Join The Children's Center of Austin's "Keep Austin Young" Summer Camp

"Want Nothing Time"

You probably engage in "want nothing time" with your child don't even know it!  To be there for your child, to be in their presence, simply sitting with them for even a small amount of time reaffirms that your child is valued and important.  For your child, he will understand that he does not have to constantly try to impress you to get your attention.  You are coming to them to share time together.  For you, "want nothing time" can also serve to empty your busy mind of distractions and just be with your child.

This idea is part of "30 Days to Transform Your Play", and what a great series it is!  Read all about it here.


Source: "30 Days to Transform Your Play". Kate. aneverydaystory.com. April 13, 2014.

Rescue Han Solo!

Here's an awesome 'Lego Star Wars Science' experiment that is likely more fun than watching the
movie!  This would be perfect for Dads that love to instill a little Star Wars knowledge into their child, and a great way to have fun in preparation for Father's Day on June 15th.

Thanks to Fun-a-Day for this project!

Vegan Pumpkin Nut Muffins

Cooking vegan/vegetarian food for Thanksgiving is not as difficult as it once was. And in some cases, like this  delicious recipe, the recipes are better than conventional ones!

This recipe is courtesy of Doron Petersan, of Sticky Fingers Sweets and Eats.

Ingredients:

1/3 c non hydrogenated vegan margarine

2/3 c sugar

3/4 c canned pumpkin

1 t vanilla

1/2 c non dairy milk

1/4 c oil

2 T water

1 T molasses

1 1/4 c all purpose flour

1 c whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t nutmeg

1/4 t ground ginger

1/4 t salt

1/2 c toasted pumpkin seeds

1/2 c walnuts, toasted and chopped

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a muffin tin with liners.

In a mixer, cream margarine and sugar with paddle attachment.

Scrape the bottom of the bowl down and add pumpkin. Mix.

In a small bowl, whisk together the vanilla, oil, soymilk, water, and molasses. Add to the sugar mixture and mix until combined.

In a large bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.

Add to the wet ingredients until just mixed. Do not over mix. Fold in the pumpkin seeds and walnuts, by hand.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of each muffin comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Halloween Costume Ideas for Families

Infant Angry Birds Costume

Halloween is truly a family event, and what better way to celebrate than with themed 
costumes for the family! When your children are small, they will enjoy dressing up to match mom and dad. That won't be the case for long, parents, so enjoy it while you can!

Spirit of Halloween Alvin Costume

Here are some ideas for themed Halloween costumes:

• Angry Birds
• Raggedy Ann and Andy
• Madagascar 
• Toy Story
• Crayolas
• Peanuts
• Sesame Street
• the 60s
• Scooby Doo
• Star Wars
• Alice in Wonderland
• Grease
• A-Team
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (and Chippettes!)
• Barbie, Ken, Skipper, etc
• Tetris Blocks
• Beekeepers and bees
• Pac Man and Ghosts
• Fly Swatter and Flies
• Care Bears
• any of your family's favorite movies, games, or books!

Tetris Family Costume

Have some ideas for a great family costume?  Leave them in the comments below!

Thanksgiving Tree for Kids

Thanksgiving Tree

When the turkey is history and the kids are restless, here is a craft from Amanda at iVillage.com that is easy and also has a great message!

You will need: 

Poster board

Construction Paper

Scissors

Glue

Marker, Crayons or Colored Pencils

How to do it:

Cut a piece of brown construction paper into the shape of a tree trunk with branches. Glue the tree trunk to the poster board. Help the kids trace their hands onto the construction paper. In each hand, let them write things they are thankful for (or write for them) and cut out the hands. Glue the hands on the branches as leaves".

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kids and Computers

Whether we like it or not, kids and technology is a combination that is here to stay. With all the rewards that come with learning the ins and outs of computers and the internet, there are also quite a few risks.

The absolute best thing you can do as a parent is to set rules, as well as a good example.

Parenting.com offers some good advice on the topic:

1. Set up a where. What areas are technology free in your household? Bedrooms are difficult to monitor after lights out so younger children may be better off with access to a computer in a study or office.

