The 413 Mom

Outdoor Ice Skating at Piper Pond (West Springfield)

This ice is nice this season at Piper Pond in West Springfield. Ice skating at the pond is available daily until 10 p.m. (when the lights are turned out). Park in the lot for Memorial Pool at 51 Smyrna Street and follow the footpath down to the pond. There are two benches available for getting skates on and off. Lots of hockey players here but plenty of space for everyone. This is a BYO skates experience -- there are no rentals available. 

We'd love to discover some more places with outdoor skating as it is so hard to find indoor ice time right now. Where is your favorite skating spot? 

February Vacation Week Family Fun Possibilities

A few options for unplugged family fun this February vacation week. As always socially distancing protocols apply at all programs. We will update this post as new opportunities arise.  Happy Vacation Week! 

February 13 ONLY: Lantern Walk, begins at 6 p.m., one mile around West Springfield High School athletic fields and woods in the ice and snow (wear appropriate footwear), parking at 425 Piper Road or 514 Amostown Road, West Springfield, FREE. 

February 14 ONLY: The Big Chill, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., visit the grounds of Hancock Shaker Village to enjoy a walk, build a snowman, snowshoe, or cross country ski, BYO equipment, visit with the animals, all historic buildings are closed, gift shop is open, REGISTRATION REQUIRED, see link for registration information, Hancock Shaker Village, 1843 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, FREE. 

Amelia Park Ice Arena (Westfield): although their indoor public skate session are sold out, you may be able to purchase admission to their outdoor rink for public skate (follow them on Twitter for notifications of availability). 

Agawam Bowl (Agawam): Open extended hours for school vacation week, advanced registration with deposit required, see link for available hours, 359 Walnut St. Ext., Agawam. 

Downtown Ice Invasion (Springfield): over a dozen ice sculptures will be on display at the Quadrangle at the Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, FREE, available February 17-21 until 7 p.m. each day (display will be lit up in the dark). 

Emily Williston Memorial Library (Easthampton): Trouble With Trolls Storywalk, bundle up and read this story as you walk the story trail (pages of the book are posted along the trail) on the grounds of Emily Williston Memorial Library, 9 Park St., Easthampton, FREE, available through March 1, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Firefly Fields Farm (Southwick): Petting Zoo open for farm visits during vacation week by reservation only, call or DM their Facebook page for registration. 

KidSpace at Mass MoCA (North Adams): KidSpace, the child-centered gallery at MASS MoCA is always FREE to visit and is open to the public with timed, advanced registration required (regular admission fee applies to any other galleries at the museum), see link to reserve a spot, open weekends only and school vacation weeks, take home art project and in-person scavenger hunt offered, 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, FREE. 

Kil'n It Pottery Studio (Enfield, CT): has several workshops and is normally open Tuesday-Sunday for drop-in customers (see link for schedule) but will be OPEN on Monday, February 15, first come, first served, reservations required for groups of 5 or more, pottery piece prices start at $6, 610 Enfield St., Enfield, CT. 

Nature Storywalk at Wild Acres (Pittsfield): Self-guided nature trail with storywalk, walk the .5 miles and read "Animal Tracks and Traces," begins at the trail head at Wild Acres Trail Head, South Mountain Road, open dusk to dawn through February 21, Pittsfield, FREE. 

Piper Pond Ice Skating (West Springfield): BYO skates for pond skating, rink is link until 10 p.m., Piper Road, West Springfield, FREE. 

Sixteen Acres Library (Springfield): register to arrange curbside pickup of Makerspace To Go craft bags for ages 3 and up, see link for registration information and available pick up times, FREE. 

Springfield Public Libraries (Springfield): select branches are offering several curbside pickup programs this week including Cocoa to Go, Winter Scavenger Hunt, and a Winter Penguin Craft, see link for participating locations and registration information. 

DIY Snow Paint! #craftingwithkids #childhoodunplugged

We haven't had much snow this winter to Faith's utter dismay...so today it was time to create our own with some simple snow paint. This craft is super easy, high in sensory delight, low in mess, and cleans up very quickly. Here's how you can make your own snow too. 

Required Materials:

• Liquid Glue
• Shaving Cream
• Glitter (optional)

Step 1: Chill the glue in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Step 2: Combine equal parts liquid glue and shaving cream in a bowl and mix until incorporated. 

