Let your Halloween door decorations do the spooking for you this year
It’s October—Halloween has officially arrived! Now is the time to get your house ready with your favorite Halloween inflatables and pumpkins (be sure to use one of our pumpkin stencil designs), but what about Halloween door decorations and front porch Halloween decorations? From rustic door panels, crow silhouettes, and even a witch who has a wrong turn, we’ve got 11 easy ideas to make your front entrance shine this Halloween. When you’re done with the decor, plan a movie night by picking one of the best Halloween movies on Netflix, and don’t forget the movie night snacks!
Would you believe us if we told you there’s no need for a kit when it comes to re-creating this monster Halloween door decoration? Just lots of poster board. We are so inspired by @liz.morrow’s gorgeous setup. For another idea, check out our monster door tutorial.
This spider web door from Jane Can is too cute to spook! Grab yarn, Styrofoam balls, pom poms, and pipe cleaners to make this large spindly web and multi-legged spiders.
Little ghosts will brave the walk to your front door when they see this welcoming mummy. A breeze to create with white streamers, black and yellow construction paper, and tape.
This easy DIY monster costume comes together in minutes!
October 31st is coming up fast, and if you want a charming Halloween costume for kids on the quick that you don’t need to worry about getting ruined, then look no further than this DIY Frankenstein costume. If they don’t want to be a monster, check out our other favorite last-minute Halloween costume ideas here.
Amber Guetebier
Frankenstein Costume Supplies
old pants: anything with blown-out knees, ripped pockets, stains, or just too short, all work
an old shirt, ideally a turtleneck if you want to try to add the bolts. Best in any lighter color, not black or navy blue.
a black Sharpie
Optional: plastic toy bolts; yarn to add stitches
A slightly oversized blazer
For the face paint: green face paint and a black eyeliner
How to Make a Frankenstein Costume
Step 1. Shred It Just go ahead and cut holes in the pants here and there. If it's cold when you go trick-or-treating, you can always wear an extra layer underneath (green is ideal!).
Step 2. Stitchery Draw simple stitches on your shirt and a few across the pants. If you want to add some yarn stitches you can do that too.
Step 3. Neck Bolts
Basic: We used a turtleneck and a pair of plastic kid's bolts from a construction game. You essentially just cut small holes, slide the bolts in (backward), and put the nuts on to hold them in place. You could spray paint them silver if you want (we left ours black). The fabric of the turtleneck kept them from poking the neck or making it uncomfortable.
More advanced: You can also try making bolts using a headband to slide around the neck (this works well for older kids but little ones will probably lose track of this). We love this tutorial which is a little more involved but a bit comfier/less bulky.
Step 4. Face Paint
No need to go overboard with the green paint: you can make it a faint green that's relatively easy to wipe back off. Take black eyeliner and make stitch marks. Avoid putting marks over the eye or too near it as it makes it harder to wipe off later.
Don a blazer for the oh-so-Karloff look. Snowboots look great as clunky shoes, but sneakers will do the trick for your active tots.
Tip: This basic costume can be altered to become a zombie!
Summer is coming in hot, hot, hot. That means it's time to snag tickets for the best performances coming to the DC area. Enjoy al fresco sing-alongs at Wolf Trap, score free tickets for kid-friendly jams at the Strathmore or trade movie night for the concert version of your favorite cinematic score. If you want to know when Hamilton is hitting the stage or where you can belt out Encanto, scroll down.
Free Concerts for Kids
Strathmore
Black to the Future Join Pierce Freelon on Strathmore's front lawn to hear this Grammy-nominated artist blend elements of Afrofuturism, Black history, and archival voices. This "Black to the Future" concert will be fun for the entire family.
When: July 28, 7:00 p.m. Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda,MD Online: tinybeans.com
Elena Moon Park Korean-American musician Elena Moon Park will perform traditional songs, including Japanese sea shanties, Tibetan jump rope rhymes and joyous Korean harvest sing-alongs with her own twist. There will plenty of opportunities to sing and dance along in multiple languages.
