The birthstone for January is the garnet, which represents love and friendship
People born in January are more than just “new year babies” or “winter babies.” According to some studies, they tend to end up in creative or health professional fields and they often stay healthy as they grow up. And, January babies share their special month with many famous people born in January. Does your little one have some of these traits or any that are related to their horoscope? Find out what 2024 has in store for them here.
People Born in January Are Often Creative and Have Good Problem Solving Skills
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Sorry, Caps. This one's for the Aquarians. According to a small study, January and February are the right months to be born if you want to be famous. And in this case, "fame" extends well beyond actors on the A-List—we're talking politicians, athletes, scientists, authors, singers, humanitarians, etc. Perhaps this shouldn't be that surprising, given that those born in January and February tend to be more creative and possess higher problem-solving skills.
January Babies Are Smart
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Scientists monitored the development of 21,000 boys and girls, and their research indicates winter-born kids measured longer at birth, were taller and heavier by age seven and had higher scores in a series of intelligence exercises than their peers.
People Born in January Babies Lean Towards Medicine as a Profession
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Get ready for the college long haul, January parents. According to a study conducted in the UK, kids born in the first month of the year become doctors more than kids born in the other months of the year.
The birthstone for January is the garnet, which represents love and friendship. Garnets also have ties to Greek mythology by way of the pomegranate. When Hades, the god of the underworld, took Persephone from the surface world, she was told not to eat any food in the dark realm. However, she ate six pomegranate seeds and therefore had to remain in the underworld for six months every year. The change from winter to spring was explained as Persephone's return to the surface. This is also why the garnet stands for the return of a loved one.
January Baby Names Can Be Inspired by the Zodiac, the Winter Season or New Beginnings
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There are lots of different sources of inspiration when it comes to naming your January baby! Consider naming your baby after the season, Capricorn or Aquarius, or even new beginnings for the new year. Some of our favorites include Sophie, Zane, Kiara, Janus, Onyx, and Ione. See Nameberry's entire list of January baby names here.
January babies share their special month with plenty of famous people, too. Bradley Cooper, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Morris Chestnut, Eddie Redmayne, Mary J. Blige, Issa Rae, Jason Bateman, and Regina King are only a few of the celebrities born in January.
It may be the winter holiday break, but these science kits for kids will keep your littles learning and having fun.
There are few things we love more than educational toys and activities for our kids. Letting them play and learn at the same time is pretty much the ideal combination. When we find something that they love doing and that we love allowing them to do is the perfect match. Science kits for kids are a super easy way to cover those bases, especially since there are a ton of different options out there that are sure to entertain and educate even the most discerning scientific tastes!
Science kits for kids aren’t just baking soda and vinegar volcanoes or tin can telephones (although those are both super fun and we definitely still love them!). There are so many to choose from that range in challenge, interest, age range, and more. Even smaller kids have options that they can do, so no one feels left out. From start-to-finish classic experiments to crafts to games and more, there’s something for everyone. We’d put together some of our favorite science kits for kids.
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Pack the minivan and consult with the experts for the best time to head out on a fall foliage-viewing adventure
Fall is just around the corner and along with the pumpkin spice everything comes something truly magical, fall foliage! There’s nothing quite like the fiery autumn colors as the leaves change and the joy of watching your kids’ faces as they leap into a heaping pile of them. If you’re planning a special trip to see this spectacular sight, you’re definitely going to want to check out this interactive map for the optimal place and time to see fall leaves at their peak.
SmokyMountains.com has created this fall foliage map, using data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to predict the peak of the leaf season across the country to help you plan the perfect road trip. The data is based on years of information on the peak season and the forecast ahead. Data scientist and map creator, Wes Melton, explained, “The SmokyMountains.com data model continues to improve and become more accurate each year. This is due to our expanding historical database and our ability to analyze past predictions versus historical trends. Our aggregated historical and current database now includes hundreds of thousands of unique data points giving us the ability to predict more accurately than ever before.”
When will the leaves change color this year?
Many factors go into whether leaves will change early or late. We know that areas where warmer temps persist will often have a later peak (and this was the third-hottest summer on record according to NOAA). But lack of rainfall can make leaves change earlier. So, we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.
Check out the interactive map here and use the sliding bar at the bottom to see what changes you can expect across the country from now until the end of October. The site also features scientific explanations of why leaves change color and free coloring pages you can download, as well as local lodging, restaurant, and attraction listings.
