Don’t forget about mom this holiday season. Saturday Night Live host Kristen Wiig highlighted what Christmas morning really looks like for some moms, in a sketch that went almost instantly viral when it aired in 2020 because it was so on point. In the sketch, Wiig gets woken up early by her kids, played by Kyle Mooney and Chloe Fineman.
Her kids and husband begin revealing all of their gifts, and mom, well… she doesn’t have much.
Mooney sings about receiving a Nerf gun, Hulk hands, a drum set, and a telescope. Fineman gets a hat, a phone, and a copy of Catcher in the Rye. Wiig’s husband, played by Beck Bennett, gets a signed baseball bat, a laptop, and a tie. And mom gets a… robe.
The song continues with the family listing off more and more presents, including the piano from Big. Wiig thanks her family (rather unconvincingly) for the robe, which she suddenly notices was also on sale.
While making breakfast, Wiig emerges from the kitchen with a dishrag over her hand letting her family know she burned herself. “It hurt pretty bad, but I didn’t even scream/because I keep the pain inside of me,” she raps.
When it looks like there might just be some extra presents for her after all, the kids and dad announce, “It’s presents for the dog!” The dog opens all of his gifts, which include a bone, treats, and, why yes, even his own robe.
As the sketch ends, an exhausted Wiig is sitting alone on the couch holding a glass of red wine. “Your mom does everything for your family,” says a voice-over. “This year get her more than one present. Moms like stuff, too.”
Take an evening at home to learn about stargazing with the kids
Summer is the perfect time of year for stargazing, especially after school is out and the kids can stay up late. The key to stargazing is to pick a clear night and find a spot that’s away from the city lights and clear of trees. Want to leave the astronomy lesson to the experts? Plan a visit to a dark sky national park for their seasonal stargazing programs. Then check out our gear and tips to get the kids really jazzed about this outdoor activity!
First, Get Your Kids Interested
Sure, any kid will jump at the chance to stay up past bedtime with the family, but it's best to get your kids interested—or at least familiar with—the stars before heading out for a night of skywatching. Luckily, there are tons of books, games and gadgets out there to get them excited:
Bring the Stars Inside - Stick constellation stickers on your child’s ceiling to get her used to looking up and seeing those familiar shapes.
Make a Star Wheel - This activity works best for older kids (8 and up), but once they make it, kids will love being able to use this homemade tool to navigate the night sky.
Make Crafts - If you're the crafty type, your kids can get some planetary know-how with this cute space mobile from Honeybear Lane.
Play Space-Themed Games - Planet-themed Bingo, anyone? Play Dough to Plato has free BINGO cards that even preschoolers can enjoy. (Note: You'll have to submit your e-mail address, but the download appears immediately).
Have Smart Screen Time - At NASA's Space Place, kids can find some fun games that'll help kids explore the solar system as well as comets, black holes, and weather systems.
Watch Storytime From Space- This may be the coolest thing ever: Astronauts read stories from the International Space Station. Sure, your kiddo may be too preoccupied with watching the astronaut's hair floating in the no-gravity environment, but that's OK; They'll be space-crazed by the story's end.
It might seem like plopping down on the grass and simply looking up would be enough—and it is if all you want is a few minutes of stargazing—but rounding up the right supplies for a night of sky-watching is essential to making your evening easy and fun. Little stargazers can get hungry, antsy, and uncomfortable, so it's best to be prepared! Here is what you'll need:
A large (preferably waterproof) blanket - Sitting directly on the ground may be scratchy and uncomfortable (not to mention you're exposing yourself to any creepy-crawlies that might be lingering below), so make sure to bring a comfy surface for the littles to lay on. Waterproof blankets help, in case the grass is wet.
Folding chairs - If you'd rather lounge than lay on a blanket, folding chairs make for comfy outdoor digs. Try to find chairs that recline, so you're not left with a stiff neck afterward.
Pillows - Lying down is, after all, the best way to get a full view of the sky, so bring along pillows to make things extra cozy!
Snacks - Little bellies need constant attention! Bring finger foods and snacks that the kids (and you!) can munch on while gazing skyward. It's best to stick to dry snacks so you won't get sticky fingers on that brand-new set of binoculars.
