Winter Butterfly

Idea for today. Here's an origami butterfly that's easy to make. Teach it to bored children & then go outside & take photographs like the one above. Start with a large piece of paper to learn the folds. Use leftover holiday wrapping paper for a colorful grouping. Clear instructions & a helpful video, here. So pretty. xoxo

(photograph by luminous grey)

Santa Tracker

There's a new Santa Tracker this year by Google & it's very cute.This will keep little kids occupied for awhile & you can always use it as an encouragement-threat-bribe (that is a thing, yes). Doesn't work on cats, be forewarned. If they're driving you mad, the children, here's the National Gallery's free Kids Art Zone, coloring pages, & last-minute fuss-free crafts. Breathe! xoxo 

PS: NORAD's Santa Tracker is up & running, too.

(illustration from Miracle on 34th Street via LA Times) 

Look for the Helpers

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” - Mister Rogers

Some resources (PDF) from Sesame Street for parents & caregivers to speak with children about Friday's Newtown school murders.

Some ways to help the Newtown, Connecticut community.

The photograph of Fred Rogers was taken by Jim Judkis. His daughter Maura's thoughts in the Washington Post Arts blog about what it means to her & to her father. Lovely. xoxo

Happy Ladybug Day!

You don't know what that is, right? (Neither did we until a few days ago.)

Links to Ladybug Day:

The LD page.

The adorable Sesame Street video (which you probably do remember).

If you're still in the coloring page stage, some free ones (including a cute bookmark). For big kids, ladybug clipart.

xo/gg

(photograph by *Nishe)

Dine Out to End Childhood Hunger 2012

Please share this important information with family & friends, on Twitter & Facebook:

Share Our Strength's Dine Out For No Kid Hungry® is a national event that brings together thousands of restaurants and millions of diners to help make sure no child in America grows up hungry. Through the end of September, participating restaurants will raise funds through a variety of ways to support No Kid Hungry, Share Our Strength's national campaign to end childhood hunger in America. Dine at a supporting OpenTable restaurant and help end childhood hunger in America! (via Share Our Strength)

Here are participating restaurants in the Washington, DC-area & the New York City-area. Check this interactive map for a restaurant in a city near you.

Thank you & cheers!

PS: If you own or manage an independent or single-franchise restaurant, please visit Share Our Strength to find out what you can do to help.

(Julie & Julia still by Jonathan Wenk)

Origami Kids

Kids at heart, we're folding origami birds this afternoon. It's a great way to focus on something positive. Earlier this summer, Origami Kids started following us on Twitter. All day long, photographs of cute origami projects pop up in the timeline. It's a great way to take the mind off of the news. Briefly. (Warning though: there are an awful lot of adverts on the site.) Start folding!

Ciao/GG

PS: Previous origami post & paper airplanes, too.

(lovely photograph (detail) by Bethan Phillips)

For the Children of Syria

The war in Syria is taking a severe toll on women & children (as always). Elisabeth Dunker of Fine Little Day is raising funds for Save the Children with the sale of three of her sweet posters. Nordic Design Collective's Tovelisa is doing the same. Please visit Fine Little Day for details.

xo/GG

(Magic by Hanna Konola via Fine Little Day)

Summer Ideas List for Children

It's that point in the summer when nerves are beginning to fray, ideas for fun are exhausted, & it is so very hot in much of North America (& rainy in the Europe). Or you forgot what you were planning to do. Or you never did make a to-do list anyway. You are in luck because you're reading this & we happened upon Patricia's blog good + happy day on Playful Learning & they have plenty of ideas.

This is not difficult, doesn't cost a lot of money: have everyone at home (or those you see regularly, this can include friends with kids) make a list of ideas. (Here are some of Patricia's.)Then start doing them before the next whine or argument. Do this tonight.

ciao-meow/xo

PS: When in doubt, throw an art party. Here is the GG online education resources label (includes children's art & literature sites).

(photograph of the adorable Aurora by Morillo)

Atlantic Puffins

Atlantic Puffins spend most of their time at sea — coming to land each spring to breed in colonies on northern seacoasts and rocky islands, like Seal Island in Maine, home to the puffins visible on our live cam. These colorful pigeon-sized birds lay one egg in their burrow homes, with the male and female sharing incubation duties for approximately 39-43 days. After the chick hatches both parents feed it fish for approximately 45 days. After that the “puffling” is large enough to fledge (leave the nest.) ~ Audubon Society

If you have children around, you can excuse becoming hooked on the baby puffin live cam at Seal Island in Maine on them. If not, you're on your own. National Geographic's Kids has a good creature feature on Atlantic puffins. And here's a short learning unit (with a coloring page & a crossword) on puffins.

Giulia is far too interested in the live cam, so we're off for a nap.

ciao/xo

(photograph by kenyai via Mother Nature Network)

Helping Kids Stay Creative

For an excellent list of sites to help kids stay creative, click over to My Life Scoop. There are a few GG faves & then some new-to-us.