When: July 14, 7:00 p.m. Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD Online: tinybeans.com
Somos Amigos: Songs on Common Ground Sonia De Los Santos and Americana folk duo The Okee Dokee Brothers join forces to bring a joyful message of friendship, This bilingual performance includes songs, old and new, that span the musical traditions of North America.
When: Aug. 11, 7:00 p.m Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD Online: tinybeans.com
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince In Concert The music in the Harry Potter films is just as magical as the stories themselves. The National Symphony Orchestra, led by Steven Reineke, will be playing along on-stage to the 6th installment of the Harry Potter movie series to add an additional layer of beauty to the beloved film.
When: July 22, 8:00 p.m. & July 23, 8:00 p.m. Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA Online: tinybeans.com
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert Star Wars would not be the same without it's incredible soundtrack. In this special showing, The National Symphony Orchestra presents John Williams’s iconic Oscar®-nominated score from The Empire Strikes Back performed live along with the full feature film. Even if you have seen The Empire Strikes back 100 times already, you have never seen it like this!
When: July 29, 8:00 p.m. Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA Online: tinybeans.com
Disney and Pixar's Toy Story in Concert
Hear the score for "You've Got a Friend in Me" and other songs from Toy Story in an entirely new way. In this performance, the National Symphony Orchestra will play along with the popular movie featuring the Oscar® and Grammy®-winning score by Randy Newman.
When: July 30, 8:00 p.m Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA Online: tinybeans.com
John Williams at 90: ET in Concert If you have a soft spot for an adorable Extra Terrestrial who just wants to "phone home" head to the Kennedy Center to hear the score to ET performed by the National Symphony Orchestra. Listening to the movie's music played live as the action unfolds on the big screen will renew your love of this classic film.
When: June 22, 8 p.m. Where: Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC Online: tinybeans.com
Encanto Whether your child belts out "We Don't Talk About Bruno" on the regular or you secretly sing "Surface Pressure" alone in the car, you will not want to miss this Encanto Sing Along. The entire film will play onstage accompanied by a live band. Best of all, singing every word to every song is strongly encouraged. Check out special VIP packages with perks, including the opportunity to walk the Encanto-themed red carpet.
When: Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA Online: tinybeans.com
Sound of Music If you can't stop yourself form singing along to the Sound of Music this performance is for you. Not only is singing along encouraged, but costumes are too! Best of all, you don't need to worry about forgetting any words to the songs since they will be displayed on the screen as the movie plays.
When: July 16 at 7:00 p.m. Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA Online: tinybeans.com
ABBA The Concert Mama Mia! Sweden’s ABBA The Concert continues to be the top ABBA tribute group in the world, dazzling audiences with fantastic performances of ABBA’s iconic hits.
When: Aug. 7 at 8:00 p.m Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA Online:tinybeans.com
The Original Kings of Go-Go Every DC kid should be familiar with the city's homegrown musical style. This performance will feature a collection of the best go-go groups in DC and invites audience members to come ready to dance and sing!
When: May 28 at 7:00 pm Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA Online: tinybeans.com
A Juneteenth Celebration with Thee Phantom and the Illlharmonic Orchestra Juneteenth is finally getting the recognition it deserves as an essential date in American history. This is an all-ages show, focused on celebrating Juneteenth. Since it takes place on Father's Day it's also a great option to celebrate the special Dad in your life.
When: June 19 at 6:00 p.m. Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA Online: tinybeans.com
Mr. Popper's Penguins Mr. Popper, a painter of modest means, dreams of taking an Antarctic adventure. Soon the patter of 20 baby penguin feet are afoot. To feed all of these mouths, the imaginative Mr. Popper and his wife turn his talented penguins into a must-see traveling vaudeville act full of song and dance.
A Monster Calls Based on the popular novel by Patrick Ness, this stage adaptation brings to life the story of thirteen-year-old Conor who goes through a hard time after moving to America. One night, at seven minutes past midnight, Conor is woken up by a monster at his window. The monster has come to tell Conor stories about where it has been before. Then, Conor needs to tell his own story and face his deepest fears.