A Flashlight - If you're in a particularly dark spot (which is better for seeing stars), you should bring a flashlight in case you need to read a sky map, find the snacks or get your bearings. Of course, a phone works just fine, too.
Bug Spray - When the sun goes down, the bugs come out—so be prepared. For bug protection that will last the longest, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids over age two use an insect repellent containing (a maximum of 10%) Deet. For younger children and babies, use products containing Picardin, an odorless chemical safe for babies as young as two months; or natural products containing citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, and cedarwood (note: these usually need to be applied more frequently to be effective).
Star Apps - Easy apps like Night Sky or Skyview are great for finding the constellations, even when the sky conditions aren't ideal. Just hold your phone up and you'll get an AR, up-close look the constellations, satellites and planets in real-time.
S'mores - A strong recommendation from our writer's eight-year-old. Here's where you can find our favorite s'mores recipes.
Get Set Up with an Easy-to-Use Telescope or Binoculars
Kate Loweth
Seeing the constellations with the naked eye is fun—but it's always cooler if your kids can get a closer look. Telescopes (and binoculars, which can surprisingly offer just as good a view) are a perfect accessory to any stargazing outing.
Telescopes: There's nothing that dampens the excitement of a stargazing night than an overly complicated telescope that you're worried about the kids destroying. For stargazing with kids, we like the Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope for its ease of assembly, ease of use, and integration with your cellphone. Bonus, its $140 price tag is not too shabby. This video shows all the steps needed to get your telescope set up. When we tried it out, we found that older kids could set it up easily including focusing and attaching their cellphones so they could take photos. The telescope can also be used in the daytime for birdwatching and other activities.
Binoculars: For binoculars, look for a pair that's 7x50 (the most popular size for skywatching). These will not only get you a view of the moon's craters but may also snag you a glimpse of Saturn's rings and Jupiter's belts.
The darker the sky, the more you'll see—so it's best to get out of busy towns and cities if possible. Consider yourself lucky if you live near one of dark sky national parks, but really, any spot away from light pollution will work. State parks are usually good, safe spots to visit.
Of course, if you can't get out of your backyard, that's fine; you can usually see a scattering of stars (and the moon)—and that's a start.
Note: Wherever you go, make sure to give it time. Stargazing experts say it takes your eyes 20-30 minutes to completely adjust to the dark.
Check the Sky Forecast - While most kids are keen to get outside on any given night, not all evenings are ideal for stargazing. Check your local forecast to see when the skies will be clear. If you want to be uber-informed, you can check out Cleardarksky.com, which publishes "astronomers forecasts" to help people find the clearest, darkest sky reports for locations all around the country (It's a bit tough to read, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to find the best location near you to go, plus the best time to do it.).
Pick Your Night - To find specific space events in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, check out SpaceWeather.com, which has up-to-date forecasts. Heavens-above.com will tell you when you'll be able to spot the International Space Station—as well as other bright satellites—at your location. You can download a super-cool free map of this month's night sky at Skymaps.com (Even if your kids don't understand it, the fact that it's an actual MAP OF SPACE should make it extra-cool.).
If You Can ... Look for a Meteor Shower - There's something about those sudden streaks of light ... they make you feel lucky just for seeing them. So try to schedule your stargazing outing for a night when shooting stars are in the forecast. The Perseids Meteor Shower, which takes place every year from Jul. 24 - Aug. 24, is the best night show of the year, with up to 100 shooting stars per hour during the shower's peak, Aug. 11-13. Be sure to explain to your little astronomers that meteors aren't really "stars" at all—they're big chunks of space debris (bits of broken comets and asteroids) colliding with our Earth's atmosphere. For a list of other notable meteor showers, check out Space.com.
So, you're outside. It's dark. You're looking up. Now what?
For New Stargazers
The first thing to explore is the moon. After all, it's Earth's best celestial buddy, and it's big enough to see without binoculars. Ask your kids if they can see the lighter splotches on the moon—then explain to them that those are the moon's mountain ranges and highlands, which are filled with humongous, city-sized craters.
