creativechild.

com

APRIL 2017

MORE THAN
A SNEEZE!
HANDLING
KIDS’ SEVERE
ALLERGIES

3 WAYS
TO RECYCLE
PLASTIC EGGS

GOING GREEN
EVERY DAY!
RAISING
EARTH
FRIENDLY
CHILDREN

HEALTHY
SNACKS!
SIMPLE AND TASTY
APPLE TREATS!
 CONTENTS

in Season
5 Tips for Raising Earth-Friendly Kids
25 When Kids have Allergies

Craft Corner
11 Easter Egg Wreath
31 3 Earth Friendly Plastic Egg Projects

editor's choice
15 Let Them Be Little

kid's kitchen
21 Healthy Apple Snacks

1
TEN DOLLAR
GAME NIGHT
THE PERFECT EASTER BASKET GIFT

The Haywire Group, Inc.

www.haywiregroup.com
[email protected]
413.543.3020
 CREATIVE CHILD

S T A F F
publisher/editor-in-chief
Scott Reichert

Operations director
Diane Morse

Art Director
Katy Stewart

marketing director
Marikate Wilson

digital content editor

Jenna Gleason

contributing WRITERS
Sarah Lyons
Deborah Song
Rebecca Eanes​
Michelle Dempsey
Jenna Gleason
Web Developer
B&R Designs

president of advertising & marketing

Melissa Vincent
[email protected] | 818.897.9999

associate publisher
Mindy Reichert

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ph 702.837.2734 | fax 702.837.2701
scooterbaymedia.com

The Scooterbay Network:

3
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 in season

Tips for Raising

Earth Friendly Children
BY: Rebecca Eanes
Going green may seem like a big undertaking,
but each of us can make small steps toward living
greener, and those small steps will add up to make
a big difference for our planet. Taking care of our
earth is a family affair, and as with everything
else, our children are watching our example.
As Earth Day approaches, talk to your children
about the importance of being eco-friendly and
teach them these tips toward a greener lifestyle.

5
Love and Respect the Great Outdoors
This is the most basic way to raise earth-
friendly kids – teaching them to love and respect
nature. Get them outside as often as possible. Let
them wade shallow creeks and play in the dirt.
Take hikes and observe the wildlife. Go camping.
In Cub Scouts, children are taught to leave no
trace when they go outdoors. Leave everything
as you found it, and travel lightly on the land.
Teach kids to respect the plants, animals, and
even the insects. Spend hours throughout their
childhoods looking up at the clouds or the stars
and talking about the beauty and magnificence
of it all. Visit caves to see stalactites and
stalagmites, see great waterfalls and canyons,
and walk through forests and national parks.
Children will naturally develop a love of nature
if they are allowed to frolic about in it.
If there is no room for traveling, camping,
and sight-seeing in your calendar or budget,
the same can be accomplished right in your own
back yard. Plant a vegetable garden with your
kids and allow them responsibility for it. Create
bird feeders, squirrel feeders, and birdbaths and
have the kids refill them every day. Give each
child a pot and allow them to choose the kind of
flower or plant they’d like to grow and tend to.
Pick up litter that blows onto your property and
consider taking a walk around the neighborhood
to pick up litter once a week or so.

6
 in season

“Raising
earth-friend ly
children begins
with YOU making
earth-friend ly
choices”

Basic Conservation
Being eco-friendly starts with
making small, mindful changes.
Teach children to conserve water
by taking shorter showers and
turning off the faucet while
they brush their teeth. Remind
them to turn off the lights when
they leave a room, turn off the
TV when no one is watching,
and power down the computer
when it isn’t in use. Change to
energy-efficient lightbulbs and
rechargeable batteries. If the
school, park, or Grandma’s house
is within walking distance, leave
the car in the garage and walk
together.

7
 Lastly, teach children not to trash their
unwanted toys, shoes, clothing, and books but to
gather them for donation instead.

