Who has some extra egg cartons in their house this week? As Easter approaches, everyone is busy dying eggs or crafting eggs with the latest designs. Now what do you do with all those extra egg cartons in the house?
Here’s a round up of fun projects to reuse egg crates. Keep the kids busy as you prep Easter dinner!
Egg carton mask in happy spring colors! Kids can wear them and run around while still on their sugar high. (source)
Help kids learn their letters with this cute Alphabet Egg Carton Game. (source)
Craft a DIY Birdfeeder with the egg crates. I love how easy this project it and when the rain wrecks it, it can compost into the ground.
An easy and fun project to celebrate A Very Hungry Caterpillar. Use the time to talk to the kids about nature and the transition of a life of a caterpillar to a butterfly. (source)
Cut out each egg holder and thread into a unique mobile. Hang them outside as the weather warms up.
What other crafty ways have you reused an egg carton?
After pouring through way too many Easter craft ideas on Pinterest, I finally landed on Tissue Paper Eggs. When you have little kids, it needs to be fun, easy and hopefully not crazy messy. There are loads of dye kits that create those sweet pastel eggs, or you can use natural kitchen ingredients, but I knew it would lead to spilled bowls of dye in my house. Tissue paper eggs are even easier because all I have to buy are white eggs.
Gather scraps of tissue paper in various colors and patterns. The pattern ones were really fun for the kids to play with on the eggs and see how they changed once they were cut into small pieces. The kids spent time cutting the paper in small pieces (less than 1″) and gathered them all together.
The eggs were hard boiled so it’s easier for the kids to work with. JJ remembers a delightful project we did last year where we gently cracked the eggs and then dyed them to create a crackle effect. All he wanted to do this time was crack the eggs. Connor took the same approach and every egg we gave him he tapped on the table. Oh well. Just eggs.
Apply the tissue paper with Mod Podge glue, or white school glue. The kids use a paintbrush so hopefully just a little glue goes on at a time.
Layer them, leave some white, let them get creative. After the first round of tissue paper eggs, the kids moved on to embellishing their eggs with Easter stickers. Still cute.
When Madison was sick this week, the first show she asked to watch was Curious George. She wanted comfort and it was really sweet that she picked her favorite childhood show. As we near the stage when all three kids in our home will be interested in tv, Curious George is the first show I introduce my littlest one too. There is just something about that monkey that has withstood the test of time.
The kids are playing with my Curious George. I got it when I was three years old and it’s one of the few stuffed animals that has made the move to a few different places in its lifetime. At bedtime, I still read some of my original CG books too, but often we read from our favorite Curious George Treasury.
I think my favorite part about watching Curious George (and all the PBS Kids shows) is the lack of commercials. The kids get to focus on the themes of the show, instead of getting distracted by commercials trying to sell them something. It a little aggravating as a parent when kids start bartering for a new pillow pet mid-way through a show.
Join us as we watch the new episodes of Curious George on PBS Kids this week. The fun starts on 3/30 with an hour long special: Curious George Swings Into Spring. Then there will be two more new episodes on 3/31 and 4/1.
Find more Curious George activities over at PBSKids.org. There’s games, printables show clips and more to enjoy with your kids.
p.s. I’m a PBS Kids VIP (Very Important Parent) Ambassador! This means I get a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the season ahead! All opinions shared are my own, or my kids.
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IMG_8003-e1427555243939.jpg16321224eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2015-03-28 11:13:482015-03-28 11:13:48For the Love of George
Who is ready to think spring?! We are big Red Sox fans in our house and have lived through the highs and lows of this great team. It’s time to get excited about the new season and I’m excited to share with you some of the family friendly initiatives the Red Sox organization is putting in place at Fenway for the 2015 season.
I’m part of a new team, the Red Sox Moms. We will be sharing with you the special events happening at the ballpark and around the city of Boston during the baseball season. If you have ever taken young kids to a ball game, you know you need more than just the game to hold their attention! This year there will lots of exciting new experiences for families to enjoy, starting from the minute they enter the park.
Gate K: The New Kids Entrance!
Enter Fenway Park through Gate K (by Gate B at Ipswich) and be welcomed with live entertainment, balloon artists, kids activities and more. Kids can get a Passports Reward book at the beginning of the season and collect stamps and prizes throughout the season. As a parent, I’m really happy to know the staff in this area is specially trained to work with kids and keep things fun!