Every kid loves getting something addressed to them in the mail, but what if they received correspondence from a real astronaut? Thanks to NASA’s pen pal program, they can write and receive answers from real, live astronauts. It’s a great way to keep kids interested in science, and if a letter does come back, it’s a pretty cool item for the family “brag board.”
Step One: Pick an astronaut
Have your kids look through the list of astronauts on at NASA’s website and read through their bios to see what each one does. Maybe your kids want to know what it’s like to live on the Space Station. Maybe they are more interested in the engineering and problem-solving that goes into making a rocket fly. Picking an astronaut who deals with exactly your kid’s interests makes the NASA pen pal program process even more fun.
Step Two: Decide what to ask their astronaut of choice
Once you’ve picked your lucky astronaut, you should help your kids compose their letter (or have them write it on their own if they’re old enough). The best bet is to ask a specific question that an astronaut can answer. (Check out this amazing two-page letter one four-year-old received after her dad helped her write a letter to NASA scientist Dr. David Williams with a question about a probe headed to Jupiter’s moons.) Kids can think about what they’ve learned in school to help draft their questions. You can also make a request for an autographed photo from current astronauts who are in training or are assigned to an upcoming flight.
Step Three: Address and mail the letter to the NASA office
Any mail and photo requests can be sent to:
NASA Johnson Space Center
CB/Astronaut Office
Houston, TX 77058
You can make it easier on the astronauts by including a self-addressed and stamped return envelope.
Are you searching for the best gifts and science toys for your favorite curious kiddo? Well, get ready to check off your list with this awesome gift guide that will have every child from tot to teen exploring the fascinating world of science through hands-on experiments in chemistry, engineering and more. Scroll down to see our top picks!
Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Exploration Kit
With beakers, goggles, experiment cards, stickers and plenty of other supplies, your curious kid will be whipping up experiments just like their favorite scientist in no time.
Discover the journey from plate to tummy and beyond! Kids will get up-close and personal with their bodily functions, prompting creativity and self-discovery.
Renowned illustrator Lisa Congdon gives kids a treat with this stunning book about the Periodic Table (of course) that's also filled with interesting tidbits about scientists and much more.
Your kiddos are probably not old enough to drive a car yet, but they’ll have just as much fun building and designing their own real working solar-powered model car!
Your child’s coding magic spells will come to life as Blazer the Dragon lights up, chases a ball and more. The best part? There are no screens to be found with this science toy.
Another amazing science toy for the tots! Watch your child learn about engineering and physics while building pulleys, levers, and more on their very own scientific workbench.
Nancy B's Science Club Garbage to Gardens Compost Kit
Teaching kids about the environment and how we can make better choices is made easy in this clear kit that will allow everyone to see just how nature handles all that trash!
Give your child a first-row seat to all the action that happens after a seed is planted. Kids will learn about the different stages while they observe and track the growth of their plants.
Kids of all ages love bubbles. And now they can learn how bubbles work, all about the different shapes and even make an unbreakable bubble in this fun kit!
Enjoy the fascinating stages of butterflies from caterpillar to adult. Can’t find any caterpillars? No problem! The kit includes a voucher so you can have them shipped to your home.
Let’s just all agree—eggs are pretty amazing! They are surprisingly strong and you can use them to do all sorts of STEM activities to learn about osmosis, strength, air pressure and physics. Use your bounty of Easter eggs to try out some of these science experiments with eggs!
Walk on Eggs
Photo: S. Massey
How can you walk on eggs without breaking them? An egg’s unique shape gives it tremendous strength, despite its seeming fragility.
Insider tip: if this science experiment has you in the mood for eggs, check out our list of the best egg-cellent egg recipes for kids.
Make Eggs Magical
This “look ma, no hands, wires or mirrors” trick will get them every time; an egg being sucked into a jar while your little scientist delightedly looks on is always a hit. To perform this illusory feat, you’ll need a glass jar with an opening just smaller than an egg (think: old school milk jug) and a peeled, boiled egg. When you and your little scientist have checked these items off your list, it’s time to start the show. Mom or dad should toss a lit match into the glass jar, followed by your mini lab assistant, who’ll quickly set the egg over the opening. Abracadabra! Alakazam! The match dies out; the egg gets (seemingly) inexplicably sucked into the bottle. And just like that you’ve performed another bit of parent magic without breaking a sweat.
