Happy New School Year! As our summer camps come to a close and kids head back to school, we are excited to focus on our after school activities and help keep kids active and engaged in STEAM.
As parents, this time of year provides an opportunity to get back into routines and better habits. We’ve gathered some of our favorite tips for setting up you and your family for success.
Healthy Snacks for School
Keep it simple and fun! Below are 3 of our favorite snacks for kids to bring to school.
- Veggies and Dip: Pair some fresh vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, celery, cherry tomatoes) with hummus, ranch, guacamole or another favorite dip. A great option for snacks and lunches is a Bento Box. It allows you to pack all their food in one place, keep it separated, and depending on the design, leak proof and dishwasher safe! We love Bentgo’s 5-Compartment Bento–Style Kids Lunch Box (available at Amazon).
- Homemade Muffins: Here is a recipe for a naturally-sweetened Einkorn Pumpkin Spice Muffins. For smaller servings, consider using a mini muffin pan.
- Hard Boiled Eggs: Pack in the protein with hard boiled eggs. If you have a picky eater or are worried about a strong odor, try removing the yolk. If you have an Instant Pot, try using it for your hard boiled eggs!
Easing Kids Back into a Routine
The key to creating routines is all about consistency. To help keep kids and parents on track, try using a routine checklist. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Grab a piece of paper and ask your child what would make a great routine! Allow them to help create it. This will allow you both to stay consistent and work towards checking off all the items!
5 Tips To Help Kids Be Ready for School On Time
By creating an evening routine, you can help set your kid’s morning routine up for success!
- Use a checklist and map out a schedule to ensure you have enough time.
- Choose outfits the night before.
- Keep Shoes in a designated place (and confirm they are there the night before).
- Refill water bottles and replace them in their backpack the night before.
- Prep lunch and/or snacks the night before.
Self Care Tip for Busy Parents
You are busy! With everything on your plate, it’s important to take care of yourself. We know what it’s like to wear so many different hats as a parent. We need regular updates and maintenance, just like our technology!
This month, try gratitude! Whether you are a morning person or night owl, try taking 5 minutes to reflect on your last 24 hours. Take a walk down the block or around the house and think of 5 things you are grateful for from your day. Some days, this task is a breeze while others can be a struggle! One of the best parts about this exercise is that it allows us to connect with our kids. As we age, we tend to forget about the little things that caught our attention and excitement as kids! By reminding ourselves of those simple things, we can find more joy in our journey!
After School Experiment: The Phantom Paper Clip
Make an ordinary paper clip defy the laws of nature!
Kids love magic! This experiment allows your kids to learn about magnetic force while also showing off a pretty cool magic trick! We’d love to see pictures of your experiment so be sure and tag us @SciGenius on Facebook and @scigenius_steam on Instagram.
Supplies:
- Shoebox
- Strong Magnet
- Construction Paper
- Spool of Thread
- Paper Clip
- Clear Tape
- Scissors
- Crayons, Markers, and/or Paint
Before the show:
- Stand the box on its narrow end.
- Tape the magnet inside the box in the center of the top end.
- Tape construction paper over the magnet so it’s hidden.
- Tie one end of the thread to the paper clip.
- Hold the paper clip near the magnet until you feel the attraction between the two.
- Move the paper clip down so it’s as far as possible from the magnet, but is still attracted to it.
- Unwind the thread and tape it to the bottom of the box. Make sure the paper clip will “float’ in the air.
- Decorate the box to make it look like a magical prop.
The Magic Show:
- Show your audience the box, magnet side down. The paper clip will be swinging inside the box like a pendulum.
- Explain that you have created a box that can defy gravity.
- Wave your hands over the box and say your spell: “Abracadabra, abracadize! Make this paper clip rise, rise, rise!” With the back of the box to the audience, turn it over slowly until the paper clip is floating. Turn the box around and wow your audience!
What’s going on?
The magnetic force is strong enough to overcome the force of gravity! So the paper clip rises up, up, up!
We love to hear from you! If you have any comments, questions, or feedback, please reply. We look forward to seeing you and your kids this year and foster their passion for STEAM!