Wally’s Clubhouse
The new Wally’s Clubhouse will be open for nearly every game from the 3rd inning on. Just as your kids start to get a little restless, you now have a safe place to bring them to stretch their less and let out a little energy. Think of toddler-friendly climbing zones, story tellers, animals shows and more. Wally will be there of course since he is often the main attraction for the little ones. Did you know you Wally has his own Facebook page now? Plus, concessions ($5 kids meal and beer for the parents) and large televisions so parents still get to enjoy the game experience. Oh, and don’t forget the air conditioning!
Did you know that you can grab diapers in any size from ALL customer service outlets in the park? No need to trek all the way to the First Aid station when you are in a pinch. They also carry sunscreen and wipes too!
Affordable Tickets
The best news about the Red Sox campaign to renew a love of baseball in kids is their commitment to offering 25,000 free tickets to the newest members of Red Sox nation. Sign up your kids (ages 14 and under) and they each get a free ticket. Make it a family event and head in together to experience America’s favorite pastime.
Plus–there will be $9 high school and college tickets available for every game. These will be for kids ages 15 and up. I love this idea, as a Boston College grad I would have loved to catch a game for that price when I was in school!
In addition to these new initiatives, there will also be special days for kids with Peanut Allergies, Autism and the Red Sox continues its partnership with the Jimmy Fund. When I recently met with the behind-the-scenes team at Fenway Park, I was impressed with the Red Sox Foundation. This is the charitable arm of the organization and they are rebuilding 10 Little League parks throughout Boston, plus sponsoring both baseball and softball teams. They are committed to enriching the community and I’m excited to learn more about how they are giving back to the people of Greater Boston.
Don’t miss out! Join in the fun this summer and claim your kid’s free tickets to a Red Sox game. If you have any suggestions or ideas on how to make Fenway even better for families, let me know and I’ll pass along the info. See you at the game!
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/redsoxmoms_circle.jpg896896eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2015-03-27 06:00:052015-03-27 06:00:05Calling All Red Sox Kids!
This story has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BringingInnovation #CollectiveBias
Creating a healthy learning environment for a child’s playroom is key. But is the space really healthy? What could you be doing to make it a greener space for everyone in the family. If you have kids like mine that are constantly in and out of their playroom, I want to make sure I am creating a healthy space for them to play and learn in.
Today I’m sharing 5 Steps to a Greener Playroom. As Earth Day approaches next month, now is a great time to start having talks with your kids about how they use their resources. Encourage them to turn the lights off in the playroom when they leave. Put the caps back on the markers so they don’t dry out. By talking about consumption we can educate our kids on living a more eco-friendly lifestyle without having to be an “ego-nag.”
Use eco-friendly toy cleaners. There are lots of choices now on the market. You can use an all-purpose spray for the majority of the playroom. I like the Babyganics Toy & Highchair Cleaner. Want to make one yourself? Take a peek at my DIY Green Cleaner Board on Pinterest for lots of easy to make cleaners using basic ingredients like vinegar, castille soap and essential oils. Also, skip the snacks in the playroom. You will avoid having to clean up sticky spills that may need stronger cleaners.
Limit the number of stuffed animals. This may seem a little harsh, but it’s not just for your health, but your sanity when it comes to clean-up time! Stuffed animals tend to harbor dust mites and allergens. Limit the number you have and remember to give them a little run through the washing machine on occasion. Our new dryer actually has a sanitizing setting and a flat tray that I can put the animals on for a little spring cleaning.
Chose Eco-Advanced Batteries. Let’s face it, kids do love their electronics. Whether it’s the batteries in the remote control or the ones for a Leap pad, as parents we go through A LOT of batteries. Energizer has come out with the new Eco-Advanced Battery and it’s the first one to use recycled batteries and materials. It’s also their longest lasting battery so you can also feel good about cutting down on your purchases too.
Choose old toys over new ones. Ask neighbors if they are ready to part with toys if they have older kids. Legos seem to last forever so they are a perfect choice to pass along to friends and family. You can also look for local consignment sales for kids, like the Parent Talk Semi-Annual Used Clothing/Toy/Gear Sale on May 2nd. (yes, shameless plug. )
Create a recycling bin for kids to use freely. I got this idea after reading this book and it’s been working great. Not only can the kids reuse the back of paper for their own projects, but I am also encouraging them to repurpose their art into new creations. The kids paint all the time and we truly don’t have room for all their masterpieces. They have helped me take their watercolor art and repurpose them into gift tags and mosaics.
Find the new Energizer Eco Advanced Battery at your local Walmart. We had some fun girl time on our shopping outing.
