ML Interest Tag: sandbox

New App Allows Kids to Jump Into a Seuss-tastic World

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Do your kids love Dr. Seuss? Now they can see their favorite characters literally jump off the page as Dr. Seuss Enterprises, in a partnership with Sugar Creative, introduces their first augmented reality experience. Using Dr. Seuss’s ABC-An Amazing AR Alphabet! App your kids can play with their favorite characters and create their own Suess-tastic AR story world.

Dr. Seuss’s ABC—An Amazing AR Alphabet! App was launched in honor of the brand’s annual Dr. Seuss’s Birthday celebration which kicked off on March 2nd, and will continue through the week. Based on the bestselling book Dr. Seuss’s ABC, the app lets kids interact and learn the alphabet along with Seussian characters. 

Using augmented reality technology, kids will be able to direct their own experience. “Story Mode” will guide them through the alphabet from A to Z, allowing them to select a chapter of the book to listen to. The app also offers an innovative “Sandbox” feature that lets kids select animated characters and create their very own AR world.

The app is available for download on the Apple App Store  and on Google Play for $3.99.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Dr. Seuss Enterprises

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7 Clever Ways to Create a Sensory Play Space at Home

By Jennifer Landis

Photo: Sharon McCutcheon via Pexels

Children go to school to learn, but there’s a lot of learning that happens outside the classroom too. The key to setting up the right play space is to prepare it so your child experiences sensory play instead of regular play. The difference is that they’ll learn how to use and enjoy their five senses instead of just “playing with toys.”

Sensory play works as the foundation for all the skills a child needs to solve math problems, read and write during regular school hours. And setting up a sensory play space at home is easy if you follow these simple tips that won’t cost a lot of time or money.

Kids with autism or other developmental challenges will also experience many benefits from sensory fun. Many children on the autism spectrum are unable to regulate sensory stimuli, and sensory rooms are an extension of occupational therapy in your home, even if they may take additional time getting used to sensory activities.

1. Play with Instruments: Being able to handle the sense of hearing in different situations will help any child succeed in life. They won’t be nervous or afraid to enter new scenarios where there may be loud or surprising sounds once they’ve gotten used to how sounds work.

Investing in instruments makes noises less frightening for kids. It gives them control over what they hear in a fun way. A simple beginner’s keyboard could be all your child needs to develop their ability to handle sounds at different volumes.

Or make homemade bongos with items you probably already have at home.

1. Clean out an empty soup can and cover it with a stretched-out balloon.
2. Use rubber bands to secure the balloon in place.

Play around with different-sized cans so various sounds can be produced.

2. Host a Bubble Wrap Competition: Bubble wrap is something that comes in nearly every package your child will receive in the future, but it can be scary for those who aren’t used to the sound of the bubble wrap popping. Instead, use it in their play space and host a bubble wrap competition by seeing who can create the coolest dance moves to music, while dancing on bubble wrap. It will make the experience of popping bubble wrap much more fun, so the next time your child sees bubble wrap, they won’t be afraid to interact with it or hear it pop.

3. Try Out Finger Painting: Cover a table with newspaper and have your child try out finger painting with all their favorite colors. Finger painting is one of the best sensory activities to do. Your child will use their touch and feel senses, as well as their senses of smell and sight.

4. Hide Toys in a Sandbox: Engage your child’s sense of touch by giving them an activity with sand. Use a sandbox in your backyard or an empty shoebox filled with sand. Hide small dinosaurs or other animal toys in the sand and have your child excavate them. Feeling around in the sand is a great sensory experience. They’ll also love the sense of accomplishment that comes with discovering the toy that’s been hidden in the sand.

Just make sure you don’t hide a toy they love or are used to playing with. It may scare them that the toy is missing and buried under the sand. Instead, get tiny figurines down at your local dollar store that they can even pick out for themselves. They’ll associate the new toy with the new sandbox game and not be afraid of playing along.

5. Create Edible Playdough: Many times, teachers will use playdough with younger kids to provide a sensory activity that gives them the power to make whatever they want. Sometimes, though, playdough isn’t always the best option.