When: May 25-Jun. 12 Where: Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC Online: tinybeans.com
Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Pigs You know the Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. You know the wolf from The Three Little Pigs. Have you ever considered that the wolf might be the same in both classic tales? Have you ever considered that maybe he's not so bad and is just misunderstood? Catch this puppet show to see if you've been wrong this entire time.
When: June 2- July 3 Where: Puppet Co. Theatre, Glen Echo Park, 7300 Macarthur Bouvard, Glen Echo, MD Online: tinybeans.com
Ravel Dance Company Presents Cinderella This version of Cinderella is based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, features over 80 dancers and is sure to delight the entire family. The ballet will feature the original ballet score by Sergei Prokofiev.
When: Jun. 5 Where: Capitol One Hall, 7750 Capital One Road, Tysons, VA Online: tinybeans.com
Fantastagirl and the Math Monster
Fantastagirl, a second-grade superhero who uses words to save the day, comes face to face with her worst nightmare: the Math Monster! When confronted with problems too big for words alone to solve, Fantastagirl must accept help from her friendly, furry, fraction-loving foe. While Fantastagirl and Math Monster use words and numbers to help her friends and scientist moms, something far more sinister than Math brews on the horizon.
When: June 17 – August 21 Where: Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo Park, 7300 Macarthur Bouvard, Glen Echo, MD Online: tinybeans.com
Children's Theatre In the Woods The beloved Children's Theater In The Woods program returns this summer. Kids can enjoy music, dancing, theatre, puppets and more. Stay after the performance for a walk through the woods and a picnic lunch.
When: Tues.-Sat. at 10:30 a.m. Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, VA Online: tinybeans.com
New York City Ballet: A Midsummer Night’s Dream This Shakespearian comedy is adapted beautifully by the New York City ballet. Although this performance is not technically a children's production, this version of the classic ballet is very family friendly.
When: June 7-12 Where: Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC Online: tinybeans.com
A Different Kind of Show
Feld Entertainment /Monster Jam
Start Your Engines! Watch Monster Truck drivers (and their trucks) perform tricks, jumps and more at Monster Jam. You can even vote for your favorite using an app.
Blue Man Group Experience eclectic music and art performed by men covered in blue from head to toe. This unique experience with a cult following will be fun for everyone.
When: July 19-31 Where: Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC Online: tinybeans.com
Cirque du Soliel Cirque du Soliel Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities tells the story of an inventor who defies the laws of time, space and dimension. His goal is to reinvest everything that surrounds him. In doing so, the visible becomes invisible, perspectives are transformed, and the world is literally turned upside down.
When: July 29 - Sept. 25 Where: Tyson's Corner, 1961 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons, VA Online: tinybeans.com
Six Six has it all from Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses. Want more? This sensational broadways how tells the story of all six wives of Henry VIII. These women (even the ones who were beheaded) take five hundred years of historical heartbreak and turn them into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power.
When: July 5 - July 10 Where: National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC Online: tinybeans.com
Hamilton Unless you have been living under a rock you are already familiar with this legendary musical telling the story of Alexander Hamilton. If you have a Hamil-Kid bring them to see Hamilton when it returns to DC.
When: Aug 2 – Oct 9 Where: Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC Online: tinybeans.com
Your little skippers will be ready for a high-seas adventure after learning a few fun words and phrases and their nautical origins. And if you like these, check out our pirate dictionary. You never know, one of these terms just might bale you out of the doldrums in just a couple of shakes. Read on!
Adrift: Evolved from the word ‘drift’ or float, it became a way of describing a ship moved by wind and tides. It is now used to describe anything that is lost, as in, “Her matching sock were adrift among the piles of laundry.”
Bale/bale out: To remove water from a vessel, this phrase now means to help someone out of a sticky situation. (Note: alternate, Old nautical English spelling of bail).
Becalm: To cut off the wind from the sails of a ship. Can be used interchangeably with sooth, as in, “The mother was able to becalm her child temporarily with the promise of a cookie.”
Booby: A fearless little sea bird that is known for being easy to catch. The term booby or boob is sometimes used to describe someone who may not be that bright.
Bumboat: A privately owned boat that sells goods or merchandise. Fun to say.