Clean Green
You might consider ditching your old household
cleaners for more natural alternatives. While
many companies now offer green products, you
can DIY several solutions. Clean and disinfect
with white vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to
9 parts water in a spray bottle). Make up a lemon
oil duster with 10 drops of pure lemon oil, 2
tablespoons lemon juice, and a few drops of olive
oil. Clean drains with baking soda and vinegar
and sprinkle baking soda on the carpets to
deodorize. Ditch the scented candles and instead
put orange peels and cinnamon sticks into a pot
of water and simmer.
Raising earth-friendly children begins with
you making earth-friendly choices that your
kids will see and take part in. Build good habits
early and your efforts will impact generations to
come. •

8
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 craft corner

Easter Egg Wreath

BY: digital Media team

Easter is just around the corner, so why not decorate a little?

This simple spring project will brighten up your front door and
your kids will love it!

11
Supplies:
• Plastic Eggs (4 Dozen)
• Easter Grass (1 Pack)
• Wreath Base (Metal, Foam, Cardboard, Etc.)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Hot Glue Sticks
• Thick Ribbon
(Cost: $8 to $10)

Directions:
(Time: 20 to 40 Minutes)
1. Grab a hand full of Easter grass and tie together
using one (1) long piece of the grass (don’t tie at
the end). Using your hot glue gun, hot glue the
grass on the wreath. Repeat the process until
the grass is covering the wreath entirely.
2. Next, hot glue the plastic eggs at random on the
wreath. If some eggs are unstable, glue them to
other eggs on the wreath.
3. Finally, hot glue a thick ribbon on the back to
hang the wreath. You are done!

12
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 Editor’s Choice

Let
Them
Be
Little
BY: michelle dempsey

Lately, whether I’m scrolling my

Instagram news feed or reading articles
that pop up on Facebook, I find myself
faced with the same phrase relating to
raising children:
Let them be little.

15
 Of course, on first glance, you likely think to yourself,
“Of course I’m letting him or her or them, be little!
They are little, that’s how they’re treated!”
But if you think about it, how often are we letting
our children just be, without making them fall victim
to the ins and outs of our overly scheduled, over-packed
days?
I’ll use myself as an example. As a business owner
and very busy mom, I find that most of my days are
way too segmented and routine.
A typical week day in my world goes a little something
like this:
Wake-up.
Rush to get out of the house.
School drop-off.
Work, work, work.
School pick-up.
Play date, appointment, dinner time.
Bath, books, bed.
With NO time for anything else.

I know this sounds like your home, too.

And then the weekend comes, where things are a
little more laid back. Less of a schedule to follow, less
of a routine to abide by.

16
 Editor’s Choice

That’s when I realize life

feels better. My daughter, my
sweet, innocent, desperate
to play and learn and climb,
seems, happier.
Why? Because I’m letting
her be little.
You see, when we’re
subjecting children to our
timelines, our rules, and what
works best for us, we’re taking
away the innate ability to play
freely, discover, and use their
imagination for fun.

17
 When we’re over-packing our children’s
schedules with “things to do,” as opposed to
teaching them how to relax and make their own
fun – we’re setting them up to be little humans
with a desperate need to find action, anywhere
and everywhere.
As of late, we’ve gone back to basics in my
house, where unscheduled play has now made
its way back into our daily lives – and here is my
advice on how you can, too!

1. Let your house get messy.

Trust me, I know that time between school
pick-up and bedtime can feel like a hectic, harried,
eternity without an actual plan. You may have
even spent the day straightening up your home
and would want nothing more than to keep it neat
– for once. But try this – an afternoon in your
family room. Break out the toys, the crayons, the
games – or break open your patio doors, and let
your child be. Let their imagination run wild. Let
them run wild, supervised, of course.

18
 Editor’s Choice

2. Keep playdates to a minimum.

No one loves playdates more than this gal,
because it’s an opportunity in my day to vent
to my mommy friends about all that’s going
on in mommy world. But put yourself in
your child’s shoes. Would you want to leave
a full day of work, each day, only to have
to go and socialize with other people for an
extended period of time in an environment
that is not your own? No way! Your child
just spent 6-8 hours abiding by school rules,
using their brain, and socializing with the
people around them – maybe they, too, feel
the need to relax and disconnect a bit.