Things are very busy here but we'll pick up the posting pace next week as we decamp to house-sit for Paris-bound friends.

ciao/GG/xo

(photograph by Jason Lee via My Modern Met)

Let's Move (This Summer)

The Let's Move! website is looking a lot better & more interactive these days. Encourage the White House by visiting the site & using it for inspiration (& some cool tools).

ciao-meow/GGCM

PS: Really trying to pick up the pace & length of posts...but life is not cooperating. Thanks for sticking around. (And for the emails of concern. Return emails forthcoming - promise!)

(photograph detail by D Sharon Pruitt)

Blowing Bubbles

It's so hot here that sitting in a tub of bubbles is more likely than playing outside. But if you are child-wrangling, here's how to make a lot of bubbles (tested, it works great). A super-bubble video from France (where these are called 'bulles')

ciao-meow/GGCM

PS: For grownups: the best bubbles; the best budget bubbles. IMNSHO

(photograph by ce sont mes yeux)

Poetry for Children

If Tuesday is any indication, this week is already lost to us. We'll try to regain some sense of optimism...soon. Meanwhile, the Poetry Foundation is a favorite site & their Children's Poetry section is new-to-GGCM but looks quite good. Cultivating a love of poetry cannot begin too soon.

ciao-meow

(Briton Rivière painting by via dflam)

Paper Airplanes

There might be something more gratifying than making a little child laugh really hard but we don't know what that might be. This is really simple. Take some paper, make an airplane (or several) & do what comes naturally. You won't get them to go as high as the ones in the photograph (probably) but if there's a bit of breeze, you never know. (See here to review the physics of flight & good for you. Just don't be a nag about it. This is for fun.)

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Taesang via Автор)

Arthur Recreates Scenes from Classic Movies

For a little Monday after the Oscars fun, visit Emily Cleaver's Arthur & his recreation of classic movie scenes. Arthur's range is extraordinary. From American Beauty to Zulu, he shows a lack of snobbery which is key in appreciating movies in all their glory.

There's also a calendar that raises funds for the NSPCC (in the UK) & the Make-A-Wish Foundation (in the States). Emily's literary website has reviews, fiction, & lots of good links. She's a cheerful & amusing tweeter, too.

ciao-meow/GGCM

PS: For another baby at the movies, see Don't Call me Oscar.

(photograph by Emily Cleaver)

Prepare for MLK Day

There's no shortage of information for ideas on how to spend the holiday. Mainly, we favor a mix of commemoration & service. If you agree (or would like to find out more), check in at the MLK Day of Service page at Serve.gov.

If you will be child-wrangling on Monday (or anytime this three-day weekend), check out the excellent ideas, cute photographs & free download printables at Preschool Daze. It's absolutely wonderful. We applaud Kristin for her generosity.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(MLK image collage via Preschool Daze)

Santa Tracker

A reminder to anyone child-wrangling today & tomorrow. Check out this fun Santa Tracker. To complete your digital holiday needs: if you're on Twitter follow the Santa Tracker feed. Also for leetle ones: free coloring pages & some art projects from the archives. The Washington Post's KidsPost is fun wherever you live.

We only wish little GG responded to threats of Santa is watching. She's asleep in a sunspot now but only after a mad dash through the apartment dragging a red bead garland retrieved from the Christmas tree. Ahem. Off to run some errands!

ciao-meow/GG Holiday Central

(photograph by Anneke)

A Story a Day Awaits

Head's up, readers: a free website with a new children's story each day.

By giving you a new story every day of every month, knowonder! is the perfect answer to help your child read twenty or thirty minutes every day and enjoy doing it!

Back to our holiday prep & re-prep: Giulia has just opened two packages. Not hers, either. Oof.

merry ciao-meow

(illustration via the Children's Room via Pinterest)

Toys for Tots

There aren't enough toys being dropped off at Toys for Tots locations to ensure that all children will have a toy--one toy--on Christmas. The news overflows with stories about the uptick in spending this holiday season. We sure hope that this means that toy collection charities will have overflowing donation bins by the weekend; somehow, we're not that optimistic. In some areas, the request for toys is up a whopping 25%.

Of course, we support IKEA's Soft Toy Aid but there is a call, as always, for toys for the older children (13-17 years). If you would like to donate cash, that is a good option, especially by tonight/tomorrow. Toys for Tots can then purchase what they need to fill the gift gap.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph from Miracle on 34th Street)

Whitney Museum's For Kids

The Whitney Museum of American Art has a For Kids site for ages 8-12. It's in beta (testing) so they'd love your participation. It cannot get better unless you use it. Visit & be inspired. Plan a trip to the museum if you're in the city or not. Planning a trip has a way of making it happen (trust us). Check with Budget Travel magazine; they have excellent ideas, links, & planners.

ciao-arty-meow/GGCM

PS: The Whitney teens' site is very nice, too. Visit here.

(photograph via quarter life coe via julia)