Today’s activity is a great way to enjoy the beautiful spring weather and have fun outdoors.  Have your kids create this sun dial in just three easy steps!

Supplies:

• Paper plate
• Straw
• Crayons
• Push pins
• Pencil

Step 1:

Put the number “12″ on the top of the paper plate with crayon. Proceed with the rest of the numbers on a clock.

Step 2:

Punch a hole in the center of the plate.
Then insert the straw.

Step 3:

Close to noon put the sun dial in the sun and tack it down with push pins. The straw should cast a shadow pointing to the 12.

Check through out the day and explain to the kids how the sun helps us know the time.

Does your child enjoy crafts?  Give them the gift of creativity this summer with our Summer Survival Collection.  Available in both digital and box subscriptions, our collection will keep your child engaged and creative all summer long.  Learn more about it here.

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Not a subscriber? Find out why reviewers, parents and kids love Green Kid Crafts by subscribing here, or testing out a subscription over the summer with our Summer Survival Collection.

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Make this the best summer yet!

The Summer Survival Collection delivers an exciting Discovery Box each month to keep kiddos learning while they have fun, explore the outdoors and get creative.  Each month’s box comes with three project kits plus loads of extension activities, fun extras and more learning inspiration.

June’s Backyard Science Box

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Looking for a fun after school craft or rainy day project?  Have some fun with Pipe Cleaners!

Supplies:

• Empty 2 liter bottle
• Pipe cleaners
• Scissors
• Strong magnet

Steps:

1.) Cut pipe cleaners into smaller pieces (thirds worked best).

2.) Put the pipe cleaner pieces in the bottle.

3.)  Use your magnet to manipulate the pipe cleaners. The kids all had fun moving them around in the bottle!

Does your child love crafts?  Green Kid Crafts is now available in both Digital Subscriptions and Box Subscriptions.  Digital Subscriptions start at just $5.95 a month.  Our Box Subscriptions include everything you need and start at just $19.95 a month.

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The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than 12 million children and teens are obese. With alarming statistics like this, it’s no wonder that more and more people want to learn how to teach kids about good nutrition. Poor diet plays a key role in the obesity epidemic,  but educating children about healthy eating at a young age can help counteract this growing problem. Teaching them about nutrients and good and bad foods will give them the knowledge necessary to make good food choices and develop lifelong healthy eating habits.

Understanding the Nutrition Label

The nutrition label that comes on most foods is the best way to find out if something is healthy or not, but first, kids have to understand it. This means taking a look at the serving size, calories, fat, sugar and list of nutrients. Kids need to realize that serving size can be a tricky area because many foods are actually more than one serving. For instance, if the label on a package of snack crackers says it has two servings, then the calories, fat and everything else on the list is doubled. You should also teach them about nutrients, and which ones they need to eat more of and which ones they should avoid. Potassium, fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C and iron are all nutrients that the FDA says kids need, while they should eat less sodium, sugars, trans and saturated fats and cholesterol.

Stock Nutritious Food and Set a Good Example

One of the easiest ways to get kids to eat right is to simply not buy junk food. If you fill your pantry and refrigerator with whole grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables and other nutritious foods, kids will eat it. In addition to this, make it a point to explain to your children what makes these foods healthy, and why they are a better choice than potato chips or cookies. If you are also eating these nutritious foods, you’re leading by example, which kids will notice. Modeling healthy food choices will show your children how to eat right, and it will also help them develop positive attitudes toward food and nutrition.

Eat Meals Together as a Family

Dining together is a simple activity that can have a big effect on your kids and how they view nutrition. Whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner, enjoying meals together at regular times and serving a variety of nutritious foods will help children develop good habits and introduce them to a wide range of healthy foods. It will also give you the opportunity to teach them about what they’re eating and how it’s good for their bodies.

Let Kids Help Out in the Kitchen

Giving children a job in the kitchen or allowing them to help pick out food at the grocery store or plan meals is another way to teach them about good nutrition. At the store, discuss the nutritional value of different foods, pointing out both good and bad choices. You can even let them make some decisions on what to buy, which will empower them and further encourage healthy choices. Back at home, let them assist you in planning and preparing meals. Not only will this provide more opportunities for teaching them about nutrition and healthy cooking methods, it will also give them necessary skills that they can use to make good choices as they grow up.

Lindsay Holland is a professional blogger that provides parents and guardians with information and reviews for after school care programs and day cares. She writes for The Learning Experience, a leading child care center in Chantilly and after school program in Chantilly VA.

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 Green Kid Craft’s theme for the month of May is weather.  To celebrate we have our May Weather Discovery Box or our Weather Digital Subscription available for our subscribers and their kids.

Here’s a fun weather related activity to make it rain inside!

Items needed: Tea pot, ice, water, and plate.

Step 1: Boil water and pour 1/3 of the glass jar.  Cover with plate.

Step 2:  Let the plate sit on the jar a few minutes.

Step 3:  Add ice to the plate and watch closely to see what happens to the jar.

Water will start to trickle down the inside of the jar.

It’s raining!!!

If you try this activity out with your kids let us know. Share your pictures on our Facebook page!

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Sure, you knew that you could recycle plastic bottles, cans and paper but did you know that the Earth has a way of recycling plants, fruits and vegetables?

Ask your parents if you can use a plastic trash bin or a spot in the yard as a composting area. You’ll also need a gardening fork, but a simple stick will work too.

Once you have your compost area set up, you can start adding things to it. Try to add a mix of half “wet and green” materials, like grass clippings and fruit/vegetable scraps, and half “dry and brown” materials, like shredded paper and cardboard. Never add any cooked foods since this will attract animals.

Give your pile a stir every so often and over about 9 months you’ll see a remarkable change as all of those extra scraps become a wonderful compost to use in your garden!

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What you’ll need:

• 2 Glasses or containers
• Table Salt
• 2 Eggs

1.) Fill two containers with water.  Add salt (about 10 teaspoons) to one of the containers.

2.) Try floating an egg in each glass.  What happens?

3.)  What happens if you put other items in the salt such as a golf ball, apple, or bar of soap?

If you do this fun experiment let us know and share your photos on our Facebook page!

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We are so excited to have partnered up with Ron and Lisa for the Let’s Craft a Greener World Sweepstakes!  You can have the chance to win a 6 month subscription to Green Kid Crafts (a $139.95 value!)

Don’t miss out on this amazing giveaway go check out their website to enter here.

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Plastic Jug Game of Catch

This activity is a great way to turn your trash into treasure.  It’s also a fun game to play outside!

1.) Cut the bottom off two empty milk jugs

2.) Decorate with washi tape or other colored tape.

3.) Make a ball with old newspaper and tape, then enjoy a game of catch!

If you try this activity out with your kids let us know. Share your pictures on our Facebook page!

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