Why it works: The match uses up the air inside the bottle. Once that happens the pressure outside the bottle is greater and pushes the egg down into the bottle.
You may have seen this science experiment with eggs make its way around TikTok this past summer with people trying to crush an egg with their biceps. You'll find the science behind it described on Science-Sparks and everyone will be cringing when little hands put the big squeeze on a fragile egg. Try as you might, that baby won’t break (until you crack it into a pan to make breakfast for dinner afterward).
Brain Boost Factor: The egg’s shape is clearly stronger than it looks.
Can you and the kiddos solve the mysterious case of the disappearing egg shell? Following the simple how-to at Go Science Kids, you’ll learn the step-by-step and talking points about the process along the way. Warning! Although it’s totally non-toxic, toddler aged kids will be tempted to squeeze the egg at the end so keep an eye out!
Crystal Egg Geodes
This grow-your-own experiment that lets you grow crystals inside an egg shell. Be sure to get alum powder that contains potassium, or else you won't get any crystal growth. Adding drops of food dye to the growing solution yields some super cool crystals. A perfectly formed geode takes about 12-15 hours to grow, making this a great weekend project. Get the full scoop on how to do it from Learn to Grow.
The Egg Drop Challenge
If you have fond memories of building your own egg drop contraption for high school Physics class, this is a great one to share with the kids. They'll love learning all the science behind what can protect the egg and constructing their own egg drop contraption. Get the full scoop here.
Eggs and Osmosis
Teach kids all about how liquids pass through semi-permeable membranes in this fun science experiment with eggs from the QuadSquad.
Make a Folding Egg
Kids will love being able to bounce this egg between their hands and fold it up into their pocket during this egg science experiment. How does it work? Steve Spangler shows you in this video.
No matter how old you are, everyone longs to feel a little more connected these days. Email and texting connect us across the globe in an instant, but nothing quite beats the feeling of opening a hand-written letter. Whether you’re hoping to make friends across the globe, or you just want to put a smile on a lonely face, these programs that offer penpals for kids and other letter writing opportunities are a great place to start.
Are your kids curious about what it’s like to walk on the moon or what the astronauts on the International Space Station eat? They can ask an astronaut and even score an autographed photo thanks to the NASA correspondence program. Get the mailing address and all the details on how to score an out of this world pen pal here.
Is your little bookworm obsessed with their favorite author? Or maybe you have an aspiring young author of your own? Why not put pen to paper and write a letter to their favorite writer. As children’s author Mary Amato suggests, your pint-sized fiction fan can easily write a letter to an author. Simply look for the publisher’s address on the inside cover of the book and address your letter to the author care of the publishing company. While there’s no guarantee of a response, you can increase your chances of receiving a reply by including a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Get all the details by clicking here.
What better reason to write a letter than to spread peace and kindness? Kids for Peace was founded by a mom of two, Jill McManigal, and Danielle Gram, a high school honors student, with the intention of bringing kids together for a brighter future. The platform, which features over 300 chapters around the world, empowers kids across all cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds through service projects, global friendship and acts of kindness. The Peaceful Pen Pals program, just one of the many initiatives offered by Kids for Peace, is designed to connect kids through love, acceptance, compassion and kindness. Sign up to join the program here.
Globe-trotting might not be in the cards right now, but that doesn’t have to stop your young explorers from learning about other countries and cultures. Founded in 1967, the International Pen Friends Club has connected millions of pen pals across the globe. Once you sign your kiddos up and pay a small membership fee, they’ll be provided a list of four to 14 pen friends from the same age group (starting at age eight) to choose from. Pen friends are typically paired by similar interests, and you can also request specific countries you’re interested in. Your own address is also circulated to pen friends in the same age group, so you might get surprised with some international mail! Register for a membership here.
Inspiring young STEM-lovers isn’t always easy, but thanks to this innovative program, kids can build a relationship with a real scientist that's sure to leave a lasting impression. The Letters to a Pre-Scientist pen pal program pairs students or “pre-scientists” in fifth to tenth grade throughout low-income communities across the country with STEM professionals. Teachers who are interested in bringing this unique pen pal program to their classrooms can apply to the program here.
Operation Gratitude supports deployed troops, veterans, first responders, military families and wounded heroes and caregivers with care packages. Every package sent includes a bundle of letters. Your thankful tykes can write letters, make cards or draw pictures to express their gratitude for their service and dedication. Register to write letters and find more details on delivering them here.