Kids can easily take a bite of playdough when you’re not watching, and it’s not meant to be eaten. Instead, make it completely safe to play with by creating edible playdough at home. All you need is whipped cream, cornstarch, and olive oil. It’s not a healthy snack by any means, but it won’t hurt your child if they accidentally eat some while they exercise their sense of touch.

6. Taste-Test Together: When your child isn’t looking, put some of their favorite foods on a few dishes. Then, have your child close their eyes or wear a blindfold. Put all the bowls in front of them and present them one by one. Your child can have fun tasting the food and guessing what it is. Play along by taste-testing them, too. Have a prize ready for them at the end when they’ve guessed all the foods correctly.

You can combine the taste and touch senses by having them identify foods by feel instead of smell. Green beans, popcorn, and even crackers could be an easy way to do this.

7. Develop Their Interests: When your child plays with friends or on their own, what do they prefer to do? Developing their interests is a great way to work with kids who are afraid or unsure of other sensory experiences. A child who enjoys manipulating toys could try out finger painting. After they realize how much fun it was to play with what you suggested, they may feel more comfortable trying something new, like dancing on bubble wrap. With time, they’ll have so much fun that they’ll forget they’re learning.

Jennifer Landis is a mom, wife, freelance writer, and blogger. She enjoys long naps on the couch, sneaking spoonfuls of peanut butter when her kid's not looking, and binge watching Doctor Who while her kid's asleep.  She really does like her kid, though, she promises. Find her on Twitter @JenniferELandis.

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Life Lessons Grown-Ups Can Learn from Preschool

By Lynda Lin Grigsby

Everything I learned of substance in life came in a preschool classroom.

In preschool, snacks magically taste better on technicolor melamine plates and the most impressionable minds learn how to take turns, learn empathy, and somehow find sameness when different ideas clash.

Being a modern parent means having the burden of choice, especially when it comes to the education of your children. When your child comes of age, the choices for preschool can make you feel like you are drowning in a sea of catalogues. There are schools that can immerse your child in different languages, cultures, or build a foundation for the academic rigors of elementary school. For our little family, the best choice was a play-based preschool in a suburb of Los Angeles that emphasized caring and understanding for others.

In other words, we chose a preschool that teaches people—little and big—how to be good human beings.

I learned all this as an adult—a parent volunteer in my kids’ preschool—where the philosophy is that children need the freedom to play and learn basic conflict management skills to carry with them through life. As an adult with the unique opportunity to go back to preschool, I see parallels between the playground and world politics.

Every day, little conflicts would arise at the sandbox that could be a microcosm of everyday adult life: two kids busily building a river in the sand with a water hose and sticks get interrupted by a group of other kids with a plan to build a wall in the same path as the river. Angry words are hurled across the borders of both projects, fists are clenched and both sides are about to explode until a teacher rushes over to hear both sides of the story and remind all parties the sandbox is for everyone.

“Try to work together,” is the common advice.

Replace the sandbox with real-life territories in local neighborhoods or overseas and you can see many similarities. But of course, the grown-up world is much more complicated than playground politics.

Or is it?

Adulting is hard, but when different ideas clash what tools do we use to help resolve problems? Do we look into each other’s eyes and notice feelings? Do we take ownership of our actions and try to come to a solution as a group? Or do we retreat to our devices and write angry tweets in a series of 150 characters or fewer?

In this politically charged grown-up world, it is clear we can all use some preschool skills.

My most recent Instagram story post was a meme of a Victorian Era woman passionately playing the piano with a distant gaze at the words: “Please excuse me while I overreact irrationally.” It was a post to vent my frustration at a friend without really addressing the problem. Perhaps subconsciously I sent this meme out into the social media world in hope that my friend would take notice and ask, “Is that about me?” That is totally rational thinking, right?

When my 7-year-old noticed my look of distress—not unlike the Victorian woman’s expression on the meme—he asked why I was feeling sad. My first-born was the trailblazer in the preschool education on human goodness. When we entered the gates of the school, we embarked on a path of learning together, but I was the one who kept forgetting basic social-emotional skills. Here, my 7-year-old noticed my face, named my feelings and expressed empathy, so I trusted in his wisdom. I took a deep breath and told him: My friend said something that broke a string of trust in my heart, and I feel worried that she will do it again.