2. Definitely decide on a when. Mealtimes and other family times are important to spend together without interruption.

3. Get Internet savvy. GetNetWise.com offers some tools to limit what your kids can access online as well as limiting time spent on the internet as well.

4. Have an open discussion about what is and what is not allowed to be done online. Younger children will probably benefit from a safe list of what sites are allowed.

5. Follow your own rules! If mealtimes are off limits for technology, parents should lead by example! Obviously, there are some occupations that are not limited by set hours...but do your best to limit yourself as well.

6. Decide which social media sites will be allowed and which ones aren't. The USA requires children to be over 13 in order to create profiles on most sites that can be accessed by adults as well. Play by the rules and allow children to create only profiles on sites that are aimed at kids.

Above all, talk to your kids about the dangers that can be found online. Let them know that not everyone will be exactly who they say they are and giving out personal information can be dangerous.

Halloween Costume Ideas for Toddlers

With Halloween around the corner, cute Halloween costumes are everywhere! From homemade to mail order, here are some of the most adorable costumes for toddlers that we could find!

From PennyWitch on  Etsy.com 

 Etsy. com has some amazing handmade items, from hats to capes and other accessories to head to toe unique costumes for your toddler. Since the shop owners have sometimes modeled the items for sale on their own children, they tend to be a little more practical!

One Step Ahead has a pretty big selection of costumes available for order...infants and toddlers.

The Spirit of Halloween has a gigantic selection of costumes for all shapes and sizes of infant and toddler. Their costumes tend to be more mainstream, but sometimes a little guy just wants a Spiderman costume!

If your toddler doesn't really have much interest in a full costume, there are a few accessories that can bring out the Halloween spirit in even the fussiest dresser!

• Tutus and leotards
• Feather Boas
• Wands
• Crowns and Jewelry
• Crazy Socks!
• White T-Shirts and fabric markers and they can make their own!

OneStepAhead.com

The Spirit of Halloween Costume Shop

      Happy Halloween to all of our Families!

Playdough Recipes

Kids love playdough. It is a universal truth. And, just as universal truth worthy, is the fact that playdough gets left out, eaten, fed to the dogs, shoved in the couch cushions...and sooner rather than later, it's time to buy more!

But, it's even more fun to make your own- Here are some awesome tried and true playdough recipes that are  super easy to make!

Remember to store playdough in an airtight container to keep it fresh. You can also add a little vanilla to keep it smelling sweet!

Colored Playdough

Materials

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• Food coloring
• Saucepan
• 1 cup flour

Directions

1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
2. Remove from heat and add flour.
3. Stir, then knead until smooth. The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist the temptation to omit this ingredient if you don't have it on hand.
4. Store this dough in an airtight container or a Ziploc freezer bag.

Kool-Aid Playdough

Materials

• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 cups water
• Saucepan
• Food coloring, tempera powder, or Kool-Aid powder for color
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 2 tablespoons alum

Directions

1. Combine salt and water in saucepan and boil until salt dissolves.
2. Remove from heat and tint with food coloring, tempera powder, or Kool-Aid.
3. Add oil, flour, and alum.
4. Knead until smooth.
5. This dough will last 2 months or longer.

Salt Playdough

Materials

• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup flour plus additional flour
• Saucepan

Directions

1. Mix salt, water, and flour in saucepan and cook over medium heat.
2. Remove from heat when mixture is thick and rubbery.
3. As the mixture cools, knead in enough flour to make the dough workable.

Thanks to FamilyEducation.com for the awesome recipes!

Summer is just around the corner! Are you ready?

Can you believe that summer is just around the corner? The Children's Center of Austin is preparing for this year's summer camp! The curriculum coordinator and teachers are so excited about this year's theme entitled, "Summer Under the Rainbow". We have planned fun and exciting field trips, scavenger hunts to places such as Bob Bullock Museum, take a dip in our school swimming pool, and reconnect with friends from last summer!  The summer enrollment packets are ready and our space is limited.

 Please stop by the school today. Our school address is 6507 Jester Blvd, Building 2, Austin, Texas 78750 or give us a call at (512) 795-8300, and reserve your spot!