The elderly, especially those living alone or in nursing homes, can often feel isolated. Love for Our Elders is on a mission to help fight loneliness and spread some love through their letter-writing program, Letters of Love. Simply take a few minutes to write a thoughtful letter and mail it in. While your kids won’t receive a letter in return, they will feel good knowing that their words have made someone very happy. You can check out the guidelines for letter writing and get the mailing address here.
Letters Against Isolation is another awesome program aimed at helping to spread some joy to isolated seniors. Sisters Shreya and Saffron Patel were inspired to found the program after doing their best to support their own self-isolating grandparents. They began writing letters on their own, but soon the demand grew so large that they are now looking for more penpals for seniors to help them deliver letters to care facilities across the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and Israel. Sign up to become part of their team.
Have a future leader in scouting? Join the Girl Scouts national service project writing letters to seniors and caretakers in assisted living facilities. Girl Scouts participating in the campaign can earn a special Girl Scouts Give Back patch. Check out the Girl Scouts USA site for more info for girls and their troops.
Letter writing not quite your tots’ thing? Or maybe they just prefer to draw? Put those talents to work decorating postcards to help support the U.S. Postal Service. Co-founded by musician (and Yo Gabba Gabba star) Mark Mothersbaugh, PostCARDS for Democracy is on a mission to save the postal service one postcard at a time. Simply buy some postage, decorate a postcard with some artwork and mail it to 8760 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90069. The postcards will become part of a collective art piece, viewable both virtually and in a physical art gallery. Learn more about the campaign and check out some of the submitted postcards here.
It has never been a better time to shop small and what better way than to start within our own communities? We’ve curated a holiday gift guide from Bay Area business owners—buy big at these small shops this year!
For the Kids
Sew Mei Mei Is there anything cuter than baby/kid joggers? The answer is no. Handmade in San Francisco, these baby and toddler joggers, bibs and bandanas (some in matching sets) are perfect stocking stuffers for your favorite little elf. Online:sewmeimei.com
Hey Carter! Books Bay Area mom Dr. Thomishia Booker wrote the Hey Carter! Book series inspired by her son, Carter, after being discouraged by the lack of representation for Black boys in children’s books. Through her books, she aims to show us all what Brown Joy is—you’ll want a copy for your little reader! Online:heycarterbooks.com
StereoType Allowing kids to be expressive and playful with their clothing, this clothing line for kids disregards fashion rules and boundaries about who should wear what and the results are dashing, if we may say so ourselves. We especially love the Hero Skirt that also doubles as a cape! Online: stereotypekids.com
Messy Play Kit These kits are… you guessed it—messy! Each themed kit comes with three to five science experiments and art projects and kids will LOVE digging their hands into these kits so get a subscription for the artist/scientist in your life! Online:messyplaykits.com
Shred Dog Want quality, outdoor performance clothing for kids that keeps them both warm and dry while they sled/ski/board/hike? Look no further than Shred Dog. As the ski team supplier for Palisades Tahoe and Bear Valley ski teams, you know it's been tested and quality proven! Online: shreddog.com
People of the World Bingo Kit Who doesn’t love a good game of bingo? Add in brightly colored traditional clothing from different cultures and countries and everyone will want in on this game! Online: sfmoma.org
DIY Christmas Ornament Kit Nothing beats Christmas tree ornaments made by kids! These kits let you choose from several animals and give your kids the chance to get creative and have a keepsake. Online:etsy.com
Solving Fun An online store that is based in Palo Alto with free delivery locally, Solving Fun offers engaging puzzles and games for kids to learn while having fun...because that's the best kind of learning there is! Puzzle packs, pal pack games and sticker sudoku books will keep little minds sharp this holiday. Don’t forget to sign up for their free daily emailed advent puzzle here. Online: solvingfun.com
Beeline Treats South Bay mom Vicki handcrafts unique, personalized cookies that are not only stunning to look at but also mouth wateringly delicious. Up the ante at your next occasion with these cookies that are guaranteed to impress! Online: beelinetreats.com
Local Food Adventures Have a foodie in your life? Gift them a Local Love food box! Choose from themes like the BBQ lover’s collection or Mai Tai cocktail party in a box that will be filled with quality products and go straight from Oakland to your giftee’s home. Online: localfoodadventures.com