If you want to take a peek at more stories about living a greener lifestyle, Energizer has pulled them together here and there are tons of fun ideas for your family.
What other ways can you create a greener playroom in your home? Leave a comment and share with everyone your great idea!
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Create-a-Greener-Playroom-828x1030-1.jpg1030828eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2015-03-24 09:00:432019-02-22 03:43:515 Steps to a Greener Playroom
That dreaded day has come again in our home. The one where a little someone comes out of his room in the middle of the night to say hello. That little someone is only 21 months old and we were not ready for him to become an escape artist in the midnight hours just yet.
We have been through this before, but never at this age. Our other two kids crawled out of their cribs closer to 28 months. When it happened, we quickly made the switch to the “big girl/boy” bed. This time it’s a little more complicated and requires a room change and redecorating. This was not a project we wanted to tackle this winter.
So I started doing my research to see if I was making a mistake keeping Connor in the crib. The last thing we want is for him to get hurt, but I also don’t think he is old enough to make the move to a big bed.
Toddlers who can hoist themselves over the rail can easily fall and fracture a bone,” says Paula Elbirt, M.D., director of pediatric medical education at Brooklyn Medical Center.
Okay. So now what.
I continued reading and learned that children can start transitioning to a big bed from 18-30 months. While not at the lowest end of the spectrum, 21 months still feels too soon.
What else to do?
The other suggestions for keeping the crawling baby/toddler out of your room at night are as follows
Make them wear a sleep sack. (We love the Merino Kids brand.)
Turn the crib around if it has a high side in the back.
Watch them on a video monitor during nap time and bed time to coax them to lie down.
Take all items out of the crib, like stuffed animals or crib bumpers, that could be used as a stepping stool. Take out even the breathable bumpers too!
Connor actually climbed out of his crib in a sleep sack so that won’t work for us. He even waddles to our room wearing one.
Watching on the monitor is actually working for us. We can tell him to lie down on the intercom and he (surprisingly) listens. After a week of showing us his new climbing skills, he has taken a little break. If he starts up again, we will try to flip the crib around.
He is our one and only thumb sucker.
Has this happened in your home? What did you do when it happened?
Disclosure: Merino Kids sent us a sleep sack for review. It is easy to wear, great soft fabric and long enough for a growing toddler. Here’s a little more info about Merino Kids:
Made from luxuriously soft Woolmark-certified Superfine Merino. Expertly stitched by master tailors in India.
GOTS-certified organic combed cotton outer layer gives extra durability for years of use. Machine washable.
Naturally fire-resistant. Rated low fire risk without fireproofing chemicals.
Fits growing child safely and comfortably for up to two years. Excellent value compared to other sleep sacks that last only a few months.
Remarkable natural ability to regulate body temperature. Captures and circulates air to insulate child when the room temperature falls, and releases excess body heat and moisture as the room temperature rises. Child stays warm and dry without overheating.
Recommended by textile scientists. A 2010 scientific study concluded infants are less likely to overheat or to become damp and chilled in a Merino Kids sleep sack compared with polar fleece sleep sacks.
Meets all U.S. and international safety standards including UK BSI sleep sack safety certification. Child has freedom to move and room to grow, yet can’t slip underneath or wriggle out and wake uncovered and cold. Contoured bodice stays clear of face.
Thank you Merino Kids for sending us a sample. All opinions shared are my own. If only a sleep sack would keep him from crawling out of his crib!
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.png00eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2015-03-17 06:00:432015-03-17 06:00:43Uh oh. He's Crawling Out of His Crib. Now what?
This post is sponsored by CFK and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.
This winter has been a tough one for local charities. Bad weather in Boston has affected the amount of donations happening in our area. When I got the opportunity to partner with Champions for Kids to purchase donations for children, I choose Circle of Hope, a local Needham organization. They serve the Greater Boston Community Exchange and work with 12 different organizations, many of which help children.
Circle of Hope has had to cancel some of their deliveries this winter. When I reached out to them and asked what children need it amazed me how simple it was.
Underwear.
Yes. Something so simple as underwear is what children struggling are in need of. I took my children to a local Walmart to purchase as much underwear and healthy snacks as we could. It’s a great opportunity to teach kids about why making charitable donations is important.
SIMPLE Giving is a Champions for Kids program that provides shoppers with opportunities to donate items to children in their local communities. From February 18 to March 4, customers at more than 3,800 participating Walmart stores can purchase and donate snacks and breakfast items for children.
