This week's Discover and Explore linky is Art & Museum Fun!

I'm a huge fan of taking kids to visit art museums.  Yes!  They will have a good time -- and NO! They will not ruin the artwork.  I have taken my kids to art museums dozens of times and (other than a few slightly embarassing questions) we have never had any mishaps.  Your 4-year old may ask why all the statues are naked, but that's part of the learning that goes along with viewing artwork :)  And museums offer our kids a wonderful look into the creative minds and thoughts of others!

There are many types of art museums that you can visit - some have ancient art galleries (think mummies and greek sculpture), others have modern art pieces (which can lead to really great discussions with kids), and almost all museums will have paintings, drawings and photography.   One of the things I love about an art museum visit is that it will appeal to kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens!

Are you looking for some creative, colorful and just down-right awesome crafts for the kids to do this summer?  Boy do I have a few to show you!

We had some really amazing posts shared at our Discover & Explore Flowers linky post and many of them will entice your child to create something beautiful.

I'm very excited to introduce a new series to the blog beginning next week! 

I will be co-hosting Discover & Explore, a weekly themed linky with Shaunna from Fantastic Fun & Learning.

I'm not sure what it is about February -- one day it's sunny and springlike and the next we're knee deep in snow! 

Like so many others, we are having a 'snow day' this week (to the delight of my kids, we're actually having 2 snow days).

Are you looking for gift ideas for a curious kid?  You know, a child who loves to ask 'why', takes things apart to see how they work and is always wondering about something?

I LOVE curious kids!  And shopping for them can be lots of fun because there are a number of great gift ideas that they'll enjoy.

 

 

Not sure what to get the kids (your kids, nieces, nephews or grandkids) this year? 

Skip the electronics and go for a classic gift

that will inspire them to be creative. 

Some of these ideas will also work as fun stocking stuffers!

 

 

We are HUGE fans of Melissa & Doug toys in our house. 

My daughter asks for them by name -- she doesn't ask for a set of pretend food, it's "the Melissa & Doug Cupcake Decorating Set" that's requested. 

 

 

 

Have you ever heard the song by Frank Sinatra -- "Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars; Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars". 

It's a great song, and if you think about it, really represents what we have accomplished in space exploration over the past 50 years.

We've been to the moon, and beyond.  We've learned about the environments of other planets.  We've discovered things we never knew could exist.  And hopefully, this interest and wonder of space will continue with future generations.

I'm so excited to be joining more than 20 other kid bloggers to host a virtual (online) book club for kids!  Really, it's a book club for families - a great way to introduce kids to wonderful authors, quality books and fun activities.

 

Are you raising curious kids?  You know, kids who love to ask questions, search for the answers and learn new things?  If so, BRAVO! Curious kids are the result of 'thinking families' -- You must be a 'thinking' family!

Thinking families encourage kids to ask questions.  When your child asks 'why' or 'how', thinking families enjoy the exchange of ideas and the hunt for ways to answer the questions.

 

I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

 

I'm very excited to be one of the hosts for the Weekly Kid's Co-op this week!  Amazing bloggers from around the world link up their kids activity and project posts so they are all in one convenient place for you to find - yea!  We've got posts for kids from infants through tween ages -- there are crafts, recipes, book recommendations, activity lists and cool ideas for you to browse, pin and do at home with your kids.

Do your kids love those brightly colored bricks?  They will LOVE a visit to Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City!  And it's not just about building - there are rides, a 4D movie, master builder class and lots of room to create, build and explore!

 

The Easter Bunny has visited our house for more than 14 years, each time hiding a bunch of (plastic) eggs.  I hate throwing things out -- so with more than 100 of these crazy things in the house, I really needed to find some good ways to put them to use. 

Here are some fun & practical ways to reuse plastic eggs.

 

As a child, I loved the idea that 'little people' might be living in our house.  Books like "The Borrowers" and "The Littles" allowed for much imagination and creative thinking on my part. 

When "The Secret World of Arrietty" was released as a movie this past year (a film based on "The Borrowers" series), I made sure to dig out some of the old books that I loved as a child so I could share them with my kids. 

Here are a few fun ways to explore the world of tiny people in your own home:

February 2^nd is Groundhog's Day - the halfway point of winter. 

If you've got kids, you know that there's some quirky draw to that furry, little creature who pops his head out to see if it will be a longer winter. 

Here's a list of some fun ways to celebrate along with Phil!

How would you like to make a resolution that you know you’ll keep this year?  How about 12? 

I know what you’re thinking, sometimes it’s impossible to keep one resolution, much less 12 - but here’s the plan:  one resolution each month that will help families to become more connected, creative and healthy.