Caboose: Sure, you know it as the little red car at the end of a train but a ship has a caboose too! It’s the kitchen or galley on a small ship.
Cats paws: A term to describe small waves produced by light, variable winds on otherwise calm waters.
Chew (chewing) the fat: Salt pork or fatty, jerky-like meat was common food on sailing vessels as it lasted a long time without rotting. Sailors would complain about the food while gnawing away at the fat, thus the term became synonymous with gabbing, casual conversation or gossip.
Cranky: A crank was an unstable ship or vessel, now a term to describe a toddler who hasn’t napped.
Cringle: Not to be confused with Kris Kringle or the delicious pastry, kringle, this nautical term describes a rope loop at the corner of a sail for fixing the sail to the spar (see definition of spar below).
Dinghy: A dinghy can be a small boat carried or towed by a larger ship, often inflatable and used as a life raft; a type of racing yacht; or a rowboat.
Dog watch: A short watch period (for sailors on deck) from 4–6 p.m. or 6–8 p.m. it can also refer to any night shift, most often the last shift. As in, “Tonight Dad was on dogwatch for the little one’s feeding so mom could get some much-needed sleep.”
Doldrums: An area in the equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms and unpredictable but light winds. Because of the variable weather ships would get stuck in the doldrums. Now we use it as a term to describe being stuck or stagnant. As in, “Our nightly dinner routine is in the doldrums.”
Dolphin: A man-made structure in the sea or river used as a marker.
Earings: Nope, not (earrings) the kind with bling. These are the small lines that secure the upper corners of the largest sail to the yardarms. (See below for yardarms definition).
Fore and aft: From stem to stern or lengthwise of a ship. “Please vacuum your room fore and aft and not just the entryway.”
Ghost: To sail slowly.
Gob-stoppers: Grapeshot put in the mouth of a young, gabby sailor. Now used to describe the hard, chipped-tooth-inducing candy.
Grapeshot: Small cannonballs; basically smallish balls of lead fired from a canon used to damage rigging or aimed directly at sailors on an enemy ship (cannon balls would be used to cause more structural damage and sink the ship).
Hog: A rough flat scrubbing brush for cleaning the ship’s bottom underwater. No comment.
Horse: To move or adjust a sail by hand, using brute force rather than running rigging.
Hulk: An old ship that has become obsolete. (not all that incredible).
Jack, also jack tar: A sailor. Also sometimes a flag on a ship.
Jury rig: The act of rigging temporary mast or sails, also the actual mast or sail that has been temporarily rigged. This is now used interchangeably with makeshift.
Mind your P’s & Q’s: When sailors would go to a port town and visit the local tavern, the barkeepers would give them credit. A “P” would indicate pint and a “Q” was a quart. So when payday came and it time to pay their tab, they’d be minding their Ps and Qs. It is now considered a term for good manners.
Ship Shape: A term now used to say something is clean, tidy and ready to go, in the 1800s, ships were inspected to make sure they were okay to port. If a vessel was in “ship shape” it was free of disease or other unsavories. “Timmy’s room was in ship shape before the play date.”
Show your true colors: A warship would have many colored flags on board to try and deceive enemy ships. The true color would only be revealed when it was too late. Now it’s a term used to describe someone who has shown their true nature.
Spar: Not to be confused with the verb which means to fight, a spar is a pole, usually of wood or metal, used to support the ship’s sail. Sometimes called a pelican striker.
Spin a yarn: This phrase means to tell a story or a tale and is comes from the stories sailors would tell to pass the time while doing monotonous tasks such as making spun-yarn.
Starboard and Port: Starboard is the ship’s right and port its left. Fun fact: the term “posh” originated from port out, starboard home, said to be the way to get the best view, and so where the elite class was seated or bunked.
Two shakes or a couple of shakes: Used to describe a short period of time, as in, “Give me two shakes and I’ll have your PB&J ready.” Sailors would measure short periods of time by the shaking of the sails.
Whole nine yards: Old ships had three masts, each of which had three-yard sails, so the whole nine yards meant all sails were up. Now it means all of something.
Yardarms: Either end of a yard of a square sail.
What’s your favorite nautical term or phrase? Share it with us in the comments below.