3. Follow your little’s lead.

Once in a while, and definitely not all
the time. But every so often, ask your child
what they want to do. Let them do it, even
if it means allowing your two-year-old to
cover your couch in stickers like mine did
yesterday while I was preparing dinner.
Something about this made her feel good,
and she couldn’t stop giggling – and all it
took was 3 extra minutes of my time to peel
the tiny Minnie Mouse stickers from my
family room couch.

And if all else fails, head to

the park.
Thank goodness for parks.

19
 kid’s kitchen

Kid’s
Apple Sanwhiches
BY: Jenna Gleason

These apple snacks are sure to delight

your young ones! Easy to assemble, full
of healthy ingredients and delicious,
these are sure to become a staple snack.

21
INGREDIENTS:
• Apples
• Peanutbutter
• Raisins
• Granola (With or Without Chocolate Chips)
• Nuts (optional)
•
DIRECTIONS:
1. Wash and cut your apple in half horizontally.
2. Cut out the center core on the top and bottom
half.
3. Layer your peanut butter and other ingredients
on the bottom half of the apple. Then place the
other half on top of the peanut butter, granola
and raisins. Then you’re done!

Fun Tip: Another way to serve these healthy

snacks is in bites! Cut the apple slices the same
way but keep cutting circles in the slice after you
cut out the core. Then layer everything the same
way but to each individual circle. Then you have
bite sized apple peanut butter snacks!

22
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 in season

When Kids
Have Allergies
BY: Deborah Song

Almost everyone I know seems to have some

form of allergy or another. Fortunately, most
allergies are nothing more than a nuisance.
Other more serious allergies, however, can
be debilitating, keeping some kids from ever
playing sports on a field. And some allergies
still can be life threatening, like my friend’s
son who has a fatal peanut allergy.

25
 Collin’s peanut allergy is so severe it
has been deemed fatal. And since most
schools, though they may be deemed a
peanut-free zone, can’t control for all of
the nuances involved in keeping a child
with a fatal peanut allergy safe, Collin
is now home schooled. In living with
the paralysis that comes with having a
child with peanut allergy, Collin’s mom,
Melinda, shares what some parents may
not know about raising a child with a
life-threatening allergy.
1. Parents of kids with serious
allergies may ask a lot of questions.
It’s imperative these parents know
what is being served at playdates
and birthday parties. They may
even ask beforehand what is being
served, or may decline an invitation
based on what is being served.
In Collin’s case, for example, it’s
not enough that a cake contain no
peanuts; neither can any of the other
ingredients be made in a peanut
factory. Given the seriousness of
the situation, this often means that
parents of kids with fatal allergies
can’t simply take your word for it
and may even ask to see the label of
foods being served.

26
 in season

2. Kids with severe allergies may

often bring their own food. Instead
of asking a fusillade of questions,
sometimes it’s easier to bring foods
that don’t contain a child’s allergens.
Don’t be offended if this happens. It’s
not a matter of preference in taste,
but a matter of life and death.

27
3. Kids with severe allergies miss out on
simple social opportunities. A child with
a fatal peanut allergy, for example, may
not be able to attend birthday parties,
or even a regular school. Or consider a
child with a grass allergy who can never
join the other kids on an outside field to
play sports. Missing out on the simple
elements of a childhood can be a heart-
wrenching situation for the families who
are affected.
4. The lives of parents of kids with
allergies are also altered. Ever have to
use an EpiPen on your child to ease their
breathing? Hopefully not. But because of
the seriousness of some allergies, many
parents with kids with fatal allergies
often will not let their normal routine be
broken. I can’t remember the last time
Melinda came with us on one of our girls’
trips. We miss her but understand and
try to be supportive in word and deed.
5. Siblings of kids with allergies may also
be affected. Not only is Collin unable to
eat store-bought cake, but neither can
his sister. The sacrifices she makes for
her brother are considerable because she
can’t afford to bring the allergen home,
which can easily be transferred to her
brother through a towel or even a casual
•
high five.