Brows knitted, he seemed to chew on my words slowly before saying, “Well, did you tell her how you feel?”

Is the grown-up world more complicated than sandbox politics? My first-born’s advice was simple and spot-on—direct communication between two human beings is a time-honored and effective form of conflict resolution, but I have fallen into the habit of hiding behind my keyboard and my phone.

I am not alone.

According to Pew Research, adult social media users are increasingly feeling worn out about political posts and discussions. In this politically divisive era, It is easy to see why. One angry tweet gives rise to another angrier one without any consideration that there is a human being at the keyboard. Behind the shield of our screens, we isolate ourselves in an “us versus them” mentality and hurl soul-shattering insults at one another.

It makes me yearn for the simplicity of the preschool playground shaded by mulberry trees where we see children doing basic forms of the same thing. Two kids happily playing together run into a wooden playhouse and stand at the doorway. Together they chant, “This is our house! Whoever is wearing purple cannot come in!”

So the teacher rushes over and reminds everyone that the playhouse is for everyone, and gives a basic lesson about empathy: look at the other people’s faces outside of the house. How do your words of exclusion make them feel? How would you feel if you were on the other side of the door?

Usually, there is a pause for thought and a resolution to coexist in the same space, purple and all.

In these moments, I think we can all learn a lot from our children. We can learn to coexist and find common ground even in the face of differences.

And that, maybe just maybe, some grown-ups need to go back to preschool for a solid lesson in being good human beings.

 

 

 

Lynda is a creative person, a wife, a mom and half a CrossFit athlete. Just half, because rope climbs suck. Despite the shiny veneer, the cracks in her identity make her marginally okay. 

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14 Digital Tools That Will Turn Your Kid Into a Game-Designing Genius

By Common Sense Media

When you look at your kids playing video games, you might worry they’re wasting time and energy passively staring at a screen and pressing buttons. But what if their play time was actually a creative outlet that fostered their imaginations? More and more games, apps, and websites are letting kids as young as kindergartners create anything they can think of — and it doesn’t have to take a ton of time. Even better, most of these tools don’t require kids to be skilled programmers or computer experts to design and build creative, entertaining experiences.

Whether your kids enjoy creating fun new game elements, editing existing game content, or fully designing their own games from scratch, these programs can help bring their ideas to the screen.

Create Fun Stuff

Blox 3D Junior, age 5. Although Blox 3D Junior is considered to be a modeling toy, players can create, destroy, and animate pixelated 3-D objects at will. The design elements are easy to pick up and understand, and anyone from kids to adults will enjoy building and breaking apart digital creatures in a matter of seconds. Good for: Kids interested in building and breaking 3-D models like digital Legos. Good to know: Players can control and make models by tapping on a tablet screen with one finger.

3-D Dot Game Heroes, age 10. 3-D Dot Game Heroes, which is both a spoof and homage to the Legend of Zelda series, gives players the flexibility to create wacky heroes (such as Santa Claus … or an accountant) as well as the main weapon they’ll use throughout their adventure. The pixelated character models are clearly a throwback to the 8-bit days, and since the tone of the game is lighthearted, players enjoy designing and uploading their characters — the sillier the better — online for other fans. Good for: Fans of classic adventure and Nintendo games — and humor. Good to know: Some downloadable user-created content might be objectionable.   Lego Worlds, age 10. Lego Worlds lets you construct virtually anything, from intriguing stories to rousing adventures — with as much complexity and detail as you can imagine — using plain old Lego bricks. Additional content packs, like the Classic Space Pack and Monsters Pack, give players a constant supply of inspiration.  Good for: Lego fans Good to know: Players can quickly hop between the sandbox mode and the adventure mode to explore worlds from other creators.

