The ABCs of Art

Last week, we took advantage of International Museum Day with a FREE visit to our local museum, Joslyn Art Museum.  One of the things I love about Joslyn is that they use the SCVNGR* app to create digital scavenger hunts.  They have a few standard, any day hunts you can do, but they usually put new ones together for their Family Fun Days and other special events.  This is such a fun way to experience the museum because it really encourages the kids to look a little closer.  

 The special exhibit was Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum.  There were questions about names of people, stories behind artifacts, what was the oldest artifact and what was your favorite amulet.  The kids had a fun time hunting for the answers and collecting points.  By the end we were the highest scoring participants of the trek.  

When we were finished with the Egyptian exhibit, we moved on to the permanent ones.  The kids quickly started their own game.  They started finding letters of the alphabet in different works and frames.  The only rule was that it couldn't be a written or printed letter.  It had to be something that took the shape of the letter.  Can you spot the "U" in the first picture and the "Q" in the second?  The "U" was part of a railing, and the "Q" was found above an art deco fireplace. They were really creative with their finds.  The antique, scrolly, frames were a gold mine for letters.

We play alphabet games all of the time and in many different forms.  There's the find each letter, in order in signs and license plates.  There's the animal/name game (Annie the Aardvark, Billy the Bulldog, Charlie the Cat, etc.).  Alphabets games are great distractions in the car or in line at a store.  In this case, they helped us experience something we've done before in a whole new way.  What I loved about this was that they came up with the idea and just ran with it. 

So, how do your kids make it a great day at a museum or on an outing?

 #gr8dayluvu

*You can find more information on the SCVNGR app at http://www.scvngr.com/

Morning Routine

The morning routine at our house is anything but peaceful. In a house that has morning people out numbered by NOT morning people (2 v. 3), getting ready for the day is a struggle. Here's how it goes. My son, N, is usually up by 6:30 a.m. and gets ready fairly quickly. My girls, M & E are a whole different story. Just getting them out of bed is an incredible challenge. Encouraging them out of bed can include singing (I'll stop if they get up), lights on, physically removing covers and/or them and counting down to lost privileges. We've tried everything including rewards, punishments and earlier bedtimes to make a change, but it's destined not to happen. They are just not morning people. Eventually they get going and get ready (with a lot more coaxing).

Once they are ready, they head downstairs for breakfast where dad has cereal, fruit or other yummy offerings to fuel their bodies. Breakfast usually includes reminders for the day, reminders to eat and other general craziness. If the kids made it downstairs by 7:00 a.m. ready for school and bed made, then they can choose between a sack lunch or hot lunch (another tool to entice them to move in the mornings). By 7:30 a.m. we head to the car, to make our way to school.

Most mornings feel like a flurry of craziness. So, when we finally get into the car we usually need a little reset. Sometimes we need a few deep breaths, but we always regroup with a prayer. It started out with me leading the prayer, but it's built to where the kids include their own intentions. They usually will put a shout out for their grandparents, teachers and good friends. By the time we get to school everyone is in a much better place to start the day. And as they exit the car I'll shout out, “Make it a great day! Love you!”

So, how do you get your not morning people moving, start the day and make it a great one?

#gr8dayluvu