The 413 Mom

FREE Museum Day THIS Saturday, September 22 - Reserve admission now

Smithsonian Magazine is offering free admission to over 1,000 museums around the country on Saturday, September 22 and you can register for your free admission now. This year, Museum Day will showcase Women Making History: Trailblazers in the arts, sciences, innovation & culture.

Just visit smithsonianmag.com to see a list of local participating venues. Participating kid-friendly museums in Massachusetts and Connecticut include the Springfield Museums, the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford and the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, CT. There are many more to chose from, browse the list to see what would be a good fit for your family. You have to chose which museum to visit when you reserve your ticket. A few years ago we visited the Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Mashantucket, CT -- it was a-maz-ing. Highly recommend! I think we're going to head to the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, CT this year. 

I don't know if many folks don't know about this program, or if museums are just not that popular in September but we've taken advantage of this program several times and the venues were never overcrowded. In fact, we pretty much had the museum to ourselves last year. So please don't pass on this idea because you think the venues are going to be overwhelming. I've never found that to be the case. 

Each ticket is good for two free admissions on Sept. 22. This offer is limited to one ticket per household/email address. You can reserve your tickets here.

Free is for Me! Thanks, Smithsonian! #MuseumDay #WomenMakingHistory

Using the BORED acronym to win the screen time battle this summer

Have you tried using the BORED acronym to win the screen time battle this summer:

Been Creative

Outdoor Play

Read a Book

Exercised

Done Something Helpful

Check out this link from the Better Western Mass show on Western Mass News to learn all about it. (It's OK to let them be bored!) 

Find missing LEGO build instructions at WorldBricks.com! #LEGOlife

Did you even KNOW that WorldBricks.com catalogues old LEGO design page?! File this under amazing! #legolife #unpluggedfun

Pool Noodle Fun...outside of the pool! #creativeplay

Pool noodles provide some of the best creative play for kids for only a $1 investment. I shared some of my favorite ideas on the Better Western Mass show today for having fun with pool noodles -- outside of the pool. Check out the link for some inspiration and to make sure you don't have to hear "I'm bored!" tomorrow! 

Fourth of July upcycle crafts for the kids #celebrateamerica #makesomething

Happy Fourth of July! I have a few simple upcycle craft ideas to help you celebrate with the kiddos today -- the firework confetti poppers are so fun for the littles. And the big kids will love to make swirly Patriotic decorations from plastic cups. Learn all about it on this link from the Mass Appeal show. 

How do you encourage kiddos to avoid the summer slide?

Do you insist on summer enrichment? When Eden was younger, we'd always do a workbook over the summer to help avoid the summer slide. But now that she's headed into junior high I let her choose what she wanted to do. Loving these journals from Jess Volinski (known for the Notebook Doodles brand -- you'll recognize her work. Her illustrations can be found just about anywhere). She created the writing prompts and illustrations inside to help girls develop their self confidence through building their inner voice. I'm partial to the "Always be Yourself" journal as I tell her this mantra daily. What are your kiddos working on this summer?

P.S. Set a tent up in the yard to encourage some reflective time. It's like magic. 

Easy Patriotic Wind Spinner Craft #craftingwithkids

Looking for a simple red, white, and blue craft to make with the kiddos? All you need to make a Patriotic Wind Spinner is:

• Paper plate
• Red paint, marker or crayon
• Blue construction paper

Check out this easy tutorial -- as seen on the Mass Appeal show on WWLP. You can find the link here. Happy Crafting! #unpluggedfun #craftingwithkids

Military Families: FREE Admission to Blue Star Museums through Labor Day

Attention Military Families: beginning on Memorial Day you can receive free admission to a host of museums, nature centers and cultural venues for FREE. This promotion runs through Labor Day (September 3) and all you need to do is show a valid, active proof of service to receive free entry for yourself and up to five members of your family. (In fact, the ID holder does not even need to be present. See eligibility rules here.) 

There are more than 2000 museums included in the program, and free admission is offered in all 50 states. A few of the local hot spots includes:

• Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary
• The EcoTarium
• The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
• Historic Deerfield
• Lutz Children's Museum
• Mark Twain House
• Mass Audubon locations (including Drumlin Farm)
• Norman Rockwell Museum
• Old Newgate Prison
• Old Sturbridge Village
• Phelps-Hathaway House and Gardens
• Smith College Museum of Art
• Springfield Musuems
• The USS Constitution Museum 
• Wistariahurst

The list of participating venues is updated throughout the summer. You can find a list of all participating venues here. Just a small way to thank you and your families for you service. And a great way to provide some unplugged fun this summer. Enjoy!

"Force" spring with simple paper hyacinths #springfever #craftingwithkids

While we're still waiting for some spring blooms outside, I've got a super simple paper flower craft you can work on today to help springify the house inside. These paper hyacinths are perfect for Easter! All you need to make these beautiful blooms are construction paper, scissors, and a glue stick. Instructions can be found on this clip from Mass Appeal. Enjoy! 

DIY Pumpkin Spice Play-dough #pumpkinspiceisnice #glutenfree

Pumpkin Spice everything? Yep -- even DIY Pumpkin Spice Play-dough. It's a super simple recipe: just a can of pumpkin puree and a cup of corn starch. It's even gluten free and it smells amazing. Check out this link from the Better Western Mass Show on Western Mass News and you'll see just how easy it is for yourself. #pumpkinseason #pumpkinspiceisnice