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8
April – June 2014
www.deltalivingmagazine.com
By Maria Tavares
mrh_tavares@yahoo.com
Sometimes I feel like I am still
in the in-between stage in my life.
Not quite a kid anymore, but not
aged enough to retire.And having
a toddler in my arms really makes
me feel more in touch with my
youthful side. I get to teach her all
of the fun playground games that
I used to play like “tag” and “hide
and seek.” I can introduce her to
new outdoor activities also since
she is finally big enough. Being a
stay-at-home mom allows me to
find the time to get creative with
the projects that I have created for
myself and my daughter, outdoors.
(So I've saved you some of the
guess work!) Some I have found
on Pinterest (since I'm a Pinter-
est junkie...) and others are ones
that have come from a friend of
a friend of a friend. Or tried and
true. Still just as fun.
Edible Fingerpaint:
Yup, ed-
ible. Colorful and delicious; who
wouldn't want to play in that?! All
you need is a nice, safe outdoor
space (a covered kitchen floor
works, too), a big sheet of paper,
plain yogurt, different colors of
Kool-Aid (or other drink mix)
packets, or food coloring. Mix the
yogurt and color packets or food
coloring of one color in a bowl,
on a plate, in a cup, etc. Something
that's easy enough for the kiddo
to get their hands in to reach the
“paint.” This is usually a project
that I let my daughter do on a
bath day because she goes straight
into the tub when all the painting
is done. To save her clothes from
stains, I leave
her in a diaper. Plain yogurt with a
touch of food coloring is a healthy
snack and it makes for beautiful art
when it dries!
Treasure Hunt Nature
Walks:
My idea of staying fit in-
volves the occasional stroll in the
neighborhood. If this walk takes
place outside of nap time, I try to
make it interesting by telling her
to find objects on the way.This is
also a good way to practice shapes
and colors with preschoolers. Or
if they're school-aged, have them
find a quantity of an object. This
activity counts as exercise and
learning, but only you will know
that they're actually doing twice
the work.They'll just think its fun.
Win-win.
Picnics:
I know what you're
thinking: that's not a fun activity.
That requires planning!Yes and no.
It gives your kiddos a time of day
to look forward to, it's outdoors
(and fresh air works wonders when
you've been stuck inside all winter,
not to mention the benefits ofVi-
tamin D from the sun), you only
have to pack nutritional essentials
so you aren't tempted to reach for
the cookies in the cabinet behind
the fiber cereal to quiet the inevi-
table before-dinner snack cravings
(out of sight, out of mind), and
if you plan for a picnic on a day
when everyone is home, it counts
as quality time.You can pick a spot
in the yard, your local park, or at
a friend's house. The more the
merrier! You can also get them
involved in the process by asking
them what you should pack to eat
or play with. Fun snacks from my
childhood were “Ants on a log”
(celery stick with peanut butter
and raisins), PB&J cracker sand-
wiches (I always preferred them
on Saltines), and the homemade
Lunchable (crackers, meat, and
cheese slices). If you haven't tried
these snacks with them yet, it's a
good time to get them to play a
guessing game before you reveal
what you've packed. Throw in
some waters, juices, or dare I say
it, sodas, and you're off to a nice
day outside.
For more tips on fun activities
with the kids, stay tuned to Delta
Living Magazine. Or email Maria at
mrh_tavares@yahoo.com
Spring is here!
Fling open
the doors
and windows
Now what do I do with my kids?
DELTA KIDZ CORNER
Photos by Maria Taveres