From the Sidelines

More reasons to let kids be kids

    During the holiday seasons, do you lament that your kids loves the boxes more than the toys inside? Don't!
    In this essay at Frog Design Laura Sergent Richardson explains why play and imagination are important resources for kids to develop and adults to have.  My kids love to build with Legos and Lincoln Logs how about yours?

Beat the Heat with Cool Summer Fun

      As we reach the hottest months, it is a challenge to keep our kids active and outside.  With a little bit of creativity, you can keep summertime safe and fun, even in this heat. 

Here are a few ideas to help keep your kids cool in the heat.

• High Quality H2O!  Drink lots of water!  Don’t wait until you’re thirsty.  By that time, you are already dehydrated.
• Freeze it!  Keep frozen treats on hand.  These may be as simple as throwing some grapes into the freezer and as easy as filling an ice cube tray with fruit juice and Popsicle sticks.  No matter what you make, if it’s frozen, your kids will love it!  Just Kids Recipes has 49 Frozen Treat Recipes if you need some new ideas.

• Plan for the heat!  Wear light and loose-fitting clothing.  Natural fabrics such as cotton and linen as well as light colors help keep the heat off your body.  You can always check out the tees and tanks at Red 21 Boys and Pink 21 Girls for some great summer tops and shorts.
• Just add water!  Frequent trips to a water park, pool, or lake can be a fun experience for kids.  Not only will they get some great exercise, and have loads of fun, but they will stay cool in the process.  If you can’t get to the pool or beach regularly, kids love the sprinkler!  I get my kids into their swimsuits, add some water balloons or water guns and they are happy for hours!  I love the crazy games they make up while they are out in the wading pool.

 

Feel free to share any summertime activities that your family enjoys!  Pictures, stories, fun games...we love to hear from you!

Need some Summer Fun? Just Look Outdoors (Pt 2)

    Last post, I talked a little about some summer activities that you can do with your kids, in particular camping.  I hope the few ideas that I posted about the planning and packing steps in preparing for a trip.  This post I’ll focus on the meals and activities that you can do while you are out of doors.     

 

Meals

            Planning and making meals while camping is another great opportunity to educate your children and get them involved in the trip.  Have them help you make the meal plan, but make each meal simple. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and hobo pies are easy to cook and clean up.  You can find some great tin foil recipes at Family Travel and other great food ideas at camprecipies.com. If your kids are at a good age, let them cook or help cook their own food and definitely, definitely let them help clean.  Campsite chores like cleaning, collecting fire wood, or filling water jugs can be exciting for little ones. Plus, it gives us parents a little more down time.  Finally, don’t forget the snacks.  The outdoors has a funny way of making kids have huge appetites.  Make them easy to put together and familiar.  A child’s tolerance will be pushed on their first camping trip you want them to be as well fed as possible. 

 

Activities

            A camping trip should be as fun and memorable as possible.  Allowing your children to pick a few of the available activities will keep them active as well as involved.  Keeping a video, audio, or written journal of the trip is a fun activity and will help them get ready for the next by replaying their favorite moments.  Disposable cameras are a great way for little one’s to help capture the memories.  They can snap all the pictures they want of the things that were important to them.  Now, if you are a crafty parent, collages are another way for kids to make memories.  Take paper, glue, scissors, and crayons and let them pick leaves and pine cones to add or keep in a memory box.  Whatever you plan, make sure you have alternatives or back up plans.  Unforeseen interruptions such as weather or broken gear can torpedo all excitement and no back up can sink them.  Check with your campground.  Most parks will have a list of activities in the area, some will have kid friendly ones organized for you.