Step 3: Add some glitter

Step 4: Paint!

This snow glue comes together really quickly. We painted on regular construction paper using regular craft paint brushes. It takes a few hours to dry -- plan on four hours or even overnight would be better (when we went to embellish our paintings with Sharpie four hours after finishing some of the paint peeled up). The paint dries with a fun, poofy texture. 

Snow paint is such an easy, fun sensory activity. Everything cleaned up with just a rinse of hot water. We'll definitely be making this again soon. Happy Crafting!

Watercolor paper snowflakes #craftingwithkids #wintercheer

If your home is feeling a little bare after putting away the holiday decorations, add a little cheer with these colorful, coffee filter snowflakes. This is a simple craft that is easy for the kids, creates minimal mess, and can be made entirely with materials you have on hand at home -- as long as you drink coffee (and who doesn't)?! 

Required Materials:

• Paper coffee filters
• Washable markers
• Water
• Scissors

Step 1: Color the coffee filters with WASHABLE markers (washable markers are important as they'll blend together to create a beautiful watercolor design). You can make them as simple or elaborate as you wish -- just scribbling some colors together works just as well as creating a carefully drawn design. 

Step 2: Drip water on the colored coffee filters so the colors blend together. It should make a tie-dye effect.

Step 3: Let the filters dry (this only takes about an hour).

Step 4: Fold up the coffee filters about five times until you have a thin triangle shape. 

Step 5: Cut designs into the folded coffee filters to make a paper snowflake. Unfold to reveal your design!

Step 6: Hang and enjoy you cheerful creation!  #wintercheer #craftingwithkids

Road Trip Worthy: Wadsworth Atheneum (Hartford, CT)

I get it that art museums and family fun don't go hand in hand for all families. But even my 8-year-old (who insists she couldn't even find any work of art at all that she liked in the whole place) said she'd like to go back. And my teenager was already asking when we could visit again before we were even back in the car. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT has a universal appeal and all of the employees and docents were super friendly to families (not always the case in art museums). Unlike Faith, you should be able to find something that appeals to you in the collection here which includes more than 50,000 works of art. 

The European Art gallery was easily my favorite. But the American Art was a close second. We all adored the many "Collections of Curiosities" cabinets throughout the museum. Many of these displays are like a 3-D game of I Spy. The Made In Connecticut Exhibition (on display through February 2021) is a collection of fun, hyper-local works including a scavenged assembly of ocean trash found in Long Island Sound curated into a fascinating display. 

The museum is open Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. There are special discount and FREE admission days throughout the year -- check the calendar for details. Admission is currently FREE to all through January 31, 2021. Advance ticket purchase is required through this link.

You can book a guided tour or an independent museum visit without a guide. Of course, right now, you can't just meander a path through the galleries as you'd like -- you do need to follow the path of arrows on the floor as with any public place right now. We followed the arrows and visited all of the rooms and it took us about 90 minutes to get a glimpse of all the collections. We reserved our admission for the museum's opening and were the first visitors through the doors and pretty much had the place to ourselves but by the time we left at 1:30 p.m., it was much busier (something to keep in mind if you're not comfortable around a lot of people right now). 

The museum is very accessible with elevators and stroller-friendly paths. As all hands-on activities are not taking place right now, there's nothing here I can tote as particularly geared toward children. But if your kids are entertained by seeing something new and different (or just getting out of the house) then they'll be satisfied just checking out the galleries here. I was very pleasantly surprised by the number of children in attendance on the Sunday afternoon that we visited. 

There is a fair amount of metered on-street parking ($2/hour) on the blocks surround the museum. You can also park in the Convention Center Garage for a $3 fee with museum validation. 

Masks are required to be worn by all and contactless temperature checks are required upon entry. The library, bistro and any hands-on exhibits are closed until further notice but even without these extras, an afternoon at the Wadsworth will not disappoint. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! 

Simple DIY New Year's Eve Party for Kids

Without the usual community New Years celebrations for kids this year, it can be hard to make the day special for the little ones. Here are some super simple ideas to make NYE memorable for the kiddos using only materials you can find around the house to create their very own DIY New Years Party they'll never forget. 

