MommyCoddle

Be Out There + The Motherhood // Cool Ideas for Hot Summer Days ebook

I’m so excited to finally be able to share with all of you, the final results of the ebook that was a partnership between The Motherhood and National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There program. I was so happy to be able to contribute to the book as the topic of getting kids outside is near and dear to my heart.

In June of 2012, NWF and The Motherhood conducted survey and 94% of moms thoughts that kids are not spending enough time outdoors, while a third of the moms polled felt guilty that their kids were not outside enough.

This ebook was created to help encourage families to get outside and give them practical and realistic tips and advice for doing so. Inside you’ll find articles on:

Balancing Screen Time with Green Time
Cool Activities for Hot Summer Days
Outdoor Time in Everyday Life
Nighttime Activities
Celebrating Special Occasions in the Great Outdoors

Not only am I completely in love with the design and illustration of the ebook, the content within the pages is spot-on. The writers involved in this project bring page after page of ideas and expertise–all packed into a completely free resource for all of us.

Today marked the first day of school for our family. For many of us, even my family of homeschoolers, it seems like the opportunities for that valuable time outdoors begins to slip through our fingers. But at the same time, we are slowly saying goodbye to the heat and humidity of summer and the gorgeous days of fall are just ahead. It is truly one of the most beautiful seasons to be outside.

So I hope you’ll take a moment to leaf through, or at least bookmark this great resource. Whether you’re still hanging on to the last weeks of summer or looking to find ways to get outside even in the harried school days–this ebook is just the thing for ideas and inspiration.

ISSUU Be Out There by The Motherhood

Enjoy + let me know what you think!

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Be Out There + The Motherhood ebook and twitter party

What: I’ve teamed up with National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There movement and The Motherhood to encourage families to spend time outdoors, even in the summer heat. Together we’ve created an amazing e-book packed with great ideas for fun-filled summer days with your kids! Using the e-book as a resource, you can say goodbye to summer boredom, as you’ll have plenty of activities for all different occasions to suggest for kids of all ages.

We’re celebrating the release of this remarkable e-book with a Twitter party! Join us to chat about tips for being out there, and share new ones of your own. Getting outside can be fun for the whole family, but sometimes we just need some inspiration from other like-minded moms.

Read the e-book here: http://issuu.com/themotherhood/docs/be_out_there?e=6112495/4367026

When: Tuesday, August 20, at 1p ET / noon CT / 10a PT

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #BeOutThere hashtag to track the conversation. You can see the details and RSVP via this Twtvite: http://twtvite.com/beoutthere

Hashtag: #BeOutThere

Prizes: Five prizes will be awarded throughout the party to participants who respond correctly to trivia questions. Each winner will receive a $25 Visa gift card and a Be Out There t-shirt.

Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann, @BeOutThere

Your fellow co-hosts:

Andrea Updyke, Li’l Kid Things, www.lilkidthings.com
Brett Martin, This Mama Loves…, www.thismamaloves.com
Caryn Bailey, Rockin’ Mama, www.rockinmama.net
Elena Sonnino, Live.Do.Grow., www.livedogrow.com
Fadra Nally, All Things Fadra, www.allthingsfadra.com
Heather Hopson, Diary of a First Time Mom, www.diaryofafirsttimemom.com
Holly Ambrose, Tropic Home and Family, www.tropichomeandfamily.com
Jennifer Matuska, Mommy Instincts, www.mommyinstincts.com
Kimberly Coleman, Mom in the City, www.mominthecity.com
Louise Bishop, MomStart, www.momstart.com
Marianna Nichols, Green Mama’s Pad, www.greenmamaspad.com
Molly Balint, MommyCoddle,www.mommycoddle.com
Nickida Stephens, Nicki’s Random Musings, www.nickisrandommusings.com
Piera Jolly, Jolly Mom, www.jollymom.com
Tiffany Merritt, Stuff Parents Need, www.stuffparentsneed.com

Back to school: ‘All About Me’ interview worksheets for kids

Probably one of my favorite parts of back to school–besides the excuse to buy a new planner and oodles of office supplies, is the back to school “interview”. I’ve been doing these “All About Me” worksheets with my kids for the past several years and I never tire of reading and re-reading their answers.

Emma’s is pretty much the same year after year… favorite hobby? riding. something you’re good at doing? riding. something you want to get better at this year? riding. You gotta give her points for consistency.

Mary’s answers draw me right back to the beginning of last year, the things she was into at the moment–dress up, riding her bike. And her plans to become a doctor have not changed in the past few years. (Though I’m curious to see what she says this year. I suspicious it’s changed.)

And then there’s Elizabeth. Last year was the first year she filled out an interview worksheet. I copied down her answers….

What’s your favorite school subject? “real school work”

What do you want to be when you grow up? “a teenager”

What is your favorite outfit? “skinny jeans”

What is your favorite song? “Party In The USA” (This is where her mother hangs her head in shame.)

If you knew Elizabeth you’d know this is pretty much a perfect picture of her five year-old self.

I hole-punch and clip these worksheets into

Probably one of my favorite parts of back to school–besides the excuse to buy a new planner and oodles of office supplies, is the back to school “interview”. I’ve been doing these “All About Me” kids interview worksheets with my kids for the past several years and I never tire of reading and re-reading their answers.

And then there’s Elizabeth. Last year was the first year she filled out an interview worksheet. I copied down her answers….

What’s your favorite school subject? “real school work”

What do you want to be when you grow up? “a teenager”

What is your favorite outfit? “skinny jeans”

What is your favorite song? “Party In The USA” (This is where her mother hangs her head in shame.)

If you knew Elizabeth you’d know this is pretty much a perfect picture of her five year-old self.

I hole-punch and clip these worksheets into each of the girls’ sections in my homeschool binder. And then, when I need a good cry, I flip through them and weep over how fast my little people are growing up.

I decided that this year’s worksheet needed a makeover. I’m completely procrastinating on the other work I should be doing at this moment. So of course, why not spend an hour re-designing the worksheet? Perfect. After this I’ll probably start organizing and editing my pictures in iPhoto. Then, I’ll clean, organize and wipe down my desk and computer. If you ever need a procrastination to-do list, I’m your girl.

So, if you’d like to do a little beginning of the year interview with your kids, feel free to download and print ours. Trust me, in a few years time, you’ll be grateful for this little collection of memories.

Click on the image above to download the pdf! Any questions? Let me know!

(FYI: Adorable arrows can be downloaded here for free.)

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