For Intermediate Astronomers
Then, find the visible planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. To tell them apart, look at the colors: Jupiter is the brightest, Saturn is usually golden-yellow, and Mars is light orange-red. For a more detailed guide on finding what's visible in the sky week-to-week (because it changes!), check out Skyandtelescope.org.
For Future Astronauts
After that, start looking for the constellations, which can vary in visibility depending on the season. For help finding these, NPR published an easy, animated how-to guide. The simplest ones to find are:
The Big Dipper (Ursa Major)- This is usually the easiest to find, as it looks like a giant ladle in the sky.
Polaris (a.k.a. The North Star) - If you follow the invisible line formed by the two farthest stars in the Big Dipper's saucer, it will point to the North Star.
The Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) - The North Star is the top star in the handle of the Little Dipper. Just follow the stars down to see the curved handle and cup.
Scorpius
Keep an eye out for man-made space inhabitants like the International Space Station and large satellites, both of which appear as small, moving stars.
Don't know what to talk about with your kids while you're watching the stars? How about some of these amazing facts about space?
Since the light from stars takes millions of years to reach Earth, seeing a star means you are looking millions of years back in time.
There are approximately 200-400 billion stars in our Milky Way Galaxy alone.
Each galaxy—and there are estimated to be more than 100 billion of them—contains hundreds of billions of stars In all, the total number of stars in the universe is possibly as high as 300 sextillion, or 300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!
Stars do not actually "twinkle." The twinkling appearance is only the Earth's atmosphere deflecting the light that reaches our eyes.
When you're looking at a star, you're seeing something that's about 20 quadrillion miles away.
There is no sound in space.
Venus rotates so slowly that one day there is about a year on Earth time.
There may be a planet made out of diamonds. According to research from Yale University, a rocky planet about 40 light-years away from us may have a surface made of graphite and diamond.
Some scientists believe the moon may once have been a piece of Earth that tore off when an object smashed into our planet long, long ago.
Boasting some of the darkest skies in the world, Death Valley National Park is an awe-inspiring spot for stargazing. Kids’ imaginations will be sparked as they learn about constellations, planets and our place in the universe. If you’re looking for an educational, outdoor-based vacation this spring, then head to Death Valley in what will be an out-of-this-world experience.
The Dark Skies of Death Valley
NPS
Death Valley National Park has Dark Sky Park Gold Tier status, which means light pollution is minimal. With no orange haze on the horizon from city lights, the park's vast wilderness has some of the darkest night skies in the country, allowing you to see far more stars, planets and meteors than anywhere else. Park ranger, Matthew Lamar, says showing kids these special places is important. “As a society we know more about the night sky than we have ever known before, but as individuals most of us have never been more disconnected and less able to experience it from where we live,” he says.
Stargazing Parties
NPS
The rangers at the park offer a variety of night sky events throughout the year. Rangers plan to offer a star party in late January, where visitors can peer through a telescope and learn about the constellations. Park rangers will partner with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and CalTech along with others to host its annual Dark Sky Festival in February. This family-friendly event will feature talks, field programs and telescope time. Keep an eye on the Park’s calendar, or ask a ranger at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center for upcoming events during your visit.
Pop-Up Star Camp
Eastern Sierra Observatory
In addition to the National Park Service events, there is another unique and fun way to enjoy the night sky with your family in Death Valley. Eastern Sierra Observatory, which runs overnight stargazing camps from Bishop, has a pop-up star party in Death Valley between March 18 to April 24. Each pod can fit two adults and up to three kids. Campsites have a picnic table and fire ring, but you must supply your own food and bedding. This set-up is perfect for parents who can stay up to stargaze after tucking up tired children in the cozy pod.
Since the pandemic, interest in stargazing has soared, says Scott Lange, owner of Eastern Sierra Observatory. According to him, springtime is a good time to stargaze in Death Valley because the Milky Way is visible and when the moon is in its darkest phase, you can see the core of our galaxy. Scott brings little geodesic cabins, beds, the eight-inch telescope and his knowledge of the night sky while you bring the family and sense of curiousity.
DIY Star Camp
NPS
Families don’t need to attend a talk, or use a telescope, to enjoy stargazing with their kids. If you want to create your own Death Valley star camp this spring break, Matthew has some tips to make the most of your experience.
