Everyone is going "green" and looking for "organic" products these days. With foreign chemicals being found in everything, contamination being a scare among consumers and environmental concern growing each day, there is a growing interest in organic foods.
All you need is a food processor of any kind, a fork or a potato masher can work as well. Here are some easy tips for making your own organic baby food:
Steam, boil or bake the fruits and veggies to keep as many essential vitamins as possible.
Peel and Pit, take off the skins, seeds, and veins of the food.
No Seasonings, avoid adding salt or spices to the food.
Freeze and Save, use baggies or ice cube trays to portion and freeze foods for later use.
Cook throughly, for meat wash, clean and cook thoroughly before boiling and grinding.
Finding organic foods can be as easy as going to your farmer's markets. Making organic baby food is good for your baby and it's cheaper than buying the little jars of food. If you have a moment to make and freeze some organic baby food, I suggest you give it a try!
Also, here are some companies that sell organic baby food.
www.peasofmind.com - SF company that sells in stores all over the country
One of our most popular elements of the museum is the Willow Sculpture by Patrick Dougherty. His installation was meant to last about three years but the children loved it so much that we try to keep it maintained so that it will last as long as it can. Our staff maintains the maze throughout the year. This week we have closed off access to the Willow Sculpture and have undertaken the upkeep process.
Chip, Adam and Todd have been weaving in new willow into the old willow for the past few days. Though most of the sculpture is made of willow pieces, it is a living sculpture. Some of the willow has rooted to the ground and is growing as it stands.
With passage ways, windows and an open roof..it's easy for children to make believe they are in a whimsical woody secret forest. It's my favorite part of the Museum.
I never went to Summer Camp as a child. I had very protective parents and I have to say that I was a sheltered child. I wanted to go to the woods, sleep in a cabin and learn to shoot arrows! I don't think that actually happens at summer camps but it always did on TV and I learned everything I know about summer camps from The Parent Trap movie.
Summer Camps at the Museum seem a lot more interesting the movie. Here are some of the week long sessions we offer from June 16 - August 22.
Preschool - Art Dabbler, Treasure Hunt & House of Samba
3/4 Grade - Ecological Arts, Carpenter's Apprentice & Aerial Arts
That's not even all of them, click here for more info. There are no rickety bunk beds, nor swimming in a freezing cold lake, but there is a lot to learn and fun to have. I know I'd love to join some of these sessions. Sadly...I'm too big now.
The biggest problem for a lot of people, both kids and adults, is not getting enough activity and exercise. Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of exercise, and has a healthy weight. Being fit allows for the child to be able to do all the activities that kids are involved in, giving them the ability to play with friends! Your habits can make a big difference, so here are some tips from www.kidshealth.org for you and your child.
Eat a variety of foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
Drink water and milk most often.
Listen to your body.
Limit screen time
Be active.
Check out our own Nurse Rona’s advice on how to get your kids involved in eating healthy!
People spend more time in front of TVs or computers and less time exercising. Even as grown-ups we spend more time sitting at desks and in cars than we once did. We have become accustomed to driving everywhere instead of walking or riding bikes. Does your child’s school provide gym class, or another form of physical activity? Try these outdoor activities…
Visit the Bay Area Discovery Museum..of course! Play and climb in Lookout Cove.
Sports…basketball, soccer, skateboards, bicycling,etc. Grab a group of kids and have fun.
Race your sister, brother, cousin or friend….make up an obstacle course.
Take a nature walk…even if it’s just around your neighborhood.Point out different trees, leaves, animals and plants!
Playgrounds...they're good places for varied physical activities, make an afternoon out of ...
I was reading a report by Alix Spiegel, aired on NPR yesterday morning, called Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills. He talked about the development of children stemming mainly from imaginative play. A type of play that is declining more and more. Spiegel states that imaginative play teaches the necessary skill of self-regulation.
"Kids with good self-regulation are able to control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline."Read the article here.
The article highlights that toys and items are more of a focus now when children play then the action of play itself. The use of the imagination to create a world of play allows the child to learn rules, obstacles and solutions to problems, all through creativity. With schools cutting back recreational play and emphasizing testings along with structured play like sport, dance, art lessons, imaginative play has declined and children are missing out on prolonged play that builds needed skills such as self-regulation.
Along the same front, just this past Sunday, there was an article in the New York Times which focused on the same aspect of play and development in children, called Taking Play Seriously. They take a more in-depth look at different elements of play.