Halloween is almost here! While things are not quite back to normal regarding large gatherings and trick-or-treating, costumes and (especially one with masks!) are still a great way to have some fun with all your fall activities. Have a fun time dressing up around the house or wherever your Halloween and Fall adventures take you with these Portland, Oregon-themed costumes. Remember to practice social distancing but stay together as a pod, you never know what kind of donuts or lumberjacks you might find lurking around these October PDX streets!
The modern state of Oregon was in many ways built on sawmills, timber, and the logging industry. While the industry was perhaps rightly criticized for its clear cutting of old growth forests in the past, the myth of the lumberjack and our abundance of trees remains one of the enduring symbols of the state of Oregon. The lumberjack was the mythical cowboy-esque persona of this era and personified in years past by the likes of Paul Bunyan and today by people like Timber Joey, the Portland Timbers “Mascot” who saws off a ring of wood from a tree every time the Timbers score a goal. Conversely, if you’re against the very idea of this, consider going as a tree hugger. The spirit of protest and demonstration is still alive and well in Oregon.
This could possibly be the most Portland costume of all time, and it’s a classic that will never go out of style. Get the whole family in on it with individual cloud or raindrop costumes and then designate someone to carry or be a rainbow! You can buy costumes online or get crafty and creative. With a little cotton, colored paper and glue, you’ll have the cutest rainstorm in town.
Portland loves its Blazers and Timbers. Any real Timbers fan has enough gear to outfit the entire army, so put it to good use! You can make it interactive with pretend axe-chopping your way up and down the street. Or just get your brand new babe an adorable onesie and you’ll have all of the ghosts and ghouls gathered to get a peak.
Portland may be known for some of its hipster qualities. But there was a time when weirdoes and hippies filled our streets. Evoke the classic Portland hippie in the days of flower power, jam bands, and bell bottoms. Our local Good Will and classic vintage stores are packed with everything that you need. There is no shortage of vintage needs here in Portland! Online shops are also a COVID-safe go-to if you can’t pull some pieces out of the back of your own closet.
Portlanders love their donuts! There are plenty of donut outfits you can purchase online. You could even DIY this one at home with some felt. Go all VooDoo and stick real cereal to the costume! Or, if you’re more of a savory person, celebrate your love for Portland’s own Pine State Biscuits. Bonus points for some gravy and fried chicken on top.
Dress up as an ode to your favorite food cart–if your little one is in a stroller, you’ve got a rolling costume! DIY some local favorites like Khao Man Gai, The Grilled Cheese Bus, or others. Or, if you’re a foodie family who watched Top Chef Portland, dress up like your favorite Top chef judge or contestant.
Sasquatch
The mythical Sasquatch usually stays out of view, but this Halloween he just might make an appearance. After 2020, who knows what could happen! Get ready to greet him with your very own sasquatch costume to welcome him to the neighborhood. Or perhaps all the isolation has finally goteen to Sasquatch and he found himself trapped in the world’s only Sasquatch trap, located in Siskiyou National Forest.
Portlanders love their pizza. According to one author, Portland even has the best pizza in the country! Dress up like your favorite slice or restaurant and watch out for those who try to eat you!
Put A Bird On It
This might be the easiest idea for a Portland costume ever! Throw it back to 2011 with a Portlandia-inspired costume—just put a bird on it! Other ideas might include goths, street punks, butchers, and picklers!
Looking for fun activities to keep the kids creative this summer? Never fear, Michael’s is here!
The craft store has announced Camp Creatology, four weeks of free online crafting for kids three and up! From July 12 through Aug. 6, your kiddos can sign up for a free kids craft through Zoom, with unique daily themes.
Kiddos will have access to fun crafts Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with new weekly themes. So what kind of crafts can you expect?
Week 1: Beads & Bells
Week 2: Yay for Yarn
Week 3: Play with Paper
Week 4: How Awesome is Art?
Each class will be from 4 to 5 p.m. CST via Zoom on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. All you have to do is head to Michaels to sign up for your classes now.