Head to a dark area of the park. Although the National Park Service has made great efforts to keep light pollution to a minimum, there are brighter areas of the park. Stay away from the hotels at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Village and seek out quieter areas for a better view. If you don’t mind driving back in the dark, Ubehebe Crater is a great spot.
Go during the new moon. Check the phases of the moon and try to pick a date when the moon is not visible, or is smaller, for a darker sky.
Take a headlamp with a red light. Whenever you use a bright light, your eyes have to readjust. Some headlamps now come with a red light option, which allows you to keep your night vision.
Take blankets to lay on, or camping chairs, and warm clothes. It can get cold in Death Valley at night, so you need to be comfortable while staring at the skies.
Grab a Junior Ranger Night Sky Explorer program from the visitor center. The Junior Ranger programs are brilliantly designed for kids and contain a lot of information. Kids are more engaged when there’s a special badge as a reward.
Download a stargazing app on your smartphone that does not require an internet connection to work, before you get to the park. Apps are a great way to figure out what you’re looking at and the stories behind the constellations. There is little to no cellphone coverage in most areas of the park, so plan ahead.
Day Time in Death Valley
NPS
Known for getting unbearably hot during the summer—in fact, the record for the hottest place on earth was set in Death Valley—winter and spring bring pleasant temperatures which makes those seasons the ideal time to visit. Make the visitor center your first stop, where you can learn about the history, unique geology and wildlife of the park in the museum. Rangers can advise you on the best places to visit and give your kids a Junior Ranger program.
Consider a self-guided tour of locations used for the Star Wars movies, which were filmed before the area became a national park. Download the National Park app and select Death Valley National Park to use offline, then add the Star Wars audio tour for a map and information on each spot, which you can listen to in the car as you drive. Even if you’re not into Star Wars, the family will enjoy exploring the sand dunes, salt flats and canyons. Let the kids slide down the dunes, climb on rocks and run on the bright white salt at Badwater.
Where to Stay in Death Valley
Sarah McDonald
Death Valley National Park is so big, you need to stay in the park at night to avoid long (hot) drives during your stay. Fortunately, there are plenty of accommodation options, from luxe to rustic.
For a resort experience, stay atThe Oasis Death Valley, located in the heart of the park at Furnace Creek, near the visitor center. The resort is split into two separate hotels, the four-Diamond rated Inn at Death Valley and the more laid-back Ranch at Death Valley. Stovepipe Wells Village, a comfortable, low-key hotel with an Old West vibe is also a great option.
There are also many camping sites in Death Valley National Park, some run by the National Park Service and others privately owned. One of the most popular campgrounds for stargazing, Mesquite Spring, is an hour north of Furnace Creek and has 40 first-come-first-served sites.
—Sarah McDonald
featured image by Jamison McAndie Jamomca via Unsplash
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If they aren’t hiking through a forest or looking under rocks in the front yard, your little nature lover probably wishes they were. This year, encourage that love of the natural world with one of these gifts hand-picked by moms of nature-obsessed kiddos. From seed cannons to trail kits, read on for our favorites.
This beautiful rubber stamp kit is not only perfect for the budding botanist in your life, but you might want to borrow it for your own crafting needs. It includes 25 stamps and two, color ink pads.
It's a book, it's a globe, and it's a work of art that teaches children all about geography and our beautiful world. Written by Sue Lowell Gallion and illustrated by Lisk Feng.
This little set is so sweet it makes you wish you could go back in time and gift it to your seven-year-old self. Includes a flower press, field journals, treasure boxes and a magnifying glass in its carrying case.
The solar system and the night sky are just a grab away. Each block features an illustration, the planet's diameter, distance from the sun and location in the solar system.
When you go out in the woods today, pack this trail kit to help learn and grow along with the trees. Includes a magnifying glass, printed trail cards, and even an owl compass (which pretty much sold us on the set).
Summer boredom busted! National Geographic just launched the Planet Possible Family Challenge and made it a lot more fun to get outside together. And don’t tell the kids, but a little learning will be involved, too.