28
 The Adventures of Energy Annie is a
children’s book that follows a young girl
named Annie who lives with her family
in a small town in the Midwest and
learns how the invisible world of energy
assists in life lessons. This beautifully
“Now that you illustrated book the
have learned by K. Henriott
steps, – Jauw thi
remember
captures energy fields and spirit guides.
and is done in reverence and silently to yourself. Just
This book is the first of a series, and
your parents
is doing. Please, Annie,
also available would
in Spanish. you prac
Author
Elizabethmy soretravels
Cosmos shoulders!”
internationally
teaching all ages Ama-Deus, an energy
healing method that taps into Love for
healing.

“The Adventures of Energy Annie is

poised to guide a future generation
into an Einsteinian world of infinite
possibility. This pioneering work clearly
and creatively demystifies the concept
of energy, by inviting both the child and
adult readers on an amazing journey!
What a brilliant way to change the world!
I’d recommend this book to everyone!”     
- Dr. Mark Mincolla Best selling author
of Whole Health
This is exactly what we need to introduce
children to an understanding of how to
access Divine Force. With wise words and
beautiful illustrations, Elizabeth Cosmos
introduces the idea of energy healing,
guides, guardian angels, sacred ceremony
and more. The book will enthrall children
and adults alike. It provides the platform
needed to launch family discussions on
connecting with Divine Light. I look forward
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-C.A. Michigan

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 craft corner

3 Earth Friendly
Ways to Reuse
Easter Eggs!
BY: Jenna Gleason

So the Easter egg hunt is over, and the candy has all been eaten, but now
you’re left with a bunch of those plastic eggs lying around. This is a struggle
parents of young children know all too well. Well, read ahead for some fun
and easy ways to reuse and recycle those eggs!

31
Egg Bird Seed Treats
supplies:
• 2 Cups Bird Seed
• 6 Tbsp. Flour
• 1/4 Cup Water
• 2 Tbsp. Corn Syrup
• Cooking Spray
• 9 to 10 Plastic Eggs
(Cost: $8 to $12)

Directions:
(Time: 2 to 3 hours)

1. Mix corn syrup, flour, water and bird seeds together

in a bowl.
2. Spray the inside of the plastic eggs with cooking spray,
so the bird seed mixture won’t stick.
3. Overfill the mixture in both eggs halves. Apply pressure
when closing each egg so the halves stick together.
4. Remove the bottom half of the plastic egg carefully so
the birdseed mixture can dry (30 to 50 minutes). Next,
remove the other half and let that side dry for the same
amount of time. Place each egg next to each other in a
container (i.e. muffin tin) for balance.
5. After the birdseed mixture has hardened, tie a ribbon
around the egg to hang in your yard. The best way to
do this is to tie it like a christmas bow and hot glueing
the bottom of the ribbon together so it will not slide.

32
 craft corner

Eggducational Eggs
Supplies:
• Sharpie
• Plastic Eggs
• Scissors
(Cost: $2 to $4)

Directions:
(Time: 5 to 10 Minutes)

1. Cut the eggs so they are no longer attached to their other halve.
2. Place them back together and sharpie in the words you want your kids
to rhyme. Now, you have yourself a colorful word toy for ages 4 to 8!
Try to increase the difficulty in word rhyming for older ages.

33
Easter Egg Flower or Herb Bed
Supplies:
• Flower or Herb Seeds (we used basil and mint)
• 6 Plastic Eggs
• Hot Glue Gun
• Soil
• Water
(Cost: $8 to $12)

Directions:
(Time: 5 to 10 Minutes - Results: 10 to 14 Days)

1. Separate the plastic eggs. Hot glue the outsides of all 12 egg halves
together for balance.
2. Place a layer of soil in each egg half. Then, add the seeds and place
a top layer of soil.
3. Pour water on each plant and watch it grow!

34
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