We all want our children to grow up to be good people. We all want them to be proud and strong. We want them to be good citizens. And, we want them to be kind. National Random Acts of Kindness Day, which is held annually on February 17, is all about doing good for others, but it also sparks an opportunity to celebrate and practice kindness with children all year round.
Scientific evidence supports that doing kind acts for others is good for us and helps decrease feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression. Engaging children in performing kind acts build up their ability to show compassion for others and helps create healthy, supportive communities where they can live and grow.
My fellow education experts teamed up with Kiddie Academy’s corporate social responsibility team to craft a list of activities your child can do to spread kindness and brighten someone’s day.
1. Pick up litter in your neighborhood. Teach your kids to be kind to the Earth and give love to the environment by picking up trash, such as plastic or paper that may be harmful to animals and plants.
2. Write a friend a thoughtful note. Have your child hand write a note to their best buddy describing what they like about them. It’s sure to put a smile on their face.
3. Hold the door open for someone. This little act of kindness goes a long way. Instruct your kids to hold the door for the person behind them, smile, and say hello. It may just make their day.
4. Draw a picture for a relative or a friend. Art is a great way to get the creative juices flowing while also spreading kindness. Have your kids draw photos for friends or relatives.
5. Read a book with a sibling. If you have multiple children, encourage them to spend quality time together by reading a bedtime story. It will remind them both that they have a built-in friend no matter what.
6. Help clean up after a meal. The cook of the family will appreciate it if you teach your kids to bring the finished plates to the sink. It’s also a great way to get kids involved in mealtime.
7. Clean up your playroom. Encourage kids to take some off of mom and dad’s plate by spending a few minutes putting toys and books away.
8. Leave a box of chalk at the playground or write a kind chalk message on the neighborhood sidewalk. Spread kindness within your community in a socially distant way by having your kids write positive memos such as, “Be yourself and have a great day!” for the neighborhood to see and enjoy.
9. Write a “thank-you” note to local essential workers, like first responders and health care workers. Give back kindness to the people who help keep us safe everyday by encouraging your kids to tell essential workers how much they appreciate everything they do.
10. Make a friendship bracelet for a friend. Teach your child to use yarn and beads to create a fun and vibrant bracelet for a friend. It’s a fun way to show appreciation for one another.
A child is never too young to adopt the fundamentals of good character. These acts of kindness, among many others, teach a child that they can change the course of someone’s day and make an impact. You never know where kindness will take you!
Joy has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. As Vice President of Education at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, she oversees all things curriculum, assessment, training and more. Joy earned a B.S. in Education from Salisbury University.
Selecting a baby carrier can be a daunting task for any new parent, especially once the realization sets in that there are several types to consider (hello structured carriers, wraps & ring slings, to name a few)! Layer in personal preferences like weight, fabric, eco-consciousness and style and you could be down a shopping rabbit hole for hours.
One carrier that checks our boxes? The Ergobaby Aerloom carrier. It marries function & form with the added benefit of being eco-friendly and stylish. It also happens to be one of the lightest structured carriers on the market, weighing in at 1.45 lbs and is made from FormaKnit™ fabric in a seamless knit design inspired by the activewear industry (AKA breathable).
Not only is the fabric durable & breathable, (which will be key for wearing baby during the hottest days of summer) but 87% of the knit of each carrier is made from recycled polyester yarn and reuses 26 post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. So it’s safe to say the carriers are quite eco-friendly! Bake in the fact that they’re also shipped in recyclable, direct shipper packaging and no additional box or packaging and it’s enough to make your green heart sing.
The carrier also features a zippered pocket to keep essentials as secure as the little one you’ll be carrying. It currently comes in 5 color combinations with each collection produced in small, limited batches: light grey/grey/orange, sky blue/blue, multi-color/black, burgundy/dark teal/black and charcoal/black with most colors never to be produced again after they sell out.
The Ergobaby Aerloom retails for $219 and you can check out the collection and current color selection at Ergobaby.
Just because it’s December 26th doesn’t mean Christmas is over. Some Christmases seem to last forever. Here’s a look at some of the ways Christmas can linger.
