 A few years ago, my friend visited the Hot Air Balloon Festival in New Jersey at the Solberg Airport. If you read my last blog, then you know NYers will cross a bridge or drive through a tunnel for a little fun--NJ is literally right next door. Anyway, she vlogged her trip and I made a mental note to visit the festival next year. Well, next year came around (2019) and I missed it. Then, I said I was surely going to make it “next year”. That didn’t happen because the world was on a pandemic pause in 2020. It’s finally 2021--I know, it’s been years! But better late than never.  Last weekend, the children and I left home for another adventure heading to Readington, NJ. The children were beyond excited when they found out we were going to a hot air balloon festival. The first question was, “Are we going to ride in a hot air balloon?” and, sadly, I had to break the bad news that we were not going to ride in the balloons.  When we arrived at the festival, I immediately realized that the festival offered a little more than hot air balloons. I was aware about the stage for performers because Laurie Berkner, a children’s musician, was scheduled to perform. My son no longer had an interest in the balloons because he spotted a bouncy house and it was over from there. I lost track of how many times I had to reassure him we would visit the bouncy house, but he would have to wait until AFTER the balloon ascension. If you have children then you know telling young children to wait a few minutes is like waiting an eternity. The balloons were finally ready to go and it was such a cool experience to see so many hot air balloons taking off into the air. My daughter couldn’t get enough of it and she patiently waited for the unicorn hot air balloon to rise. The balloon show lasted about 20 minutes. What do you think was happening with my son? He was still asking about the bouncy house *sheesh*. Next up, the coveted bouncy house. It cheered him up and that was the highlight of his night. When they were done with the bouncy house, I was ready to head home, but then I realized in the distance there was much more going on than bouncy houses. It was a legit festival (you may use the word carnival). We walked about 5 minutes to go further in and there were food trucks and rides. That was a game changer for the kiddos.  We stayed and they had the time of their lives on the rides. My daughter was so brave! She went on rides that I would not have gone on. I am not not that adventurous. I am the official bag holder when I visit amusement parks. *big laugh* The festival ended with a firework show. Overall, the weather was great and my children had a great time at the hot air balloon festival. Mission accomplished. We will be returning next year. Have you ever experienced a hot air balloon ride? Let me know.
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This year, I saw a lot of my friends posting pictures about strawberry picking and I wanted to get in on the fun because I love all things outdoors, and I knew my children would enjoy it, especially my son who loves strawberries. Unfortunately, by the time I made my phone calls to go strawberry picking, I missed the season. Bummer! There's always next year now that I know the official start and end of the season.  I did, however, find out that blueberries are in season in the month of July. I quickly put it on my calendar and loaded the kiddos up on a hot Saturday morning. When we arrived at Snyder's Farm, located in New Jersey, it was HOT! Living in NYC would requires a little driving, sometimes over a bridge or through a tunnel if you want to do any kind of fruit picking (apple, strawberry, blueberry, etc). In my opinion, there aren’t many places in NYC. If you do find a place, it usually far out on Long Island or heading upstate. I’ve driven all the way upstate to take my children apple picking, but it wasn’t a day trip. We visited when we had a 3 day weekend from school. I’ve also visited farms in NJ in the past, which is more convenient because it’s a day trip and I‘ll be home within an hour or two depending on how far I wanted to drive. There are so many options in NJ, so a day trip is worth it.  When we arrived at Snyder's Farm, the children were excited to pick blueberries, that is until my son saw a bug. It was over from there. He doesn't like anything bug-ish. Then, he started complaining about the heat and how tired his legs were. In a matter of fact tone, I told him we were not going home. If you have multiple children, then you can probably relate. One child is adventurous and the other is against all things outdoors. Fortunately for me, my son will do most outdoor activities just as long as you keep all the bugs away.  The farm was very lowkey and didn't have many people there which works out for Covid-19 guidelines. I imagine it will get very busy in the fall during apple picking season. We spent about 30 minutes picking blueberries and the cost was very cheap--just under $4.  Of course we didn't go home after that because a nice lady by the name of Janet who conveniently recommended the ice cream aloud. There's no way I'd be able to have a quiet car ride home without the mentioned ice cream--thanks, Janet. Hahaha. We found a shady area to cool off and eat strawberry ice cream. I typically don't like strawberry ice cream, but Snyder's wasn't bad at all.  Before leaving, we spent time taking pictures, because let's face it, who could resist taking photos on this oversized chair?  Just when I thought we were leaving, my daughter wanted to pick flowers. You can bring your own shears or rent a pair. She opted for 6 Zinnias and they looked beautiful on on dining table.
Overall, we had a great time at Snyder's Farm and we will return for their Fall Harvest. It will be a sort of do-over for my son who wanted a tractor ride sooo bad, but it wasn't available. I have to redeem my cool mom points. Stay tuned for that blog post.