In addition, Champions for Kids, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Emerald and Kettle Chips will provide 13 awards, totaling $45,000, to school districts and participating youth-based organizations based on the total number of donated items collected in each store.
The kids picked out healthy snack and breakfast items, along with their favorite characters on both boys and girl’s underwear. We kept it really simple and didn’t get distracted with negotiating buying items for them too. It’s was all going to charity and so the message was clear to them.
As we come out of winter’s grip, I ask you to them about how to talk to your children about giving back to your community. No matter what time of year, there are always organizations in need. I’m so happy we were able to help Circle of Hope and fill some of their needs.
Disclosure: I partnered with The Motherhood and was compensated for my time coordinating the donations. I am very happy to be able to have this type of opportunity to give back to my community. See more stories of keeping donations in the community here #SnacksforStudents
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Champions-For-Kids-Donations-e1425505562386.jpg32642448eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2015-03-04 17:00:522019-02-22 23:13:08Making a Local Difference with Champions for Kids
Imagine a bright, tropical place where you feel welcome and relaxed, and your kids get to learn to swim there. This is the goal of the new Goldfish Swim School opening soon in Needham, MA. As a parent of three little ones, all with varying degrees of love (and fear) of the water, I am so curious to learn more about this modern approach to swim lessons. Swimming is a life skill, one needed for safety if you spend anytime around water. Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Kepic, the owner of Goldfish Swim School in Needham, and Martha Tierney, the General Manager.
Q: What’s the difference about the Goldfish approach to swim lessons?
A: First of all, we create an inviting, tropical place with a 90 degree pool for the kids to feel safe and comfortable. The entire school is welcoming and light-hearted. The main goal of our curriculum is to teach kids how to swim and get results. We focus early on with safety skills so kids are comfortable in the water and learn to stay calm.
With a focus on results, we have “perpetual lessons” where a child can swim and move up to the next level, often while staying with the same teacher. The kids get a great sense of accomplishment and there are lots of fun rewards for them. {Comment-as a parent I am most excited to hear about the consistency of teachers when it works schedule and ability-wise.}
Q: How will parents stay updated about their child’s progress?
A: Parents are invited onto the pool deck for the last 5 minutes of class. They will get a report each week about their child’s abilities. There is a small staff to student ratio so the teacher really has a good opportunity to learn how to teach your child.
Q: What age range of children will you be working with?
A: We will see babies start around 4 months, or at least when they can hold their head up. The main age range will be 4 months-10 years of age. Older children who may still be struggling to learn swimming basics are welcome, but may be more comfortable with private lessons.
Q: At what age are the parents also included in the water with the babies?
A: We have the parent join the child from ages 4 months- 24 months. If a child is brand new to swimming at 24 months, we may have them start with a parent to make sure they feel comfortable.
Q: How are the locker room facilities?
A: This is where we really stand out from the competition. Kids can come in and change in one of 12 department style changing rooms (room for mom and siblings too!), store their stuff in cubbies and head on to the pool deck. After class, there are hot showers on the pool deck and then they return to the privacy of their changing rooms. The kids will love the hair drying station too!
Q: What can we do with siblings who may be there watching lessons?
A: We have a watching area for parents and siblings. Our goal is to make this a relaxing space where parents can connect with friends and neighbors while siblings can be entertained with an activity of the week we provide, chalkboards and other reward toys connected to our Theme of the Month.
Q: My youngest does not like the water (what??). How will you handle these situations?
A: We have several methods we have trained the instructors in to work with children who may not be comfortable swimming. Kids will cry and that’s normal. The staff is prepared to go at a child’s pace and it may take 3-4 classes for the tears to go away. The perpetual lessons provides the consistency needed to let the child feel comfortable in the pool. There are lots of awards for kids to brighten the experience, even if they are only able to sit with their feet in the water the first day. Also, in addition to the small staff to student ratio, there is also additional staff on the pool deck to help if a child needs more one on one attention.
Q: Now I’m super excited to see the new Needham location. When do you think you will be opening?
A: The updated goal is early May. Construction has been tough this winter. In the mean time, parents can visit the Needham preregistration site and get their child’s information entered into our system. We will be in touch once we have a confirmed opening date for classes.
Thank you Sarah and Martha for chatting with me! I am so excited to see my kids in the pool there once the Needham site is open. Get ready for more pictures. I wish it is was open this past winter; it would have been nice to feel a taste of the tropics after all these storms!
If you are curious about pricing, you can find it here. Where is it going to be?