Christmas the week after Christmas. Didn’t get the cards and packages into the mail? Oopsie! At least we can blame the Post Office or UPS. Not that that fools anyone, but if you’re skilled enough, you can pull off this excuse. Or you can give cakes, cookies, or other gifts of food and know that they will be eaten for at least a few days after the food-rich holiday celebration has worn off. And leftover Christmas cookies make great New Year’s Eve snacks, at least according to my friend Beth. Dunk them in cocoa and no one will ever know they’re stale.
Russian Christmas. All the Easter Orthodox Christians’ celebrations, really. They have Christmas on January 7th. At one office where I worked, our department included one person of Slavic heritage who celebrated Russian Christmas. Our department head decided that we all would too. I think it was supposed to be out of respect for Annie, but I suspect it was really because Carl liked to avoid the whole-office frivolities and have a quieter celebration later. Not that it got us out of the enforced jollity of the Official Office Christmas Party, but it did provide a nice P.S. to the season.
Christmas gifts that keep on giving. One year when I was a teen, my parents were plagued with medical expenses and couldn’t afford elaborate presents. The main present that year was an appropriate magazine subscription for each of us. (Mine was Sky and Telescope, if I remember correctly. It was either that or Analog Science Fiction.) Every month when an issue came, it was like Christmas all over again.
And subscriptions don’t just have to be magazines these days. Wine, fruit, and other foodstuffs can be delivered regularly throughout the year – monthly or quarterly – bringing a breath of Christmas as they arrive. And if the first package arrives in January, who’s to know whether you ordered it the day before Christmas or the day after?
Another long-term gift is the coupon book. Although a book of car wash coupons barely makes it as an adequate stocking stuffer, coupons for home-baked treats, chores (or reprieves from chores), and even erotic activities can be a big hit. Kids can get in on at least the first two of those, either as givers or recipients.
The Christmas-in-the-future strategy. One Christmas my friend Caren gave me a nicely wrapped gift. When I opened it, it proved to be a number of strands of yarn, in various shades of blue, purple, and indigo. There was no card explaining it, and she refused to tell me what it was all about. “You’ll see,” she said.
Later – much later – it was June, I think – Caren unveiled the actual present. It was a lovely knitted blanket, made of panels of the various colors of yarn I had received at Christmas. (Since she was an engineer, the panels were arranged in a specific geometrical pattern.) It was cozy, beautiful, and welcome, even if it was several more months before I could actually use it.
364 days before Christmas shopping. Nowadays, ugly holiday sweaters are the vogue – the tackier the better. But Christmas sweaters used to be badges of pride and belonging rather than objects of ridicule. Once I worked in an office where it was customary for women to wear holiday sweaters, and even sweatshirts “bedazzled” with shiny objects, iron-on appliqués, and embroidery.
Holiday clothing was not a custom I had ever practiced. I was trying desperately to fit in with the others, but I was not about to spend $20-$30 on a sweater I would wear perhaps two times per year, or a sweatshirt, glitter, glue, and sequins that would inevitably end up stuck to my hands and face.
So I started haunting the day-after-Christmas sales. Holiday sweaters were abundant and cheap. (If you wait much longer, all the holiday fashions will have disappeared into back rooms.) I managed to pick up a couple of sweaters and a festive vest at bargain prices. My favorite was a dark blue sweater with a nighttime scene of Santa landing on rooftops. (I look better in blue than red and green.) I packed the garments away in preparation for the next spate of holiday festivities.
Wouldn’t you know it – I left that job to go freelance before the next December came. Now I have all these sweaters and no place to wear them – except the Chinese buffet, where my husband and I usually spend our holidays, among the pagans, Jews, and atheists, chowing down on lo mein, crab legs, and “Happy Family.”
And we can return there, year-round, and celebrate the holidays year-round.
But I feel certain I should leave the Christmas sweaters at home in the dresser.
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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.
Resilience is an ability that we all need to master, but raising a resilient child is important for their overall development. Whether it’s not doing well on an exam, not getting picked first for a team, or forgetting lines in the school play, childhood is filled with opportunities to learn from mistakes, adversity, or disappointments. Developing resilience early on helps prepare a child to learn how to stay positive and keep moving forward. One fool-proof way parents can support resilience in children is through reading.