Kokak Chocolates Single origin and handcrafted from sustainable and fair trade cocoa, Kokak chocolates stem from founder and chocolatier Carol Gancia’s serious love for chocolate. With a store in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, Kokak also offers local bicycle delivery locally and welcomes custom orders. Online:kokakchocolates.com
For Home
SFMOMA Living Wall tumbler With over 20,000 plants, the living wall at SFMOMA is the largest in the country and this tumbler gorgeously celebrates that in a bold, striking fashion...perfect for your every day beverages. Online: sfmoma.org
Ilke Studio Handmade batch ceramics from this Burlingame studio will add a flair of elegance and style to any home. Online:etsy.com
YeeJee Knits Based in Walnut Creek, YeeJee beautifully hand knits and crochets beanies, headbands and cowls. Send one of her cozy creations to anyone who needs an extra hug this season! Online:etsy.com
Paper Sweetly Handcrafted paper art and jewelry like you have never seen before-Paper Sweetly is based in San Jose and Nikitha’s art will blow you away! These unique gifts are perfect for the hard-to-shop for giftee on your list. Online:etsy.com
Iyoba Born out of a desire to relieve her son’s eczema using natural products, Oakland mom Efiya began experimenting in her kitchen and created what is now her famous artisan soap. Today, she handcrafts organic, natural hair, body and home products, all of which are paraben, synthetic fragrance and sulfate free and has a cult-like following. Online: iyoba.com
If your kid is a budding rocket scientist, working for NASA is the dream. Now they have a chance to help design a new robot for an excavation mission on the moon! The Lunabotics Junior Contest is accepting entries now and harnesses the creativity of young engineers.
The contest is a collaboration between NASA and Future Engineers and assists a future Artemis Moon base. Competing students will design a robot that digs and moves lunar soil to a holding container. Submissions must include an image of the robot design and a written summary conceptualizing how it will operate on the Moon.
Kids from K-12 can participate and sign up either as individuals or register through their class. The Lunabotics Contest is open to public, private and homeschools and runs through January 25, 2022. 10 semifinalists will win a prize pack and four national finalists from each category will win a virtual session with a NASA subject matter expert. The national winner will be announced on March 29!
Artemis missions will create a long-term human presence that will make future Martian exploration more efficient. This particular contest is important because lunar soil could be used to create lunar concrete, reducing the materials needed to be transported from Earth. The Artemis Student Challenge series allow students everywhere to contribute to NASA’s work in exploration and stokes creativity. You can read more about the contest and find education resources here.
Fans of Clifford The Big Red Dog books rejoice—this lovable pup is coming to the big screen (with extra-large paws, of course). Based on the beloved children’s book series, Clifford’s latest hilarious escapades take place in New York City. When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth meets a magical animal rescuer, he gifts her a small, red puppy. But overnight, the dog transforms into a giant ten-foot hound—not ideal in a tiny NYC apartment! While her single mom is away for business, Emily Elizabeth and her fun uncle Casey get involved in edge-of-your-seat adventures. Here’s why your family will want to go along for the ride!
Emily Elizabeth wishes for her dog to be big and strong. Poof! That’s actually what he becomes. While your child won’t be able to transform the family pet, this sweet movie reminds us to believe in something bigger than ourselves, because possibilities are endless when you have a big heart. From showing kindness to strangers in the community to being a good friend—Clifford proves there is magic that comes from loving big.
Stepping Outside of Your Comfort Zone Is Rewarding
Emily Elizabeth sometimes feels like an outsider. But Clifford is so full of love, he makes her feel like she can do anything. Kids will feel inspired by seeing Emily Elizabeth tap into her inner courage to stand up for her dog when a scientist tries to claim him as his own. From trying a new activity to speaking up, being brave and embracing our differences leads to good things!
Dogs Have a Way of Capturing Our Hearts
Kids (and kids at heart) will relate to the unconditional love and loyalty exchanged between a young girl and her dog. Clifford certainly has a way of “growing” on Emily Elizabeth, just like our treasured pets do for us. (If your kids have been begging for a dog… the Clifford movie just may help their case!)
This playful story will delight audiences of all ages with its themes of loyalty, friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of loving big. Parents will appreciate the movie’s awesome cast including, Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Tony Hale, David Alan Grier, Kenan Thompson, Rosie Perez, Paul Rodriguez, Sienna Guillory and John Cleese.