Edit Existing Games

Toca Builders, age 6. If your kids aren’t ready for Minecraft yet, Toca Builders is a great alternative. The sandbox-st‌yle game lets kids create anything they can think of, without having to worry about the combat or the monsters Minecraft is known for. The game also comes with a set of characters who have separate jobs, which will help users build and create their new game worlds — perfect for the young designer starting out. Good for: Kids interested in sandbox-st‌yle play and who aren’t ready for Minecraft. Good to know: Anything created is automatically saved, giving kids freedom to work as much or as little as they want in a play session.

Drawn to Life, age 7. Unlike games that use drag-and-drop-st‌yle customization, Drawn to Lifegets players to draw to define and edit their game worlds. That means that everything from the characters as whom you play to their weapons are defined solely by your imagination. Few games offer such wide-ranging flexibility. Good for: Young artists and kids with vibrant imaginations. Good to know: This game can be used on phones, tablets, handhelds, and consoles.

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, age 7. Super Mario Maker gives kids the chance to create their own adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom. In-depth tutorials and hints on the best ways to create levels ensure that kids can learn as they go. Once finished, levels can be shared with nearby friends. Good for: Mario fans who want to put their own stamp on Mario’s world. Good to know: The game’s 100 Mario Challenge will test players’ gaming skills while providing ideas for level creation.

Minecraft, age 8. Few games exemplify the concept of editing an existing game better than Minecraft. The ability to make physical changes to a randomly created world has helped the game retain its longevity and legions of devoted fans. In fact, the main goal of the survival mode is making players alter the landscape to simply collect the tools needed to survive. Not many games can challenge Minecraft for its in-game editing play. Good for: Thanks to its deep play, virtually anyone interested in games. Good to know: Players can get editor tips for their creations through numerous websites and YouTube channels.

Trials Fusion, age 12. Trials Fusion maintains the popular racing game’s focus on outrageous motorcycle stunts, crashes, and speed. But Fusion stands out by providing a deep track editor that allows players to create levels that are challenging and complex. These can easily be uploaded to game servers for user testing and feedback, and players can download loads of new courses to expand their own game experience. Good for: Racing fans who like pushing the envelope of physics with their tricks and on their tracks. Good to know: More than a million tracks were created for the previous game in the series, and at least as many are expected for this racer.

Total Game Design

LittleBigPlanet 3, age 8. As with Project Spark, LittleBigPlanet 3 lets players design whatever they want with a robust level creator. However, much of its design revolves around trial and error, so players can quickly diagnose what worked and what didn’t in their creations. LBP3comes with in-depth tutorials and has an incredibly active player community that has produced more than 10 million levels or mini-games with its creative tools, so new designers also can learn from other creators using the editing tools on a daily basis. Good for: Kids and kids at heart who like playing with dolls and stickers. Good to know: Designers have made everything from pinball machines to racing games to space shooters with the LBP tools.

Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Vehicle Kit, age 8. This kit lets kids turn cardboard into objects including steering wheels, joysticks, and other controllers for games. Then you can program your creations using a full suite of tools on the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo offers a variety of Labo kits that let kids create things such as robots, instruments, and vehicles. Good for: Kids interested in hands-on building and computer programming. Good to know: Videos of people making instruments, electronic locks, and other devices out of cardboard are available on the Nintendo site and YouTube.

Tynker, age 8. The Tynker website uses visual blocks of code to explain to kids programming concepts developed at MIT. Through videos, programming tutorials, quizzes, and self-driven work, kids learn the basics of game design. Tynker provides several free games for users to play and disassemble to figure out how they work, and interested designers can pay for lifetime access to programming courses if they want additional instruction or refreshers on topics. Good for: Kids with a dedicated interest in learning programming and design. Good to know: Lessons aren’t cheap, but they are designed to teach key concepts that can be used in any designed game.

Gamestar Mechanic, age 10. Gamestar Mechanic celebrates game design and coding by putting players in a sci-fi world where designers are superheroes. The Web-based game introduces different genres of games via play samples and provides backgrounds and characters for players to create their own levels. With each design section they work through, players unlock further elements that can be used for future projects. Plus, created levels can be shared and reviewed by others in moderated forums. Good for: New designers who enjoy the feeling of power from creating cool projects. Good to know: With site time limits and moderated content, this is one of the safest design communities for kids.

