co: An Australian blog – I love what its all about “sharing information, tips and inspiration on how to engage children with nature, outdoors, food and food sources and healthy living.”
  • The Grass Stain Guru: With blog posts like “Can’t miss childhood moments” which include things like, wading in a creek and building a fort – and added to this I love the about page: “childhood was meant to be messy. Muddy. Slimy. Silly. And most of all, joyful.”
  • Natural pathways: Hannah’s blog is all about reconnecting with nature and learning bush survival skills. In the about page: “it is her wish to bring [children] closer to Nature through Nature Awareness activities and hands on experience with survival/bushcraft skills.”
  • Little green fingers: Getting kids hooked on gardening … yes please!
  • Penniless parenting: learning to be frugal and living on less.
  • Progressive pioneer: Natural parenting
  • Let the children play: Early childhood teacher and her passion for children
  • Picklebums: “An eclectic jumble of this and that.” Sounds like my kind of place! (Also an Aussie blog)
  • Little eco footprints: Another fellow Aussie blog - ”living closer to nature; having space to grow food; having a teeny little ecological footprint; and being part of a community.”
  • Tinker lab: Creative experiments for little kids
  • Kids in the studio: letting kids express themselves through art
  • Giddy Giddy: Colourful and creative with kids
  • Curly birds: The art of play
  • Mini-eco: Great kids crafts and activities
  • Paintcutpaste: Inspiring young artists
  • Quirky mama: Learning through play – lots of great ideas and projects

Images from: progressive pioneer :: mini eco :: Giddy giddy

This coming week (Tuesday) I will be launching The Great Outdoors edition of the Action Pack. To celebrate, beginning tomorrow, I will be offering five days of fantastic giveaways. A bunch of lovely publishers are offering some fabulous kid and family books to whipup.net readers. More will be revealed tomorrow – so do check back – there are lots of chances to win!

 

{ 15 comments }

For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website

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