At the Museum's Discovery Forum this year we had our own speaker, Sir Ken Robinson, who spoke about creativity and learning, his speech can be found here. He inspired many of the attendees, one woman even wrote about the impact she felt about it on
After a long day of fun and excitement, the Museum's Chinese New Year celebration has ended. I had the privilege of being the photographer and videographer of the day. Some of you who attended today probably saw me running around like a chicken without her head. Nonetheless, I was able to get some really good images of the day.
Check out some of the images I captured today on our Flickr page!
A special thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the New Year and the Year of the Rat!
So it turns out, I have a birthday present to buy for my niece's second birthday next Saturday. I thought to myself..."Hey, I work at a children's museum! I should check out what we have in our store." I don't know what to buy though. I grew up with more books than toys, I only owned one Barbie as a child and I didn't play with dolls. I wanted to get the perfect toy that incorporated fun and learning. Walking through our store I see toys that I absolutely loved as a child.
Cooking set - yes, though I'm a modern and independent woman, I love to cook and it must have been because I had my own small cooking set as a girl. I also had a tea set but I always used it to drink "coffee" (actually it was grape juice.)
Train set - Okay, this was my brother's toy but I still played with it. Of course I pretended I was the damsel in distress while he was the evil villain who tied me (my Barbie) to the tracks.
My First Chemistry Set - Another toy of my brother's. I inadvertently stole it though when I wanted to do the experiment on the box cover. It was the best baking soda vinegar explosion ever!!!
Cat's cradle - I used to do the hand string puzzles with my friends at school in the play ground each day over and over. Flipping through the book I remembered all the moves instantly.
Astronaut Ice Cream - Not really a toy per se but I couldn't stop begging my parents to buy me dehydrated ice cream just like they had on the space shuttle!
After my walk down memory lane I figured 2 years old is a little young for those toys in particular. I think I'm going for the Skuut Scooter or Ladybug Rain Coat. Both are cute and practical.
Valentine's Day is coming up! February 14 is next Thursday and as parents it becomes a little difficult to find time and, quite frankly, energy for some romantic moments with your spouse.
Valentine's Day may fall in the middle of the week but who says you have to celebrate your love on the 14th? You don't need a set date to celebrate your love for each other as long as you make time to do so. Go out the following Saturday or Sunday! Here are some ideas for a romantic grown-up night out:
Get a sitter: Grandma and Grandpa are just itching for some quality time.
Make a reservation: Easier to get at the more popular restaurants then the day of February 14.
Go to a movie: Take this time to watch a film that doesn't involve cartoon animals or sing-song costumed dancers. Try San Francisco's Sundance Kabuki Theater, and have some wine and cheese on the balcony.
Dinner at home: Have a romantic night in - in an empty and quiet house.
Play tourist: Take a day trip to the nearest tourist area and walk around, take in sights and eat some fun food. A walk through Golden Gate Park, wine tasting in Napa or a walk in downtown Sausalito.
If you do find the time to have a romantic day in the following days, weeks or even months—and we suggest that you do—you may find yourself experiencing the same things as these parents. They describe their own grown-up nights out on Parenting.com in this article,
Happy New Year! Today marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year! The primary focus at this time is to ensure good luck, pay respects to ancestors, gods and spirits, and to wish good fortune for friends and family in the coming year. Have your kids wish a Happy Chinese New Year and good fortune to their friends, family and teachers.
This year marks the birthday Year of the Rat for people born in 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 & 2008. People born on the Year of the Rat are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. Read more about the Zodiac Rat here.
San Francisco has become the city with the best and biggest Chinese New Year celebration outside of Asia. The Parade that is put on each year is the one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in the country...so bundle up the kids! That weekend also hosts the Chinese New Year Street Fair on Saturday and Sunday all day around Chinatown.
For a more child-friendly celebration, come to the Bay Area Discovery Museum's Chinese New Year Festival on Monday, February 18 (President's Day). We will have a Dragon Lion Dance in Festival Plaza and fun arts and crafts in our Art Studios.
Free admission to the Museum from 1 – 5 p.m. this Saturday, February 9.
The Bay Area Discovery Museum provides a portion of our audience with free or subsidized educational services. In 2007, attendance at free community events and during monthly free hours exceeded 28,000 people. Click here for more information about our Community Partners programs.
A couple of hands-on activities to participate in with in our Art Studios on Saturday:
Tree Frog Treks (Ceramics Studio) Saturday, February 9 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