Roblox, age 10. If game design is about creating an imaginary game world and bringing it to life, then Roblox wants to be the universe in which all these worlds exist. With this Web-based creation site, users can design their own games and experiences or explore previously uploaded games for ideas. The site’s tools and game elements are constantly being updated, ensuring that players never find themselves with stale or outdated elements. Plus, Roblox is accessible on phone, tablet, and computer, so kids can constantly make changes to their designs as they see fit anywhere they are. Good for: Designers who always want the latest tools at their fingertips. Good to know: There’s a gentle learning curve; users can start as players and transition to being designers when they feel ready.

Codea, age 13. If your kids are really into checking out the latest and greatest apps on the iPad, why not give them the chance to figure out how to make their own? Codea uses the Lua programming language and provides sample programs and tools to help create programs. It’s touchscreen-friendly for tablets, and it provides instant feedback for any possible errors that may be in your code. Plus, it comes with a tutorial and step-by-step guide for beginners interested in trying to learn Lua basics. Good for: Tablet fans who want to learn more about how their device works. Good to know: Visual cues provide instant feedback, which helps reinforce what newly learned commands do in the Lua language.

— Jeff Haynes, Common Sense Media

This post originally appeared on Common Sense Media.
Common Sense Media
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Common Sense Media is an independent nonprofit organization offering unbiased ratings and trusted advice to help families make smart media and technology choices. Check out our ratings and recommendations at www.commonsense.org.

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It’s Pointless to Ask Your Toddler to Share

By Rhona Silverbush

We were at the playground, my toddler and I. He was in the sandbox, ever so carefully scooping sand with his blue shovel and pouring it into his little yellow bucket, his movements still uncoordinated, his aim imprecise, more sand landing back in the sandbox than in the bucket.

His knit brow confirmed how very hard he was working to fill that bucket. So one would think he’d welcome some assistance—those buckets don’t fill themselves—but when another toddler pitched in with his green shovel, mine shrieked!

Good citizen that I am, I dove forward to correct mine, “Share…” I started to say. But the other child’s mom was faster than I. She turned to her own toddler. “Sorry, buddy,” she said, “but our friend is still using that bucket. He isn’t ready yet.” (Or something to that effect—it was over a decade ago now.)

But to the best of my recollections, she then handed her child a dump truck and said, “This truck needs to bring sand to the building site to build a building. Let’s help the driver!”

AND HER CHILD DID IT. AND MINE KEPT FILLING HIS BUCKET. AND NO ONE MELTED DOWN. AND THEY WERE BOTH HAPPY.

I was amazed.

My son was in early intervention and I shared this with his in-home educator, Carol. She lit up and told me this kind of ownership-first approach was being done in early childhood classrooms. She wondered aloud if the sandbox mom was a teacher.

Carol explained that toddlers can fool us into thinking they’re further along in their understanding of the world than they are because they walk and talk some, but they’re just emerging from babyhood and aren’t yet at a stage where they can understand sharing.

“Remember Dr. Spock?” Carol asked. “He said it’s pointless to ask a toddler to share!”

Here’s what Carol—and, as I read soon thereafter, other toddler development experts—had to say about why:

For one thing, toddlers still can’t firmly grasp that they are wholly separate people from everyone else. They test this new hypothesis in part through ownership: “I own, therefore I am.” They’re not being selfish, they’re being self-ish—“If it’s mine and not yours, I’m not you.”

For another, toddlers haven’t yet solidified their concept of object permanence. If they give up an item, will it still exist to be enjoyed by them again? As far as they’re concerned, the jury’s still out on that.

Toddlers don’t have a sense of time yet, either. They exist in the here and now. Later, in 10 minutes, tomorrow—all of these divisions of time are meaningless terms, so they need to enjoy the object right now, their way.

And have you noticed that they don’t yet have great impulse control? They want what they want, when they want it and in just the way they want it.

“But Jack shares with me,” I said to Carol. “He gives me Goldfish when he’s eating some.”

