Something to do while staying at home:

• Today may be a bit warmer and with no rain.  A great day to take a field trip to one of our many parks.  Take your disinfectant wipes, pack a picnic lunch and get out and play!
   

• When we FINALLY get to go shopping again, a lot of us will feel like dancing in the streets!  But before we do....maybe we should learn how!  Here's a quick 10 minute lesson that anyone can learn

  • Old School 1 - 10 Minute Dance Class - YouTube video

• MAYBE we can get outside today.  Jumping rope is fun, it is good exercise, and kids and grownups can participate together.

  • Try these fun jump rope games - Link

  • Try these old fashioned jumping rope rhymes - Link
     

• Craft day!

  • Make a birdhouse from popsicle sticks - YouTube video
     

• Another cool and damp day ahead.  Today stay inside and try something a little more challenging.  Take two smaller jigsaw puzzles (500 pieces or less) and pour all the pieces into a bowl.  Mix them up, dump them out and put together two puzzles at once!

• Rainy days are great for slow cooking.  Prepare this home made Beef Stew and enjoy the cooking aroma all day long!

  • Crock Pot Beef Stew - Link
     

• Let's have a "Throw Back Thursday" that is good for our sense of humor and our soul.  Who remembers humorist Erma Bombeck (1927-1996)?  (If you don't know her, now is a good time to get acquainted.) We found this website with some of her best quotes.  Enjoy!

  • 47 Erma Bombeck Quotes About Life, Marriage and God - LINK

• There is rain in the forecast the rest of this week.  Use that time inside to learn a new craft - Macramé.  Learn your knots with shorter pieces of inexpensive yarn.  When you're ready, move on to jute or sturdy cord and make your own plant hanger for outdoor use later.

  • Macramé Basic Knots - Link

  • A simple Macrame' plant hanger - Link

  • Something a little more complicated - YouTube Video

   

• Time to take a nature walk.  Kickapoo Creek Park is open for hiking when observing social distancing.  Read the article - print the scavenger hunt sheet and go for a walk.  If you don't want to go to the park, you can also find most of these items in our city and county parks and maybe even in your own back yard!

  • Try a Nature Scavenger Hunt - Link

  • Scavenger Hunt page - Printable PDF

   

• For all our stay at home parent/teachers and students you can take a great field trip to a local museum right in front of your computer.  View the three part field trips of the Lincoln Heritage Museum at Lincoln College.  Hosted by Anne Moseley and Ron Keller.

  • Lincoln Heritage Museum part one - Link

  • Lincoln Heritage Museum part two - Link

  • Lincoln Heritage Museum part three - Link

   

• Sunday is Mother's Day and it can still be a very special day for mom in spite of the stay at home orders.  Instead of taking her out to lunch guys, get in the kitchen with the kiddos and make her a special brunch/breakfast.  Here are easy, kid friendly recipes to choose from.

  • Red Berry Smoothies - Link

  • Cheese N Bacon Pull Aparts - Link

  • Breakfast Wraps - Link

  • Breakfast Casserole - Link

  • Grandma Ciolkosz’s Pancakes - Link

  • Peach Fruit Dip to serve with your choice of fresh fruits - Link

• AND REMEMBER if you are not sheltering with your mother, give her a call!
   

• We know this has gone on for WEEKS now.  Our little ones especially may have become restless and need a little help to stay at their best.  Try creating a Reward Chart for each one.  Customize it with chores they can do, homework goals, and acts of kindness they show to one another.  Then, give them a reward to work toward with their good behavior and helping around the house.

  • Here are some tips from Psychology Today - Link

  • Look here for a variety of FREE printable and customizable charts - Link
     

• Read online "Three Hens and a Peacock" - Link

• Then - Make a Paper Bag Peacock Puppet - Link

• Let's play Charades!

  • Here are the standard rules - Link

  • Here is a list of words to act out - varying levels of difficulty - Link
    
     

• How to make an your own personalized journal - Link

• Bake hearty home made bread without yeast - Link

• How to Make Flowers From Coffee Filters: 8 Patterns and Tips - Link

• Twelve Red Solo Cup games for kids of all ages - link

• Make a stick horse from oven mitts - no sewing required - link

• Make a Tipsy Pots Tower Planter for your garden - link

• A project for the kiddos of any age - Make shopping bags from old tee-shirts - link

• Make easy Tuna Bumsteads for lunch - LINK

• Bake funfetti cookies from a cake mix - LINK

• Your Go-To Guide for Gardening with Children

FROM THE ST. LOUIS AQUARIUM

• Enjoy Breakfast with Nitro the Sea Turtle - Link

• Create your own African Spurred Tortoise - Pdf

• It's time to get outside!
  Try out some of these fun games for kids - Link

• Put together a backyard golf hole for yourself and the kids - Link

• For the grownups
  Visit the Las Vegas Neon Museum - U-tube link

• For the family
  Enjoy Dolphin Days at Sea World - U-tube link

• For the little ones
  The Ugly Duckling - U-tube link

• Snuggle up with your toddler and enjoy Goodnight with Dolly  - new bedtimes stories each Thursday night read aloud by Dolly Parton  (scroll down on the page for past readings)

Think spring with fun and easy DIY yard decor

• Make a collection of rock caterpillars - link

• Make a bugs and bees tic-tac-toe board - link

• Turn old flower pots into backyard mushrooms - link
   

• Start your own worm composting project with scraps from the table

• Make ice cream with a lock top baggie

• Make an origami fortune teller - link 

• Make a kite from a plastic bag - link

• National Weather Service offers FREE online education for kids - link 

• Take a Virtual Visit to the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station