Recap of Kid Fest Northwest

By Meg Hodson

I received complimentary admission to Kid Fest. All opinions remain 100% my own.

It was the perfect activity for a cold, foggy Northwest Sunday: Kid Fest! It has been awhile since my family as a whole had attended an expo of this nature. I had a few teasers of what to expect from their Facebook page, like Star Wars characters and Lego fun, but did not know completely what to expect.

The show was a pretty even split of attractions and booths aimed at pleasing the kids and vendors exhibiting more for the parents. I actually thought this was a good balance. After all, I love finding out about summer camps, special schools, good food and other great resources for parents. The kids, of course, love action and hands-on activities. A family pass (up to 5 people) was $20. I thought this was fair....until I got inside. A lot of the activities did require additional money or "suggested donations". This might be disheartening for families on a budget. But myself included, I would think that admission would include most activities. I think it should include all activities.

When we first walked in, we were greeted by a Star Wars booth, so my boys immediately signed up to shoot Nerf guns at storm troopers; it was a great moment for a photo, too. We then proceeded to see some live animals (including a lion!), some fun toy booths to try out the latest and great, and some bouncy houses and slides to get some exercise in. 

I thought the most effective booths were ones that were there to provide information for parents, but to also showcase intriguing and attractive activities for the kids. Honestly, I don't like being "sold" things at events like this. Ultimately, we are there for the kids to have a good time. If we discover some worthwhile information, then great. Well, that's exactly what happened at the Delphian School booth. There was valuable information on the school and it's program, including summer offerings. But my kids absolutely adored everything they had to play with: fun science tricks and toys was the focus. We spent nearly 30 minutes (across 2 visits) at their booth!

Except for a few booths which made me wonder "why are you here exactly?", all seemed to fit well with a Northwest kids theme. Again, some booths were a hit, some missed. We love the Trailblazers, but how could they possibly not have set up a basketball hoop for kids to shoot? And please, from a Mom who cares, let's cut down on the candy! I love tokens and little items for my kids to take home, but how am I going to remember your business with a piece of candy?

I guarantee you I am going to remember Next Adventure Sporting Goods the next time I need any outdoor related gear. My kids loved pretending they were kayaking and paddle boarding. They schmoozed with Cosmo, the dog. They received FREE t-shirts and sweatshirts, plus stickers and more. That is exactly how a booth should be; they were personable, shared information, but weren't pushy. 

While the Main Stage offered fun attractions, like karaoke, Mad Science, and more, the sound and acoustics in a cement-encased building made it very difficult to hear. The food offerings were also a disappointment. I am glad I packed a lunch for my kids; there wasn't much beyond pretzels and hot dogs. It would have been fun to see a fun food cart or two. I mean, that is SOOOO Portland, right?!

Overall, we enjoyed Kid Fest Northwest and I would recommend it to parents, but take some caution on your expectation of activity for the kids. With a little attention to some of the offerings from vendors, you can definitely make it fun for your kids....and yourselves. While I surmise that the target age group for this event is ages 2-8, we did manage to find some fun for my 10 year old daughter, as evidenced below.

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Science Day: Fun With Diet Coke, Mentos, and More!

By Meg Hodson

On a recent school holiday over Veterans' Day, I created a fun "science day" for my kids. It's sometimes a challenge to keep them happy and entertained on days off.  Instead of the usual reading and "let's finish our homework" routine, I opted for some fun experiments. 

I researched 3 experiments that I thought would please them all. I highly recommend all three of them, the main reason being they are easy to pull off! I hope you enjoy recreating these with your children.

1. Exploding Soda. Most people have heard of the Diet Coke/Mentos science trick. The key to success with this experiment is to follow these tips:

• Use diet soda (it will explode better!)
• Use 6-8 Mentos that you can rapidly add all at once to the open bottle of soda.
• Find a funnel large enough to deposit the Mentos quickly to the bottle....or make your own funnel out of heavy paper, like card stock.
• Be quick with your camera as the exploding happens almost instantaneously.
• Buy numerous bottles in case you make a few mistakes.

2. Hopping Corn. This is a simple, fast experiment that my kids enjoyed! In a clear glass jar or vase, mix 1 cup white vinegar with 2 tablespoons of baking soda (feel free to double or triple the amounts depending on how large your container is). You can also add a drop or two of food coloring, if desired. Then, take about an 1/8 cup (small handful) of unpopped corn kernels. Drop in the container and watch the kernels "hop around". It should last for at least 20 minutes or so, sometimes longer!