           

Above all, camping can be perfect learning experience for your children.  In this day and age of electronics and big cities, a quiet and calm weekend in the woods can teach kids much about themselves and their surroundings.  Taking time to teach your kids safety -identifying poison ivy and sumac for example- and respect for the outdoors is a great place to start.  Remember to take only memories and leave only footprints.  While there might be no one around for miles, there is no one and nothing around for miles. Teach them to keep within eyesight, for the little ones, and earshot for the bigger kids.  This will help them from getting lost.  If they find themselves lost, teach them to find a tree and stay put.  If they keep a back or fanny pack with them, make sure a whistle is inside along with a small first aid kit.  They should know that three blows is the standard signal for “Help!”

            Don’t forget to check out all the rugged shirts and cargos at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy and feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!

Need some Summer Fun? Just Look Outdoors

Summer vacation can be both a blessing and a burden for parents.  On the one hand seeing your children all day is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with them.  On the other hand, seeing your children all day can be a dreadful experience when you don’t have activities lined up! Over the next few blogs, I’ll talk about some different summer fun that can engage your kids and make the time you spend with them enjoyable and not painful.

            Since I’ve been focused on sports these last few posts, I though we could take a break and focus on another outdoor activity, namely camping.  I remember fondly taking camping trips when I was young and all the great experiences I had.  Making S’mores, taking shelter because of possible tornadoes, and games by the campfire are memories I’ll never forget.  If you are a new parent or new to the outdoors, the last thing you might want to do is take your kids into the middle of the woods.  At first thought, camping with kids, especially young kids, can seem daunting.  However, with a little extra care and planning, a family camping trip can be one of the most memorable experiences for you and your children.

Before you begin planning your trip, I think the most important thing to remember is to involve your kids every step of the way.  Having them help plan the location, meals, and activities will ward off the complaints and make them feel like their opinions count

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning and packing for a camping trip with children.

 

Planning

As mentioned, a little extra care needs to be taken when preparing for your family camping trip.  If this will be your first family camping trip, make it a short one.  One or two nights will be about all little ones can handle.  Plus, if there is a major inconvenience such as bad weather, much more than a few nights can be unbearable.  Your first trip should be a fun as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to get yourself or your kids motivated for a second.  It’s also helpful to pick a site with running water and facilities.  I know most dads think they are Bear Grylls or the Survivor Man, but having running water and restrooms will ease your children into camping.  Any state run campground will have this information readily available.

 

Packing your gear

Pack light, but be prepared.  If you are not renting a cabin, make sure you have a sturdy, waterproof tent.  If you’ve never pitched it before, try it out in your backyard.  This will make sure that you have all its pieces and if you make it to the campsite at dusk, you’re not flying blind while in a hurry to get it built before dark.  Every one should have a sleeping bag and pads.  Air mattresses are nice for the kids, but I find them a little bulky to take one for everyone.  There should be a battery powered lantern for each tent if possible and a flashlight for each person.  Light sticks are always a good back up and can also double as entertainment. Finally, a basic first aid kit, bug repellent and sun screen are all must haves with kids.  When I was younger, I neglected to put sun screen on my feet while on a three day canoe trip.  Let’s just say shoes were optional for a while after that trip.

The right clothes are important on any camping trip.  If you are going to be hiking or taking nature walks, make sure each child has a good pair of boots.  Although rain may not be in the forecast, rain gear is also good to have on hand, as well as an extra set of warm clothes.  Children get colder faster than adults.  Keeping them warm and dry will go a long way for their morale.  I find that organizing their clothes by day into zip lock bags makes it easy for them to dress.  They can also put their dirty clothes back into the dirty bags when they are done (although this doesn’t happen all the time).  If this is your first trip, it is especially important to have a few familiar items.  Make sure you take their favorite pillow, Mr. Blankey, or stuffed animal to comfort them at night.  It is also helpful if you limit extra items to one backpack.  Not only is it easier for parents to pack, but it will help teach your children to pack light.  For a good checklist of supplies, try this list from KOA campgrounds.

            Next time, I’ll talk more about meal planning and what activities are kid friendly. Until then you can find many more ideas at kidscamping.com. If you are looking for some great boys gear, the shirts at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy are durable for any outdoor activity and are cargos are perfect for carrying all the goodies your son may find on a hike.

            Feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!

What, there’s more than the CWS in Omaha?

I seem to recall that there was something going on in college sports this weekend…Reshuffling conferences and divisions? No that already happened. The World Cup…yes it’s soccer…true not many watch it in the U.S.  Oh yeah, the College World Series. If you or your kids follow college baseball or are from Omaha, this is one of the biggest events of the year.

Thousands and thousands of fans will descend upon Rosenblatt for its last year of the CWS to see their team play in this historical series.  As I mentioned in the last post, it is the last year the CWS is held at Rosenblatt.  Next year, it moves to its new venue to start new traditions and memories.  If you are a fan trekking to Omaha to watch the series, there are a few other activities, many kid friendly, to do away from the stadium.

It may come as a surprise to many, but Omaha offers a lot on a regular basis.  From museums to shopping, to arts, music, and movies, there are many local places to take your kids. Just next to the stadium is another huge Omaha attraction, the Henry Doorly Zoo.  One of the best in the country, your family can spend several days at the Henry Doorly seeing all the exhibits they have to offer including the Wildlife Safari. If your child has never been on a safari drive like this, it is a great opportunity to see their reactions to a buffalo licking your window.  My kids’ experiences are sure to bring up some embarrassment when we re-live them in front of their friends.

Without animals and slobbering, you can find quite a few other things. Make sure you hit one of the many Farmer’s Markets in the area.  Last count we have six across the Omaha area on varying days of the week.  You can, also, always escape the heat by taking in a movie.  Visit the iMax at the zoo, the Film Streams for their Forever Young series, or the Marcus Midtown Crossing Theater where you can have a full dinner and adult beverage during the show.

Take a walk in Omaha’s Old Market, Heartland Park, Lewis and Clark Landing, and the new pedestrian bridge if you want to just get outside for a while.  Or you might try and grab a pizza from one of several local pizzerias such as Mama’s or Zio’s.  Regardless of what you do away from the stadium, while you are there, make sure you stop by the Fan Fest Area and leave your fondest memories of Rosenblatt and don’t forget to stop by Zesto’s for a cone.  And, as always, if you are looking for the coolest sports gear Red21Boys is online and available wherever you are.

You can find all of these activities and more at http://www.visitomaha.com/. If there’s a memory of the CWS you’d like to share or something to do that I missed, fell free to post it here.

 

What's Your Game?

One playoff over, one under way, and two ready to begin! No matter what your favorite game is, there is a lot going on in sports this week.  You can choose from baseball, soccer, football, or hockey - it’s all happening right now.

If NHL hockey is your sports de jour, then you’ve been on the edge of your seat for the last few weeks. The battle for the Stanley Cup between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers has been worth the watch.  The 49 year drought for the Blackhawks finally ended last night with their 4-3 victory in game 6. 

If basketball is more to your taste, the NBA is in the middle of the Finals as well. The three  games so far have been a back and forth fight.  However, at the moment, the Lakers seem to have advantage over the Celtics.  But with teams lead by Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett it’s anybody’s game.  I watch the NBA more often, but I think I ruined my son’s basketball opinion by watching the Harlem Globetrotters.  Now he always asks why a Celtic player isn’t running into the audience to throw a bucket of water on his teammate.

Although it’s not the number one pastime in the U.S., soccer/football kicks off the World Cup this weekend in South Africa.  Plagued (or blessed depending on your view) with some the most fanatical followers, FIFA soccer is a must watch, especially if you have a child playing soccer like I do.  We’ve watched a few high school games this season, but over the next few weeks, he and I will be able to see professionals from around the world.  It’s interesting that he can sit and watch an hour and a half soccer game, but can’t wait five minutes for dinner because he’s “hungry and can’t take it anymore!”