Children’s books about fantasy and science fiction with characters in seemingly impossible situations feature critical life skills like determination, ingenuity, and most importantly, resilience. Children know that a little girl’s hair couldn’t really grow so long that one could climb down it, or a gingerbread man could never actually run away. However, great children’s stories take kids on imaginative journeys and help them develop similar life skills as these characters often portray.
Children’s books do not need to provide a mirror image of reality in order to offer compelling stories about serious issues. The fact that the setting or characters are extraordinary may be why they are so powerful, and where their true value lies. For example, in one of our suggested books, a little girl has a box of magic yarn, and the author uses the girl’s actions and determination to illustrate her resilience and strength against the evil archduke. Children often connect to examples of young characters in plots who are grappling with relatable and relevant issues but in unique settings or fictitious times. So grab a book to share with your child and create a teachable moment as you discover heroes and heroines who defy defeat and develop resiliency through their hardships.
Here’s our go-to list of books that will inspire resilience in young readers:
Grades Kindergarten to Second:
Extra Yarn by Jon Klassen, Illustrated by Jon Klassen. In this Caldecott Honor picture book, a drab, colorless town gets a change of tone and attitude with the help of a box of yarn and a girl named Annabelle. To her surprise, the box is filled with yarn of every color. Armed with knitting needles, Annabelle makes herself a sweater but when she finishes, she finds that she has Extra Yarn leftover. Looks like everyone and everything is getting their wool cozies including those chilly mailboxes. And still, there is yarn leftover! All this knitting does not go unnoticed by the evil, clothes-loving, mustache-wearing archduke. He wants Annabelle’s magic box of never-ending yarn for himself. Will Annabelle be able to keep her magical box of yarn from the clutches of the nefarious archduke?
Swimmy by Leo Lionni. Lionni had a career in art, and often wrote books for his grandchildren. On a long train ride, he found himself with no drawing materials. He tore out circles of yellow and blue from a magazine to help him tell the story he had in mind. Lionni became the first children’s author/illustrator to use collage as the main medium for his illustrations. Swimmy, this book’s main character, is different from the others and finds a way to use his individuality to benefit his community. If you like this one, read his other books such as Frederick, Inch by Inch, and A Color of His Own.
Grades 3-4
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. Stories of real-life individuals are inspiring. The stories of others who have triumphed over adversity through problem solving and determination will teach children to have the confidence to do the same. This is a great little window into Ginsburg’s history and family life, adding some humor into the mix, making her more than just a hero, but a compassionate, unique, well-rounded person who isn’t so grand at singing and cooking.
Knights of the Kitchen Table (Time Warp Trio #1) by John Scieszka, Illustrated by Lane Smith. A loveable 16 book series about three time-traveling friends. The boys are catapulted in time when they open the magical book that was given to them. The only way the boys are able to return to present-day Brooklyn, New York is to find “The Book” again within whatever time period they are in. The team must use critical thinking to solve puzzles, escape villains, and avoid dragons. This series has great drawings, silly situations, and captivates early readers. Because each book in the Time Warp Trio series focuses on a certain period in history, this is the perfect opportunity for a family to study an era together.
Grades 5-8
Front Desk by Kelly Yang. This book is based on the author’s own teenage job of running the front desk at the hotel at which she and her Chinese immigrant family worked. This is a great novel for parents and children to read together, to discuss tough subjects like racism, poverty, and the exploitation of immigrants. My favorite line in the book is, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll make friends, and if I don’t, I’ll borrow books from the library.”
Hatchet (Brian’s Saga Series Book 1) by Gary Paulson. In this Newbery Honor book, Brian is traveling on a small plane above the thick Canadian wilderness. He and the pilot are the only passengers, on their way to visit Brian’s father who lives in Northern Canada. Things go bad when the plane crashes, killing the pilot, and leaving Brian as the only survivor. With nothing but his clothing and a hatchet his mother had given him, Brian must survive. During his ordeal, he learns about himself and his own resilience while trying to survive the horrible predicament he is in.
Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