Over the next eight weeks, look for a new challenge every Thursday to complete with your family. The first one is live now: explore the ground with a (homemade) magnifier! Each challenge has three parts: a DIY component, using the handmade tool or craft to explore biodiversity and tips on protecting the natural world.
The new program is part of National Geographic’s Planet Possible initiative, dedicated to inspiring everyone to live more lightly on the planet. While you wait for the next challenge, look around on the site for other entertaining and informative activities. Learn how to become a wildlife detective, forest bathe, or grow an indoor garden! You’ll also find more craft ideas, including making a homemade telescope or “elephant toothpaste.”
Time to start exploring! There’s no better resource than National Geographic for a little education on our beautiful world. Spend a little time outside this weekend and start June on the right note!
—Sarah Shebek
Images courtesy of Caitlin Holbrook (21st Century Fox) and Matthew Rakola
Pool parties, BBQ’s, reunions, oh my! There are plenty of gatherings that hopefully await us all this summer.
To celebrate, Lay’s is releasing three new limited edition flavors that will be available this week. Get ready for Chile Mango, Wavy Jerk Chicken and Summer BLT!
photo: Courtesy of Lay’s
When it comes to flavors, Lay’s has outdone itself this time. The Chile Mango contains mango and chili peppers, the Wavy Jerk Chicken is made with traditional spicy, sweet and smoky jerk flavor and Summer BLT tastes like sinking your teeth into lettuce, tomato and bacon.
To jump start the warm weather fun, you can join in on Frito-Lay’s “Let’s Summer” campaign. Head to chipsnsips.com for the chance to win summer-themed prizes that include a telescope, outdoor pop-up cinema screen, theater projector and more.
Shop these limited edition flavors at retailers nationwide for $3.79 until supplies last.
LEGO has teamed up with IRL astronaut Dr. Kathy Sullivan for the launch of the all-new NASA Space Shuttle Discovery Set! The for-adults set celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first Space Shuttle flight.
Way back in April of 1981 the Space Shuttle took flight. Fast-forward 40 years and LEGO is marking the momentous event with a massive 2,354-piece set for grown-ups.
Not only is LEGO debuting the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery set, the beloved brick brand is also unveiling an informative interview with Dr. Sullivan. The interview is packed with details on the Space Shuttle’s mission and the astronaut’s thoughts on young people and STEM careers.
Dr. Sullivan said of the set, in a press release, “I was thrilled to see the space shuttle in LEGO form, and was very impressed by the amount of intricate detail they have managed to recreate from the module where we used to sleep and eat through to what we called the “milk stalls” on the telescope. Looking at the model, it was great to reminisce about my experiences in space launching the telescope for the first time.”
The former astronaut added, “Hubble is definitely the highlight of my career. This LEGO model is a great way for LEGO builders and space fans alike to get excited about space travel and learn more about the famous mission in a fun and engaging way.”
The LEGO NASA Discovery Space Shuttle set is age-rated for adults 18+. The set includes 2,354 pieces and features the Discovery orbiter with functional landing gear, payload bag doors, elevons and rudder. It also has a mini Hubble Telescope, two stands and plaques.
Get the new LEGO ($199) set starting Apr. 1, 2021 on LEGO.com. To watch Dr. Sullivan’s video interview, visit LEGO’s website here.
Just because summer is over, you don’t have to give up colorful fun inflatables. The newest division of the beloved PoolCandy line of floats and water accessories, SnowCandy is this season’s hottest launch. We can’t wait for the next snowfall.
SnowCandy is a fantastically fun line of whimsical snow tubes, sleds and forts for outdoor winter adventures. Easy to inflate and deflate, these super sturdy inflatables were crafted for serious snowy shenanigans.
Glitter Galaxy Snow Tube
SnowCandy
The new Glitter Galaxy Snow Tube ($50) uses RealPrint technology. This pink glitter filled snow tube uses the deep space super region photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. This image is a wavelengths composite of images from the Hubble Telescope, featuring an HII region emission nebula. The image also shows numerous galaxies, each averaging approximately 100 million stars
Add some much needed color to your snow day with the Arctic Rainbow Tube ($50). This epic snow tube will let you stand above the crowd with its super bright colors.