Last, but not least, the NCAA Men’s College World Series starts next week and is a huge event in for baseball fans everywhere.  During the CWS you get to see the best college teams play for the CWS trophy.  This year is going to be particularly memorable, since it will be the last year the CWS is held at Johnny Rosenblatt stadium.  The series has been played at Rosenblatt for 61 years and all the teams and coaches will arrive with past memories and undoubtedly create more this year. So take some time to watch this historical event and take in a game either from the comfort of your own home or in Omaha if you are nearby.

So much to watch and so little time, especially if your kids like to play more than one sport.  I guess it is their way of keeping us busy.

How Do You Celebrate Memorial Day?

Fire up the grill and load up the family camper, Memorial Day kicks off summer.  Schools are out, businesses are closed, and the public parks, lakes, and pools are officially open. Everyone rushes to enjoy the first long weekend of the season beneath the summer sun.  Although, swimming, camping, and barbecues are the now the norm for Memorial Day, this celebration had a much more poignant beginning.

            After the Civil War ended in 1865, many communities during the reconstruction began to honor and establish memorials to those who had lost their lives during the war.  Charleston, South Carolina claims to have held the first event to remember the Civil War fallen.  In that “city of the dead”, freed slaves gathered at the old Washington Race Course.  Used as a prison camp by the Confederate Army, many Union soldiers were buried there in mass graves.  The freed slaves exhumed and reburied the bodies and on the following day held a somber procession to honor them. Up north, on May 5, 1866, Waterloo, NY observed the first Decoration Day with flowers and other decorations placed on the graves and memorials of Union soldiers.  Through the efforts of General John A. Logan, Decoration Day was celebrated nationally on May 30^th.  After World War I, the scope of Decoration Day was expanded to include the fallen of all wars. Finally, in 1968, Decoration Day name was officially changed and its date was solidified as the last Monday of May in the Uniform Holidays Bill.

            So while we enjoy picnics and bar-b-cues with our friends and families, we should all take a moment to remember those who have served and lost their lives protecting our freedoms.  Here are a few other ways that we can celebrate and commemorate Memorial Day.

• Visiting cemeteries and memorials.
• Observe the national moment of remembrance at 3:00 p.m.
• Fly the American Flag half staff in honor of the dead.
• Donate to the Veterans of Foreign Wars by purchasing poppies from them.
• Attend one of the many concerts and celebrations that are held in communities across the country.  (the most well known of these is at Arlington National Cemetery and televised by PBS)

Let us know how you plan to celebrate Memorial Day.  We want to hear about the barbecue disasters, the “fun” setting up the tent and of course, anything special you did to honor our fallen heroes.  We love to hear your stories!

Cinco de Mayo, Baseball and Big Bargains!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  But what IS Cinco de Mayo?  It actually celebrates the 1862 Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla and, according to many people, is more of a U.S. holiday than a Mexican one. It's not the Mexican independence day like many people think.  

At my house, we think of it as a celebration of 5. My guys play baseball, so of course we try to think of all of the fun "five" facts that can relate to baseball, but you can do any sport you like.  Look at what we found!

 The most commonly retired number in baseball (other than Jackie Robinson's No. 42 that is retired MLB-wide) is 5. Think George Brett, Brooks Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Bench and Jackie Robinson- all wore #5!!

 Ty Cobb, Carl Crawford, Roger Cedeno, Cesar Cedeno and Roberto Alomar, to name five, each stole 55 bases in a season.

 On the other hand, Don Drysdale led the NL in hitting batters a record five times. Drysdale said: "If one of our guys went down, I just doubled it. No confusion there. It didn't require a Rhodes scholar." Mickey Mantle was quoted as saying, "I hated to bat against Drysdale. After he hit you he'd come around, look at the bruise on your arm and say, 'Do you want me to sign it?'"  Boys love this one!

Baseball stars are regarded as "five-tool players." The five tools are: 1) hitting for average, 2) hitting for power, 3) running speed, 4) arm strength and 5) fielding ability.