Disclosure: I am partnering with Goldfish Swim School Needham and I’ll be talking about them again once they open and my children participate in lessons. They are compensating me with lessons for the kids and I’m hopeful Connor gets over his fear of the water!
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/goldfish-swim-facilities-facebook.jpg206641eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2015-03-04 06:37:252015-03-04 06:37:25Welcome the Goldfish Swim School to Needham!
It’s nearly Dr. Seuss’s birthday and how about a serving of Green Eggs and Ham to celebrate! We hosted a fun Dr. Seuss party last year and shared a bunch of our party pictures, including the one for Green Eggs and Ham. Everyone has been asking for the recipe how-to. Here is the easy answer to pull off a cute dessert for the kids. You can also do this with all green for St. Patrick’s day, red and green for Christmas or red and white for Valentine’s day. Have fun baking and include your kids in this easy to make recipe. Dr. Seuss’s birthday is March 2nd and there are lots more party ideas here for home or school.
A RECIPE FOR GREEN EGGS AND HAM
A fun dessert for a Dr. Seuss party or another holiday event.
Generally you can find most ingredients in your local grocery store, plus the candy at Michaels. I have also had luck ordering the specific colors I need off of Amazon (both affiliate links, no cost to you to support this site {thanks}).
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/DSC_0020.jpg1024687eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2015-02-23 00:01:182019-02-25 18:14:01A RECIPE FOR GREEN EGGS AND HAM
The cabinet full of the plastic kid’s cups is one of my least favorite. Slowly I keep migrating them out of the main glassware cabinet to a lower kid-friendly pull out drawer. We have a wide variety of plastic sippy cups ranging from ones we got when our daughter was born, to newer samples sent to me when our third child arrived. It’s a hodgepodge of clutter and one I’m so ready to move on from.
In addition to dealing with “I want that color” issues with our plastic collection, it may be in everyone’s best health interest to switch to glass. Last year, the rumblings started about BPA-free plastic cups not really being any better than their toxic predecessors. They are still leaching chemicals that can disrupt our children’s endocrine system. Pass please.
Thankfully, there are so many great options for kids to transition to glass cups earlier than ever before. With easy to grip silicone sleeves, durable glass and small sizes, here’s a few of my favorite ones we use in our house.
Silikids Siliskin Glass Cups
These are cute and the easiest for the kids to handle. They have an easy to grip outside made with silicone that is dishwasher safe. Although silicone is a plastic, it’s considered one of the safest on the market as it’s the slowest to leech chemicals into your water, food, etc.
While these are my kids favorite ones to fight over, they are breakable if they are not careful. Our 20 month old also wants a “big kid” cup and grabbed this one off the table. When he was done swiping someone’s juice, he dropped it and it cracked inside the sleeve. Good news is that there was no mess. Bad news is that glass is still not gravity’s friend.
This cup comes in a 6 ounce size which is just right for children transitioning from sippy cups to big-kid cups. We have the Tart (orange) color but I think the Sea color is my personal favorite.
Mason Jars
We stock our glassware cabinet full of different size mason jars as drinking glasses and a quick place to grab large ones for our homemade yogurt. For the kids, we are often using the half pint size jars. I got so tired of them spilling their milk when they use the lightweight plastic cups. I can’t say the spills have magically stopped, but the sturdy mason jars have held up really well.
Duralex Glasses
One other option I have recommended to friends are the Duralex cups. I got our daughter a set when she turned three and all three pieces are still in tact three years later. No small feat considering how often they have fallen off the table or dropped into the kitchen sink. Since our first purchase, we have added the small bowls and plates to our collection. The 4.5 ounce size is great for kids transitioning from sippy cups to cover-free cups. Big enough to use long term, but small enough to fit in preschool hands comfortably.
Have your own glass cups on hand and want to give them a try? Silikids also has these fun silicone covers that can be used with a straw. This is great if you want to use what you already have. I haven’t tried them out but I love the fun colors they are available in.
What are the kids using in your house?
Note: I received Silikids cups and adorable placement to facilitate this story. All opinions shared here are my own. Amazon affiliate links are also included which means you help support this site at no cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks!
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/silikids-kids-cups.jpg20002000eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2015-02-20 09:58:462019-02-22 23:15:34What's Next After the Sippy Cup?
An easy and fun project to celebrate A Very Hungry Caterpillar. Use the time to talk to the kids about nature and the transition of a life of a caterpillar to a butterfly. (source)
.
. Want to make one yourself? Take a peek at my 