 Have you ever visited a museum with your children and spend a lot time telling them, “Don't’ touch that!” “Be careful”. If you’re a parent, then you know exactly what I am talking about because no one wants to be responsible for broken exhibit pieces. But when you visit places that are geared towards children and their little touchy hands, then it eases the stress away. I love taking my children to places where they are able to TOUCH EVERYTHING! We recently visited the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ and I must say, they had a blast.  So, let me give you the details. If you live in NYC/NJ, I would highly recommend paying a visit to the Liberty Science Center (LSC). Living in NYC would require crossing a bridge or driving through a tunnel depending on your location and a pricey toll---NYC has really high tolls *eyes roll*.  When we arrived at LSC, the kiddos were excited about the car displayed right outside of the center. They had a thousand questions about it and wanted a similar family car.- HAHAHA.  Once inside, they were ready to run. The entrance has a nice faux grass step and repeat with a dinosaur for photos. Of course, we snapped a few---okay, I lied---I took A LOT of pictures before moving on. 😆
Liberty Science has 4 floors of interactive exhibits. Here are some of the exhibits that we visited: Hoberman Sphere is what you’ll see before right before the staircase. It is a large metal ball that expands. Watch the short video clip below. Hot Wheels- Every child received a hot wheel car before entering the room to use on the many ramps in the room. There was even a mock racetrack to change tires and fuel up with all the sound effects.
Infinity Climber is a suspended climbing gym. My daughter was very excited about exploring this. Making Mammoths- be sure to stop here. My son loved the giant wooly mammoth replica.  Block Party- a room filled with large blocks for little engineers. My son made a river with his set of blocks.
Pixel Art- a large display with color wheels that you can turn to change the colors.  Communication- This exhibit explains how we express ourselves and the origin of language. It explains ways to communicate such as Braille and using a speaking valve. Very informative exhibit about language, hearing, and seeing.
Dinosaurs- True or False. Each door had a statement and you had to open to find out if the statement is true or false.
So, there you have it. That’s our visit after 4 hours of exploration. There was so much to explore and some of it didn't even make it to this blog. It was well worth the ticket price because the children had an amazing time in all exhibits. I think it is a great place for children ages 4-12. If you're ever in the NYC/NJ region, carve out time to visit Liberty Science Center.
Mothers...what would we do without them? We go to our moms for everything! With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I’ve compiled a list of crafts that are simply adorable and would make the perfect gift for mom. I’ll admit, some require a little adult assistance, but they are so cute that I couldn’t resist sharing them here. Let’s start with four that were created by my children with a little assistance from me.
 3 Reasons I Love Mom... I asked my 4 year old son to tell me 3 reasons why he loves me. And, as you can see, it's all about the snacks! Hahaha. I wrote his sentences on a separate paper and then he copied them onto his paper and then traced it with a marker. Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse Flower Pot A dive in the recycle bin will get you a metal flower pot. All you will need is a empty can, a rubber band placed over the can, and craft sticks that you will insert under the rubber band. Then, use a piece of cardstock or ribbon to cover the rubber band. You can also swap the plain sticks for colored sticks. The flower pot can also be a pen holder!
These Cupcake Liner Flowers are adorable and easy to make.       Disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
 Children love exploring outside! Some are into finding bugs, some are into collecting rocks, and some would rather run around. Whatever the preference, get them outside.  Outdoor exploration during the spring season is so much fun! I took my children outside for a Spring Scavenger Hunt and it was quite fun. It can be used for children as young as toddlers up to second grade. All you need is a clipboard, a marker, the scavenger worksheet and you’re ready to go hunting around your neighborhood.  All you need is a clipboard, a marker, the scavenger worksheet and you’re ready to go hunting around your neighborhood. If you want to reuse the worksheet, you can laminate it and use a dry marker. Want to give the kiddos a challenge? Set a timer and see who finishes first. My children are super competitive so this added another layer of fun for them.  If you're up for a hunt, get your FREE copy HERE. If you love the outdoors, check out these blog posts:
Spring Time Planting for Kids Earth Day Recycled Bird Feeders for Kids My Little Paleontologists Easy Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars for Kids Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! How do you help to save planet Earth? In my home, we do all three of the R’s. Boxes are very special to my children. We usually save boxes, cartons, and toilet paper rolls for arts and crafts. We have used those materials to make airplanes, binoculars, cars, houses, alphabet board game, and whatever else their imagination has conjured up. We recently recycled toilet paper rolls and a juice carton to make bird feeders to welcome all the chirping birds for Spring. Here is what you will need:
Pinecone and Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeders: Apply a thick layer of peanut butter to the pinecone and toilet paper roll. Then, roll it into the bird seeds. Let it sit overnight to dry a little. Then you can add your yarn or pipe cleaners to hang it on a tree. You can even slip the toilet paper roll right onto a branch without the yarn.
 Juice Carton Bird Feeder You can do this two ways: paint or glue construction paper to change the carton’s color. I would recommend using good quality paint otherwise it will peel right off. I used moss mats with an adhesive back to cover the carton. I really like the way it came out because it blends right into the environment.