“And sometimes he takes them back, too,” she pointed out. She explained that he’d been experimenting in just the earliest way with the sharing I’d modeled for him, but he didn’t yet quite know why, or that it was “sharing” per se. When he did, I could certainly say, “Thank you for sharing!”—but if he rescinded the sharing, I could just note that as well, in a neutral way: “And now you need it back. Okay.”

“But I don’t want him to grow up selfish,” I protested.

“No he won’t—quite the reverse,” she replied. She explained that foisting the act of sharing on him before he’s ready can backfire. She explained that he could wind up stuck in the “not sharing” phase a lot longer.

As it turns out, it’s important to understand that our toddlers are not yet developmentally ready to understand sharing and also important for our responses to them to allow for that fact. This helps them gain the mastery over the concepts of selfhood and object permanence they need to move more seamlessly into willing turn-taking and then sharing.

“Don’t worry,” I remember Carol saying. “He’ll be generous, you’ll see.” And he was. And he is—exceptionally so.

What Carol explained led me to do further reading on my own (on this and on toddler development in general) and led to our teaming up, Carol and I, to write a series of books for toddlers about the moments they face in their daily lives that are difficult for them—including ownership and what we call “pre-turn-taking” and “pre-sharing.”

Even though our children are teens now, thank you, Mom-of-Other-Kid-in-Sandbox!

Rhona Silverbush studied psychology and theater at Brandeis University and law at Boston College Law School. She currently coaches actors, writes, tutors and consults for families of children and teens with learning differences and special needs. She is co-authors with Carol Zeavin for the first three books in the Terrific Toddlers series, published by Magination Press.

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Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery

by Martin Spierings

Look beyond the beach if the weather turns nasty in the Santa Cruz County area and head to the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery. Situated in the center of the Capitola Mall, this unlikely location for a museum serves up some great indoor education and entertainment for your little ones. The hands-on activities are interesting and varied enough to keep children aged two to eight occupied for hours. The exhibits have a local flavor, from the agricultural theme of the play farmers market to the popular beach-themed sand pit. For repeat visitors the exhibits and layout are changed on a regular basis so there’s always something new to explore.

Big Blue Blocks

For the active engineers in your family there’s the giant foam blocks area. Limited only by their imaginations, children can construct all sorts of buildings, bridges and tunnels with the help of the soft interconnecting blocks, tubes and cylinders.

Deep Sea Exhibit

In keeping with the ocean vibe of the Santa Cruz area, your children can learn about the creatures of the deep by dressing in costume and exploring the fluorescent lit deep sea tent. Your kids will have a ball dressing up and playing make believe in the deep sea.

Augmented Reality Sandbox

A highlight of the museum is the topographic sand pit, a fitting exhibit for Santa Cruz, an area renowned for its varied landscape of mountains and oceans. Children move sand around a sandbox, building hills and valleys, and observe the results on a digital display which simulates real-world topography and water flow.

Dinosaur Exhibit

All kids love dinosaurs and here they can dig for fossils with a real brush in the sand pit. They can learn more about our prehistoric friends from the surrounding books, models and posters.

Workshops and Classes

In addition to the exhibits, educators put on workshops throughout the day which are free with your day pass or museum membership. These can be story time, open art time, science demonstrations and even sock puppet making. All exhibits are conceived by former teachers or early childhood educators so you can be sure your kids are getting a well thought out learning experience. Check the event calendar for what’s on the day you visit.

Museum Membership

If you’re planning on a being a regular visitor it might be worth selecting one of the three membership options. Benefits include unlimited visits, some free passes for friends and discounts for birthday party packages and the Museum Store.

Time to Shop

When you’re done at the museum, and want to extend the excursion, you’re conveniently located in the middle of a family friendly shopping mall! Check out the indoor playground around the corner while you fuel up in the food court. There are children’s clothing specialty stores and kids love visiting the Santa Cruz SPCA to say hello to the adoptable dogs and cats.

Details

Hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m.
Cost: Adults $8, Seniors & Active Duty Military: $6, Children Ages 1 – 17: $5
Location: 1855 41st Avenue, Suite C-10, Capitola, CA 
Online: sccmod.org

Have you visited the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery recently? Let us know your kid’s favorite area in a comment!