The animation studio behind PAW Patrol is bringing preschoolers a charming new adventure series about working together for the community. Pikwik Pack premieres two back-to-back episodes on Sat. Nov. 7 at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW. Pikwik Pack follows four adorable animal friends as they work together to deliver magical surprises to the kind citizens of their bustling town.
Suki the brave hedgehog, along with Axel the go-getter raccoon, Tibor the reliable hippo and Hazel the silly cat, travel together by land, sea and air to bring packages of joy to their neighbors. Whether it’s a telescope, birthday gift or even a snow-cone – young viewers will learn gentle life lessons about the importance of community, responsibility and working as a team to accomplish a common goal.
“Kids everywhere love the thrill of unwrapping a special surprise, and they’ll get to experience this joy in each episode of Pikwik Pack,” said series creator Frank Falcone. “Parcel delivery is increasingly becoming a central part of families’ daily lives. In the town of Pikwik, kids get to witness firsthand the important role that package delivery plays in bringing communities together.”
Pikwik Pack brings to life in colorful 2D animation a bustling town filled with unique vehicles, bright buildings and friends of all shapes, sizes and colors. Each day, a new surprise arrives at the Pikwik Post that must be delivered! Together with the Pikwik Pack, viewers at home learn about navigating directions, geography and weather to deliver packages safely to their destinations. And though they may face rough rapids, stormy skies or a foggy forest, when they work together, the Pikwik Pack always delivers.
Our family Christmases were idyllic, if simple. Each year on Christmas Day, we would all open our presents. My sister and I would get doll clothes (this was when you got outfits, not multiple Barbies) and plush animals, Spirograph and paint-by-numbers, and such.
Then we’d get dressed, jump in the car, and drive to Granny’s house, where we’d open more gifts of clothes and stationery and Avon cologne. We’d wreak havoc on a turkey and trimmings, before the adults went off for naps, after dropping us kids off at the movies.
Then came the year when my sister and I had to grow up fast.
My parents had always tried to keep any bad news away from us and carry on as normal, but there was no hiding this bad news. After being accidentally hit by the garage door, my father’s injured neck turned out to be something much worse than a sprain, strain, or contusion. It wasn’t the garage door that caused it. of course, but that was when my father was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
It’s a horrible form of cancer that attacks the bones all throughout the body and destroys them. I hope the treatments have gotten better in the decades since, but for my father cancer meant radiation, chemotherapy, and an operation to fuse the bones of his neck using bone from his hip. He lived many years longer than the doctors predicted, which I attribute to his stubbornness. He certainly wasn’t a health aficionado.
Naturally, all those cancer treatments and hospitalizations were expensive. My parents had good insurance, but even that was nowhere near covering the costs. And my father’s illness was not something my parents could keep secret from us kids, much as they would have liked to. It affected every part of our lives.
When Christmas came that year, I was 15 and my sister was 16. My mother explained that because of the family’s medical expenses, we wouldn’t be able to have Christmas as usual. No driving from Ohio to Kentucky to see our relatives. And no Christmas presents.
Except one.
My mother said that all we could afford was a magazine subscription for each of us. Our choice of titles. She hoped we weren’t disappointed.
I wasn’t. To me, a magazine subscription was special, something that grown-ups got, and something that kept giving all year long. I chose Analog, a science fiction magazine, and my sister chose Sixteen. It was exciting to watch the mail for each month’s issue. (As kids, we didn’t usually get much mail, except cards on our birthdays.)
For the Christmases after that, my mother would renew our subscriptions, or let us change to a different title. When I started studying astronomy in high school, I switched to Sky and Telescope. When she turned 17, my sister switched to Seventeen.
Now I subscribe to the electronic versions of three magazines –Smithsonian, National Geographic, and Discover. I still get a little thrill each month when the new cover icon appears on my e-reader screen. It reminds me of the first time I ever got an actual, grown-up present – when I started becoming an adult, whether I wanted to or not.
Hi! I'm a freelance writer and editor who writes about education, books, cats and other pets, bipolar disorder, and anything else that interests me. I live in Ohio with my husband and a varying number of cats.