 And this cutie decided to have a snack before we could decide where to hang the bird feeders.  What are your plans for Earth Day? You may like these posts: DIY 4th of July Confetti Poppers What To Do With A Box? DIY Uppercase and Lowercase Letter Match Turn Your Toilet Paper Rolls Into Fine Motor Activities Disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Spring is here and that means two things: warmer weather is coming and plants growing back. Spring time is such fun for preschoolers especially as they learn about the life cycle of a plant. Life Cycle of a Plant As new life starts to bud, children will have questions about the changes in their environment. And I encourage you to welcome their questions and explore with them. Provide hands-on activities to make the learning concrete and fun. When I started teaching my children about the life cycle of a plant, I used a large chart to provide a visual as I explained the parts of a plant in addition to several books to support their learning. Then, I gave my youngest simple vocabulary cards to label the plant.  To take it a step further, we discussed foods that we eat from different parts of a plant. Then, I provided pictures of food from different parts of a plant for my son and asked him to put each one on the chart.
Here are a list of books that I used for spring learning: Planting After learning about plants, it’s only right to plant something...anything! My children were very excited to plant seeds and journal it. We spoke about the foods we eat with seeds and my daughter suggested saving the seeds from a red bell pepper rather than buying seeds. And we purchased lettuce seeds for my son.
I promise your children will love documenting any change in their plants. Encourage your little ones to draw and label their pictures. If your child is a little older (kindergarten through second grade) I’d ask for a little more than labeling. Aim for sentences only if they are capable.
I'd love to knw how your planting goes with your little ones. Happy Planting! You may like this spring time blog post: From Caterpillar to Butterfly Disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Spring has sprung! And that means outside is going to be a tad bit louder in the mornings now that birds are out chirping. My children are always admiring the birds from our balcony so we decided to go bird watching. And what does every good bird watcher need? Binoculars!  It was time to craft. In my home, we keep everything! I mean, everything can be turned into a craft project the way I see it. I have a box of recycled materials from toilet paper rolls to plastic fruit containers that I save. You never know what you’ll need for a craft, honey! For this craft you will need:
Anyway, the kids grabbed the toilet paper rolls, yarn, scissors, markers, and foam shapes to decorate their binoculars. Once they were satisfied with their design, I stapled the two rolls together at the top and bottom. Then, I punched a whole on each side. Put yarn through, gave it a triple tie and we were ready to look for birds. If you do not have a stapler, you can put a generous amount of glue along the outside and put the two rolls together. It will take a few hours to dry. I recommend leaving it overnight. Your other option is to use tape, maybe a pretty colored one to wrap around the two rolls.  The kids were so excited to head out with their new inexpensive binoculars to become professional bird watchers, hahaha.  Disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Valentine's Day is almost here. I don't know about your kids, but my children LOVE arts and crafts. They get so excited when I tell them there is an activity planned for the day. So imagine their excitement when I announced we were crafting for Valentine's Day. The crafts are simple and doesn't require a lot of materials. You can find everything at your local Dollar Tree store. Tissue Paper Heart Wreath  I used an old cereal box to cut out a heart shape. The kids and I took turns adding different colors of tissue paper in no particular order onto the heart. Add a pretty ribbon and hang it on your door or wall. Valentine's Day Cards  The heart stickers are from Dollar Tree. The material is felt.  Cut hearts in different sizes and colors. My 6 year old designed each in a pattern of her choice. After designing the heart patterns, glue the hearts to make a bouquet. Draw the flower stems and then write a lovely note inside.  A sensory activity for young explorers. Dip a thumb or index finger in paint gently place it onto the cardstock and add googly eyes. Then, my 4 year old wrote the words. If your preschooler is able to write, let them do it. Preschoolers need as many opportunities to practice holding writing tools and forming letters. Craft Stick Puzzle
Paint your sticks with the base color and allow it to dry. Then, paint a heart over the dried paint in a color of your choice. Allow to dry. You can even go in with another layer of paint to write 'I Love You'. I wrote numbers on the back of each stick so my four year old knew how to put the puzzle back together. Craft Stick Picture Frame  A simple note in the middle or a picture will do.
Before you throw out those boxes from all the holiday festivities, you might want to consider how you and the kids can use your imagination to transform the boxes. Children have a fascination with boxes, so it's only right to use them in a creative way.
Ask your kiddos to tell you what they’d like to build with a box. The possibilities are endless. Let them create a plan, like a blueprint. My children and I read What To Do With A Box. After reading the book, I asked them to think of a few things they'd like to build. The list was pretty long, but we were able to narrow it down to one design. An airplane.   We used the box from our bookshelf which was the perfect length, a few pieces from an Amazon box, a fruit container, paper, crayons, and tape. 
And there you have it...South America Airlines. My 4 year old has a fascination with continents and he went with the continent of my birth.
This craft idea is great for dexterity as children color, write, and cut. It's great for social skills and problem solving. So, the next time you receive a package, don't throw out the box. Give it to the kids and let them create something amazing.
Passengers, buckle your seat belts and prepare for take off!!!
Disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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Akwaaba!Hi, I am Odessa. I'm a mom of two wonderful children and a teacher. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Science in Childhood Education with over 10 years of PreK and Kindergarten experience. I am a lover of all things literacy for children and their curiosity of the world. Get comfy and click around my site. I hope you find something you'll like, and something your kids will love! P.S. Akwaaba means 'welcome' :) Join our email list to receive newsletter updates and these FREE pattern cards.
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