We found these at the MLB site http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100504&content_id=9787858&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Well, you get the idea!  If 5 isn't your favorite number, what about 9?  I have the inside scoop that our favorite on-line store for boys- red21of course- has a new sale under wraps.  It is so cool - you are going to love it!  Every day will be a new sale...seriously... 9 different styles on sale every day!!  The trick is that the sales only last one day, so you have to be on your toes.  The discounts are huge and the styles totally rock, as always!!   So if you have been waiting for your favorite shorts, t-shirts, or swim trunks to go on sale, this is your big chance!  Maybe they'll even put the super cool 3D shirts on sale!! I can't wait!

Every 24 hours there is a new chance to get exactly what you want at a price you are going to love!  Meet you there!

If you could choose what goes on sale, what would it be? Comment back and who knows, maybe the sale fairy will read our post and make your wish come true!

Hockey days are here

I’m glad that the saying “I was watching hockey and a game broke out” isn’t true for kids leagues.  My boys follow the sports calendars and last week was the beginning of the NHL season.  So, instead of watching a movie on the weekends, they have ESPN on and are glued to a hockey game.  I will have to say, collisions aside, there is something elegant about the professional players skating on the ice. Of course, with several of their friends playing on teams, this is not the only fill of hockey that they get.

In a few weeks, my son’s friends will have games of their own at the area rinks.  In years past, we have gone to catch a couple games every season.  Although not quite as graceful (or rough for that matter), there is something enjoyable about leaving the cool autumn air for colder temperatures to sit on metal bleachers in order to watch a bunch of 12-year olds chasing a puck around.  Fortunately, the only fights I have to worry about my children seeing are the ones between coaches and parents.

It is also fortunate that Red 21 Boys has hockey and lacrosse clothing on sale and I’ll be sure to pick out a few long sleeve tees and fleece pants for the boys.  The Hockey League raglan and Stars and Stripes Athletic Pants from Wes and Willy are always a good combo.  This way I know that they will be warm even in the frigid temperatures of the hockey rink. The great thing with the Wes and Willy brand is that I know I’m getting durable comfortable clothes that even after the hockey season, my boys will want to wear again and again and the shirts and pants you can get at Red 21 won’t fall apart in the first washing.  Like I’ve said before, Red21Boys.com makes it easy for parents to shop for their boys and Wes and Willy is a long lasting product.  Besides, if your boys are as interested in sports as mine, you’ll want to save every penny on boys’ clothes for all the sports equipment that you’ll have to buy!

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Itchy Witchy

Although Halloween isn’t for a few weeks, with the new Halloween items at Red 21, I am reminded of the cool October weather, walking the neighborhood for a trick or treat.  I would ready myself for a night of running through a friend’s neighborhood, trying to collect as much candy as possible while avoiding the houses that we knew didn’t hand out our favorite candy.  We had to make sure we made the most of our few hours out.

Perhaps less fondly, I remember the cold nights after an early October snow.  On these frozen nights my mother would make me layer on the clothes both under and over my costume.  I never could seem to fit a stuffy sweater beneath my favorite super hero’s suit.  The costume’s arms and legs would bulge from the strain of too much clothing and I would constantly squirm beneath the sweatshirts on top of t-shirts beneath sweaters feeling like I was drowning in fabric.  Well, at least I never caught a cold on those nights, just a stomach ache.

With my boys, I do the same thing now.  Fortunately, thanks to Red 21 and Wes and Willy, I don’t hear the same complaints that my mother did years ago.  You can find comfortable and warm shirts and pants for boys that they don’t mind wearing.  This makes the trips around the neighborhood a little more enjoyable on those cold nights. I can watch them run up and down the streets in search of the house with the best candy instead of hobbling along because they can’t bend their knees. With the internet and Red 21 Boys, I won’t hear my boys complain about being and itchy, just that they didn’t get enough candy.

 

Happy shopping and happy Halloween!

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