St Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day is March 17th, which is fast approaching. What are some themed activities for your multiples?

For those who are into tactile sensory play, you could make Rainbow Rice (with nontoxic watercolor paints, of course), or for the little ones, colored cereal rainbows are a fun, edible way to get a similar experience. Let’s be real, even if you’re not so little, colored cereal is a great way to play and have a sweet snack at the same time.

Green bell peppers are another great way to snack healthily and have some craft time. If you cut them horizontally, they are pre-made edible three-leaf clovers, and they can double as clover stamps if you want to get a little messy. Sticking with the clover theme, Shamrock Straw Toppers are a cute way to add festivity to drinks (besides the green food coloring that is so prevalent during the holiday), and Clover Hair Pins are a kid-simple way to craft and dress up for whatever events you’re planning to attend, whether it be a parade or just a family dinner. And for dessert, you can break out that green food coloring and make easy-peasy clover cookies — just roll the dough into little balls and bake! Hardly any muss, and definitely no fuss when your kids are eating them.

Mobilize the Earth: Earth Day 2012

Looking for good earth day activities for kids? Make sure to enjoy these!

by Gabriela Kleeman (from our 2012 spring issue of Multiplicity Magazine page 44)

April 22, 2012 is the official date for Earth Day. This year’s motto of Mobilize the Earth, coined by the Earth Day Network, implores everyone to take active steps towards a healthier world. This celebration of our environment and a call to its protection is in its 42nd year; it was first observed in 1970.

There will be many activities throughout the country. Arguably the most visible celebration is a rally at the National Mall complete with concerts, activities and impassioned speeches. Schools throughout the country will also be teaching children the importance of protecting and respecting our environment.

Whether you’re looking for simple ways or more committed ways to get involved, you also have the power to Mobilize the Earth by sharing in some educational and fun activities with your children at home.

• Get Out into Nature. Go for a hike, or better yet, geocaching as a family. Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunt where the goal is to find caches (typically a container of some sort) filled with objects that other people have hidden. The idea is simple: use your cell phone or other GPS enabled device to locate caches that are hidden in the area you are exploring. Once you find one, you can enter your name and date into the cache’s logbook. Caches can also have little trinkets or toys as a reward. Keep your kids interested by having them track how many caches you have found or keep a list of their favorite items discovered. To commemorate Earth Day, bring a trinket that your kids can leave behind in the cache. Go to geocache.com to find locations near you. If you’re looking for a more traditional outdoor adventure, try a camp-out at one of your local parks. For a list of campgrounds you can visit the National Park Service online or visit your own state park’s website.