3.  Colorful Carnations. Buy white carnations and snip them so they are about 5-6 inches tall. Fill individual glasses halfway with water and add 25 drops of food coloring. Place the carnations (one or numerous) in each glass. Check them every couple of hours to see the stems soak up the color and change the colors of the flowers!

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!

What Happened To Playtime?

By Meg Hodson

My son has been bummed out as of late. "I never get any playtime anymore," he will lament after he comes home from school. First, it was the gradual disappearance of toys after kindergarten. Then, sharing time by 2nd grade was gone. Now a 3rd grader, the homework and reading have increased. Match that with busy schedules like soccer and time is limited. 

After school, depending on the afternoon schedule, we will roll right into homework to get done what we can.  Most of the time, I don't get many groans. But lately, the groans (and even anger) has increased from my son. Again he complains, "I just don't get playtime anymore and it makes me mad." 

I have a gentle conversation with him about getting older, growing up, and having more responsibility as a 3rd grader. Reading is harder at this level and thus you need to try harder. But sometimes, it is still too much for him. I can see him just not have the concentration and stamina on any given day. If you are a parent of a boy, you know they sometimes have a hard time focusing and are often fidgety (it's because of this I have my son often stand up to work....paging Gaiam for one of those awesome bouncy-ball chairs!). Even the Washington Post things kids are sitting too long in the classroom.

This is how it is, right? School is in session, its sports and school and homework. You may get a slight breather on the weekends, but even then, you at least have to read, right? These are the rules, I am following "orders". 

There's just one detail I had forgotten;  he's a kid!!  Hallelujah for kids! They have endless energy, they can find pure joy by just running or jumping, swinging on a swing is heaven, make believe play actually exists, scooters and bikes are WAY COOL. Why was I (inadvertently) pulling my son away from this? Why did I not immediately realize the importance playtime?

The thing is....I do, It just got pushed to the back burner as homework and sports came to the forefront. But playtime, I have decided, is as important as these things. Kids have to run around and work the sillies out. I live by this belief during summer, why should it be any different during the school year?

OK, real life will interrupt here inevitably. I certainly am not going to let homework and commitments slide. But I am going to make playtime an important part of the day, too....as much as I can. After all, you only get to be a kid once. 

 

Adjustment Day

By Meg Hodson

School is out.  It's officially summer vacation for my three children.  They're excited.  I'm excited, too (really I am).  But to get to cruising altitude of summer, we must survive Adjustment Day.

I've never been to a chiropractor, but I am fully versed in what I am calling Adjustment Day. The kids are officially out of school for summer, but are acting as they have been throw into the deep end of the pool with no skill of how to swim.  In short, they are nuts.  We've stayed up way past our bedtime a few nights. Regularly scheduled school year has gone into repeats.  There is laughter, tears, fighting, and exhaustion....and that is all by the time breakfast is over.  I adore my kids, but seriously, I am about ready to run out the front door screaming.  

So what do you do? What helps ease the transition to summer vacation? How do you survive Adjustment Day?  I've assembled a few tips that I think help with summer vacation.....and on any given day that your kids might seem out of sorts and a little off center:

1.  Keep Them Well Fed.  One of the best tips I received was prior to our trip to Disneyland a few years ago.  A fellow parent friend advised to pack lots of snacks and feed my kids every 2 hours.  While it seemed excessive before going, it proved to be useful and downright necessary on our visit.  I think the same is true for summer vacation.  In general, kids are outside more and their activity level is increased.  Every other sentence out of their mouth is "I'm hungry". I have brushed off the request for food other times, but this time around, it appears that they legitimately need a bit more food.  Now, this doesn't necessarily mean food every 2 hours, but I am making a conscious effort to pack their plates a bit heavier at their three core meals and keep apple slices and carrot sticks in handy grab bags in the fridge.  

2.  Keep Them Active.  As a parent that works from home, I have to find a balance between spending time with my children and getting work done.  Easier said then done, right?  I do know that activities that are easily available to them are key.  I keep a well-stocked pile of new books from the library as they participate in a summer reading program.  Our backyard is equipped with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, toys, a trampoline, a sprinkler for hot days, and more.  I use a dry erase board each day for a small amount of chores for them to complete.  Find what they like and have those options ready and organized.  

3.  Establish A Summer Schedule.  When the school year is in full swing, adhering to a schedule is relatively easy.  That changes in summer.  But I urge you to create, even if it's loose, a summer schedule. Have set times when they are allowed to watch a t.v. show or play a video game.  Have a set time for workbooks or reading.  Serve your meals at about the same time each day.  Children thrive on a regular schedule; this will make them and you much happier.

4.  Roll With It.  As prepared as you will be, there will still be insane, crazy days.  And it's on these days that I urge you to squeeze your kids a little longer and smile.