—Martin Spierings

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Take It Slow: 5 Steps to Becoming a Turtle

by Christal Y.

It’s World Turtle Day! If you’re ready for an afternoon of shellish fun for all then read our five steps for budding slowpokes below. The best part of this transformation? It’s turtle-y homemade. Scroll down slowly for more.

photo: Adam Tuttle via flickr

1. Build your shell with a cardboard box. Cut some arm and leg holes so your kiddo can retreat into his or her shell with ease. For a bigger shell, use cushions from your couch to build a home big enough for everyone to join in! For a simpler design, use a backpack. The bigger the better of course, but the key here is to protect the back from exposure.

2.With summer sun rolling in, this is the perfect time to be a turtle! Bask in the sun by the pool or in your backyard. Just remember to wear sunscreen because as appealing as being a turtle is today, leather skin isn’t. (Okay, so this one you have to leave your house for this one).

3. Many turtles display net-digging behavior. They tend to build a chamber as deep as their hind legs can go, so hit up the beach or a sandbox for a day of fun. Of course, a turtle’s hind legs are much shorter than your reptilian-to-be, but we’re sure the digging will be just as fun.

4. Although they seem rather slow, turtles are great navigators. They can easily climb through rough territory or walk around an obstacle. Head to the playground to develop those exceptional outdoor skills, but remember to do it all slowly and carefully. It’s the key to being safe.

5. Turtles are unique feeders. Depending on the species, they can be carnivores, herbivores or omnivores! Some even show tendencies to be carnivores as hatchlings before becoming herbivores as adults. But you know what’s not in their diet? Processed foods (although pizza might be okay). So if your little one is all for eating a turtle-diet, make sure they get their fill by eating whole and clean foods.

What meal do you plan for your “turtles”? Let us know in the comments below!

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Whee! 7 Playgrounds with Zip Lines

by Maria Chambers

If you have a little monkey that never met a tree they didn’t want to climb, a wall they didn’t want to scale, or a giant red Target ball they didn’t want to ninja-kick off of, it may be time to introduce them to the thrills of a zip line. Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting you strap them in and send them soaring with their feet skimming the treetops — click through our album for seven local kid-approved zips that’ll keep them mere feet from the ground.

Harvester Park

This stunning park recently received a facelift but a favorite component, the zip line, remained intact. One of the newest additions is a custom-made fiberglass tree nicknamed Tree of Life with a hollowed out center for climbing, peep holes for spying on siblings and a mesh top designed to allow growth of ivy to mimic a real tree. Not only will the body get a workout with play structures and a splash pad, but the mind will as well when the kids encounter a stream with locks and dams for directing water to three different areas and an unconventional sandbox with a conveyor belt and Archimedes Screw.

Nearby Stevens Park (8555 Walredon) in Burr Ridge also features a 100-foot zip line, a large climbing rock and tree fort.

15W400 Harvester Dr.
Burr Ridge
630-920-1969
Online: brparks.org

What is your favorite local playground? Let us know in the Comments!

— Maria Chambers

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A Pop-Up Worth Popping Into

by rtlisasnart

If you’re not already living the Pearachute lifestyle, which means you have a pass to Chicagoland’s hottest classes for littles, the recently opened pop-up space might sway you to join.  Read on to learn why the sandbox, snacks and silliness now happening in the Pearachute Pop-Up Playroom are worth checking out.

Grab a Toy
Before you can even sign a waiver and take off your child’s shoes, he or she will most likely be checking out the toy-filled shelves.  From train tables to play food, the Pearachute Pop-Up Playroom has something for everyone.  Don’t forget about the giant sandbox – or should we say sandroom- that entertains kids when the weather doesn’t cooperate for a day at the beach.  You can cook up a snack or work on the tool bench along with your little one or take a seat at one of the spots along the window. The space might not be large, but there are plenty of toys to keep kids busy.  If your little one is into entertaining themselves, check the Playroom schedule for open play hours.