DIY New Year Noise Maker -- Required Materials: paper plate, stapler, beans, rice or beads, ribbon, bows or tinsel. Fold the paper plate in half and scatter the beans, rice or beads (anything that will make a shaky noise) along the crease. Staple the paper plate closed. Decorate by coloring, adding stickers or use some leftover holiday bows or tinsel. 

DIY New Year Party Hat -- Required Materials: paper plate, scissors, markers, tinsel or bows. Cut along the rim of the paper plate about 3/4 of the way around so there is about 1-2 inches left uncut. Fold the cut circle along this uncut portion to create a stand up flap. Have the kids decorate this flap with a new year message. Glue some ribbon, tinsel or glitter around the rim. 

DIY Confetti Popper -- Required Materials: paper cup, scissors, balloon, confetti. Cut the bottom off of the paper cup. Tie off the end of the balloon. Cut off the rounded edge of the balloon. Wrap the tied balloon end onto the small end of the paper cup. Add some glitter (or make your own with cup up pieces of paper or ribbon) to the cup. Pull on the balloon end and let the glitter fly! See instructions for similar craft here. 

Fireworks Painting -- Required Materials: black paper, liquid glue, glitter. This looks best on thick, black construction paper but any dark color really makes the fireworks pop (this art even looks awesome on plain white paper too). You could even upcycle a holiday gift box or cut up a stiff paper bag. "Draw" the fireworks shapes with liquid glue and cover the glue with glitter. Shake off excess. Voila. Your very own DIY fireworks display. 

Fireworks Ring -- Required Materials: pipe cleaners. Find instructions here from fantasticfunandlearning

New Years Countdowns: nearly all of the streaming services have New Years Countdowns available with many of the kids' favorite characters -- Netflix alone has 13 different ones to chose from. 

Dress Up: everyone loves dress up even if you're not going anywhere. Let the kids drag out allll the costumes and let them pick something out for you too. They'll always remember the New Years party when they got to choose the outfits for the grownups. 

Build a LEGO New Years Ball Drop: love this idea from frugalfun4boys -- so simple and no special bricks required. 

Happy New Year! I hope your celebration is full of hope and promise for 2021. #craftingwithkids #readyfor2021

10 Simple, Socially-Distanced activities to count down to Christmas

This is going to be a lonnnnggg week for the kiddos trying to patiently wait for Christmas to arrive on Friday without any of our usual social distractions. This is going to be a lonnngggg week for us caregivers trying to patiently observe our anxious children trying to patiently wait for Christmas when we are all already completely maxed out. 

Here's a list of LOW EFFORT and LOW MESS activity ideas to help conquer these last few days before Christmas.

1. Take a Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt Walk -- use this picture checklist from suchatimeasthis to keep track of items to find. You don't even have to print it out -- you can just pull it up on your phone. Once you find everything on the list head home for powdered hot cocoa and all those broken candy canes the kids won't let you throw away. Or stale Oreos and milk. Or whatever you have on hand that the kids will think is fun. 

2. Make Homemade Play Dough -- This recipe requires only a few pantry staples and I promise it is not even that messy. If you feel really ambitious you can add in a holiday scent like peppermint extract and a little bit of red or green food coloring. But even a plain glob of warm homemade play dough is a sensory delight -- no extras required. 

3. Gather some old toys for the elves -- this one is a little conniving, but read the kids this story from slightlysquirrely about how Santa needs old toys to refurbish at the North Pole and invite them to be generous and collect some well-used items to donate to his project. Maybe find an old Christmas gift bag for them to fill up for Santa and leave it by the door. Your house gets a tiny bit more breathing space. This does require an immediate action on your part though to either bring the bag to the donation center right away, transfer the toys to an inconspicuous bag where they can sit in your trunk for a few months until you get to the donation center, or for Santa's gift bag to hit the trashcan before anyone notices. If the kids find Santa's gift bag after he's supposed to have picked it up, the whole gig is up. 

4. Build Christmas LEGO Scenes -- use this simple tutorial from brainpowerfamily to create some Christmas-themed LEGO builds from standard bricks. No special blocks required. 

5. Make a Paper Chain -- Creating a simple paper chain is so satisfying as you watch the links add up. Maybe you want to create enough links to count down to something special that will happen after Christmas. Or maybe you want to create a paper chain of all of the activities you family wants to enjoy once we can return to normal. Hang it somewhere in the house as a decoration and a reminder that there are still things to look forward to after the holidays. 

6. DIY Giftwrap -- OK, this one is a little messy, but it will keep the kids entertained for a while. Let them use the Christmas cookie cutters to make some DIY printed giftwrap as shown here from thingstoshareandremember. This works great on old newspapers or the paper packaging wrap from Christmas deliveries.

7. Sleep Under the Christmas Tree -- a family campout in the living with only the Christmas tree for lighting is always a magical experience and something they will remember forever. 

8. Christmas Mad Libs -- fill-in-the-blank stories are a hit for all ages and are good for some easy laughs. Check out these printables from woojr. 

9. Snowball Surprise -- use some of that stockpiled toilet paper to wrap a small trinket or treat (maybe a stocking stuffer you already have on hand or some candies) in layers of toilet paper and squish into a ball shape. You'll need some tape to make sure it doesn't come unraveled. Unveil the snowballs and let the kids have an indoor snowball fight. Then let them open them up to find the treasures inside. Check out this tutorial from 3LittleGreenwoods. 

10. Paper Snowflakes -- I feel like sometimes we overlook the simple, joyful activities. There's no easier seasonal craft than paper snowflakes. Create a bunch and display them in a window to share your artwork with the neighbors. You can keep it super simple but thethingswellmake has some tutorials if you want to get competitive. 

Hope some of these activities help you make this week memorable with minimal stress! Merry Christmas Countdown!

ENTER TO WIN: Grinchmas Activity Box from The Springfield Museums #craftingwithkids

Merry Grinchmas! Have you been able to enjoy the holiday activities at The Springfield Museums? If not, you can experience a little bit of the fun right in your own home with the Grinchmas Activity Kit. Project boxes are available for purchase at the museums or you can enter to win one of your own -- keep reading to find out how! 

The kit includes over a dozen holiday-themed craft projects with all required supplies. It's like holiday staycation fun in a box. The activities are geared toward kids in grades PK-5 and include:

• Grinch Doorknob Hanger
• Grinch Snow Globe
• Grinch, Cindy Lou, and Max Color Your Own Keychains
• A Grinch Medal
• Stuffable Ornaments
• Block Print Your Own Christmas Cards
• Mt. Crumpit Derby At Home
• Layered Heart Garland
• Felt Gingerbread Ornament
• Gingerbread Door Decoration
• Grinch Storybook

All project instructions are included. There's hours of unplugged fun offered here.

The Grinchmas Activity Box is $35, and you can add on enough supplies for a second child to complete the projects for an additional $10. While $35 might seem like a lot of money for crafting supplies just one or two of the projects in this box would retail for $10 alone at a store. With this kit you're getting 14 complete projects, plus leftover supplies the kids can be extra creative with. There's enough in here to keep them busy throughout holiday break. If you had to purchase all of the items in these kits separately the price would be north of $100. Plus -- by purchasing from The Springfield Museums you're supporting a local institution during this trying time. 

You can order the Grinchmas Activity Kit here. Flat rate shipping is $8.50 or you can pick up the kit for free in person at the Welcome Center at the Springfield Museums. Merry Grinchmas! 

ENTER TO WIN a Grinchmas Activity kit of your own by using the comments field below to share a story about how your own heart grew three sizes one day or you can share a tip on how NOT to be Grinchy during the holidays. One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. Winner will need to pick up the prize from the Welcome Center at The Springfield Museums. Entry period ends on December 15, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Good Luck!

Gotta Visit: The Spencer Woods Wildlife Preserve (Suffield, CT) #gotakeahike

If there's one way to make your offspring adore you even more than they already do, convince them to join you on a hiking trail on a raw December morning in a thick fog. I mean, hiking in a cold, dense fog -- it there anything better? Not during a global pandemic there's not. Try it and I'll bet you'll make memories most families can only dream of. 

Deep sarcasm aside, The Spencer Woods Wildlife Preserve in Suffield, CT is a perfectly maintained trail just over the border. TBH there's not much to report here except an easy family hike that covers a small portion of the New England Trail. So if you're trying to knock off the whole NET like we are, you can count this jaunt toward your total. Also, there's no such thing as a bad day in the woods irregardless of how much grumbling and whining must be endured. 