Partner Up
Pearachute knows how to do relationships — whether it’s helping out members or collaborating with entertainers and teachers.  By providing a space to hold classes, the Pop-Up Playroom makes it possible for even more classes to be offered, benefitting all of its partners.  Whether your kiddos want to exercise, tap a tune or take up a foreign language, the Playroom can make that happen.   Kids have been spotted boogying down at the Hip Hop Dance Party and belting out songs during Tunes with Tim.

Bring a Crowd
One of the really awesome benefits of having a class in a playroom is that there is plenty to do for siblings who might not be in the groove of that day’s offerings.  Just because bigger brother isn’t up for yoga — no need for others to miss out on the fun — let him play on his own in this safe space. Maybe you want to bring a friend? Everyone is welcome at the Pearachute Playroom.  Non-members can pop into open play for $10 or $15 for a class.  If you get hooked, you can apply that fee to a Pearachute membership. Weekly social events, from picnics to happy hours, will be held so that Pearachute families can get to know each other and plan their next adventure.

Get the Deats
The Pearachute Pop-Up is located in the former Kids Island space in Lincoln Park until September 18. Hours vary daily based on class offerings. If you forget the required socks, they are available for purchase.  There are a few snacks and drinks available for purchase if you or your kids need to refuel.

Pearachute Pop-Up Playroom
2205 N. Southport Ave.
Lincoln Park
Hours vary by day until September 18
More information online at: blog.pearachutekids.com/pop-up 

Have you checked out the Pearachute Pop-Up Playroom? Share your experience in the Comments below.

— Lisa Snart

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Made in the Shade: Clever Ways to Keep Cool

by Gabby Cullen

It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy. And, it’s pretty easy to extend outdoor play time by offering up cool and covered spots for your tykes. From a colorful umbrella stand-and-planter combo to an awesome spot to just chill, scroll down to discover six ideas that will inspire you to get a little shady.

photo: Rebekka Guenther Ferbrache via Jadeflower

Under My Umbrella
If DIY needs to equal easy, then this shade structure and planter project from Jadeflower is perfect. Not only will you get that sweet shady spot, but you’ll be adding a little extra color, too. Best part? You can complete this for under $25! Find out what you’ll need over at Jadeflower.

photo: Alli Ward via Made with Happy

Perfect Playhouse
If you’ve got empty space in the yard, consider building a covered playhouse that offers up plenty of protection from the sun’s rays. We love this tree-inspired space built by Alli over at Made with Happy. While it will take more time than just one afternoon, just about anyone can re-create this project with the multiple tutorials provided. Find out what you’ll need to get started over at Made with Happy.

photo: Bebs Manaloto-Lott via Foxy Folksy

Cool Canopy
Imagine a cozy outdoor spot for afternoon reading sessions or lazy naps with tired kiddos. Now, imagine making your own version with just few supplies. Yup, it’s possible and Foxy Folksy can show you how it’s done! All that’s left to do is pour yourself a cold glass of lemonade and stretch out. Get the how-to over at Foxy Folksy.

photo: Karin Kliewer via Little City Farm

Simple Shade
If you’ve got trees in the backyard or nearby, then you’ve got what you need to make a twig fort like the one we spotted over at Little City Farm. Whether you leave it plain and simple, or plant climbing vines for super shade is up to you. See more of this cool project over at Little City Farm.

photo: Angela Wray via The Wray Sist3rs

Sand and Shade
Keeping littles protected while they play is essential to outdoor fun. The awesome sandbox canopy we spotted over at The Wray Sist3rs is basic and brilliant. Even if you don’t have a built-in box, it’s easy to assemble a shade structure using the tutorial you’ll find over at The Wray Sist3rs. Here’s to being made in the shade!

photo: courtesy The Merry Thought

Canvas Cover
For an authentic feel to your shady spot, consider an old-school canvas tent like the one Mandi of The Merry Thought created for her outdoor space. The hardest part about this project will be finding a grommet kit to complete the job. Find out what else you’ll need over at The Merry Thought.

How do you make shade while the sun shines? Share with us in a Comment below!

—Gabby Cullen

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