You can park in one of the pull-offs at the intersection of Mountain Road and Phelps Road -- there are several to choose from. The blue blazes that greet you at the trail head are a sure sign that you're on the M-M (Metacomet-Monadonock Trail) AKA The NET (New England Trail). If you're seeking a quad workout or need to commit to a leg day -- head here. The trail starts with a few switchbacks on a steep hill but because the trail is incredibly well maintained it's easy to navigate. Eventually the climb evens out and you'll hike for a while along the ridge before the trail descends again. 

There's nothing too exciting here except that Spencer Woods is one of the best maintained trails we've ever had the pleasure to visit. This is for sure the best marked section of the NET that we've been on yet. Spencer Woods is part of the Suffield Land Conservancy so kudos and gratitude to them for maintaining this space. It may be steep to start but it is an easy hike. You'll need a carrier for a little one. I wouldn't recommend this hike for any independent hikers under age six. I don't think anyone under six-ish could manage the steep descent back to the parking spot (two hikers in our party slipped and fell on the way back down. One of us did not. I won't mention any names but I am trying not to gloat). This hike is best suited for ages six and up. There are no facilities on the trail. We did not find anything remarkable besides trees, rocks, and leaves but I have heard that there is a large chimney to be discovered along the trail somewhere.

Also, this trail is pretty busy. Even on a foggy, raw, glum morning we encountered several other hikers on the trail. Be prepared to social distance and have your mask ready if you visit here. Technically, this is the Peak and West Suffield Mountains Section of the NET -- 4.9 miles through but we just popped in and out for a quick 45-minute explore. 

And in the end, despite all the griping, both offspring asked if we could come back someday and one even uttered the phrase "that was fun." I hope you have as much success with your kids on your next hiking adventure. See you on the trail! #hikingwithkids

Gotta Try: Boiron Digestive Distress Homeopathic Remedies #ad #naturalcare

 

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

Tis the season to indulge. Especially this holiday season, I feel like one way we can safely celebrate our holiday traditions is through food. Nevermind that comfort food consumption has hit a peak for many of us during the past few months. We're all about trying new recipes and consuming many of our favorites right now. But sometimes even our favorite comfort foods become uncomfortable. And maybe we don't always want to reach for the traditional, strong-flavored remedies full of artificial colors and flavors to find some relief. That's where Boiron Acidil MeltawayT ablets can help. 

Acidil Meltaway Tablets are a homeopathic option for upset stomach and acid indigestion. They allow you to help your body the natural way with plant-based actives to temporarily relieve heartburn, acid indigestion, bloating and upset stomach associated with these symptoms. The white tablets dissolve quickly under your tongue -- no water required. Acidil Meltaways are perfect anytime, anywhere. They're perfect to keep in your purse for dining out or eating on the go and can be taken after eating a reactive meal or you can use Acidil in a proactive manner before eating a known "trigger" food. They're also perfect for those late nights when you need a little help settling your stomach but you've already brushed your teeth and don't want the sugary sweet flavor of other products in your mouth. 

According to Boiron, eight out of 10 Americans are managing digestive issues. Surprisingly, the highest incidence of self-reported acid indigestion is people between ages 25 and 44. Once considered an issue of older adults, acid indigestion is more prevalent among young people due to 24/7 lifestyles, stress, eating on the go, and changing diets.

Boiron Acidil FAQs:
• It is the #1 best-selling heartburn homeopathic medicine in natural food stores.
• Acidil relieves occasional heartburn, acid indigestion, upset stomach, and bloating. (*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated). 
• The unflavored meltaway tablets dissolve in the mouth, without needing water or food.
• Acidil may be taken before or after meals, whenever symptoms strike.
• It is appropriate for use by adults and children who are 12 and older; Acidil has no known drug interactions.
• Each box contains three sleeves of 20 tablets each for home, work, or on-the-go.
• Acidil Meltaway Tablets typically retail for $9.99 to $11.99 (box of 60 tablets)

Acidil is available to purchase at RiteAid, Walgreens, Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods Market, Vitamin Shoppe, and online at amazon.com, iherb.com, and vitacost.com. Visit boironusa.com/store-locator for the full list of locations.

Happy Indulgence Season! #BoironBetterBelly #ComfyBelliesBy Boiron #Acidil #selfcare #naturalselfcare