As wonderful as technology can be, it’s important to include a bit of offline fun in your children’s summer.

Pack a snack or a picnic lunch and head outdoors. If there are no nearby parks, visit a local school playground.

Borrow a few nature guides from your public library and identify some of the flowers, trees, birds and bugs in your neighborhood.

Have a backyard camp out, complete with tent, sleeping bags, and flashlights. Watch the fireflies dance, identify the constellations, and sing silly songs. If the weather won’t cooperate, construct tents from chairs draped with blankets and improvise indoors.

On a hot day, make squirt gun designs on the sidewalk or walls. When rain keeps children inside, hold an impromptu cooking class, then get out the card deck and board games, just like you would in a Northwoods cabin.

Don’t just preach exercise and fitness - make it interesting, make it fun and maybe your kids will start requesting unplugged days!

Diane Cordell is the mother of two adult, married children. In her position as a K-12 teacher/librarian, she interacts with students of all ages on a daily basis - good practice for future grandchildren! You can read more about Diane here. Diane also blogs at Journeys and can be found on Twitter as dmcordell. Click here to read more of Diane’s posts.

“Is That a Plug Tree?” by B. Cummin

“IMG_7185″ by eyeliam

Diane Cordell is the mother of two adult, married children. In her position as a K-12 teacher/librarian, she interacts with students of all ages on a daily basis - good practice for future grandchildren! You can read more about Diane here. Diane also blogs at Journeys and can be found on Twitter as dmcordell. Click here to read more of Diane’s posts.

My husband and I spent part of the weekend in the 18th century.

Ogdensburg, NY was celebrating its Founder’s Day with a variety of activities, including a French & Indian War encampment. If you’ve never been to this type of event, be assured that it makes for a wonderful family outing.

Children are able to interact with authentically garbed reenactors who delight in sharing details of daily life in their chosen time period. Sutlers sell clothing, weapons, furniture, food items, and all manner of toys, from dolls to wooden swords. A special tent contains a colonial wardrobe for dress-up fun and a variety of playthings to try out.

There is usually a battle: in Ogdensburg this included French and British soldiers, Native American warriors, and some boats on the adjacent St. Lawrence River. Muskets and cannons kept the encounter noisy, and the crowd cheered on the participants.

Check local newspapers to see if any such events are planned in your area, pack up the family, and play around with history.

Diane Cordell is the mother of two adult, married children. In her position as a K-12 teacher/librarian, she interacts with students of all ages on a daily basis - good practice for future grandchildren! You can read more about Diane here. Diane also blogs at Journeys and can be found on Twitter as dmcordell. Click here to read more of Diane’s posts.

Read on to win a copy of this book - Baby Read-Aloud Basics!

Authors Caroline J. Blakemore and Barbara Weston Ramirez have written an engaging guide aimed at helping parents raise a lifelong reader.

Baby Read-Aloud Basics starts by explaining the benefits of reading to your child even before they are born to stimulate language development and help pave the way for success in school and in life.

In addition to tips on how to gain and hold a child’s attention, Blakemore & Ramirez include information on the stages of early childhood development and extensive, annotated lists of recommended books.

Chapter 10, “Fun Activities and Tips to Manage TV and Make a Language-Rich Home,” offers reasonable, practical advice about how to provide a balance between media and literature. There are ideas like creating a “reader’s nest” or designating a “read-aloud chair” and suggestions about how to set up a “language play area” for safe, creative playtime.

A copy of Baby Read-Aloud Basics, tucked into a basket of books, would make a wonderful shower gift. Include some childhood favorites of the prospective parents, and you’ll guarantee hours of interactive family fun for years to come.

Win a copy!

We have 5 copies of this book to give away - entering the contest is very simple!

Just leave a comment on this post telling the title of one of your favorite children’s books. Past winners eligible to enter and the contest ends on Monday, July 28th. U.S. entrants only (sorry!). The winners will be selected at random from the entrants.

Don’t forget to check out all of our other contests!

Disclosure: Diane received a free copy of the book to review.

Diane Cordell is the mother of two adult, married children. In her position as a K-12 teacher/librarian, she interacts with students of all ages on a daily basis - good practice for future grandchildren! You can read more about Diane here. Diane also blogs at Journeys and can be found on Twitter as dmcordell. Click here to read more of Diane’s posts.

Yesterday afternoon, I cleaned my kitchen windows with Weiman Glass Cleaner, a product I reviewed and enthusiastically endorsed here. When I glanced out this morning, I was annoyed to see what I thought was a smear on the glass.

Upon closer examination, I realized that the marks were (1) feathers and (2) the faintly discernible outline of a body and beak.

Did some poor bird mistake my sparkling windows for open air? There were no little avian bodies on the deck, so I’m assuming that there were no fatalities.

I have NEVER had a problem with my house being too clean before. Weiman, you are amazing!

Diane Cordell is the mother of two adult, married children. In her position as a K-12 teacher/librarian, she interacts with students of all ages on a daily basis - good practice for future grandchildren! You can read more about Diane here. Diane also blogs at Journeys and can be found on Twitter as dmcordell. Click here to read more of Diane’s posts.

I’ve been away at a conference, which meant some air time for myself and my husband. Both of our children are grown and married. Hubby suffers from selective memory when it comes to “normal” behavior of little ones.

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations permit youngsters under the age of two to ride as “lap children” to save their parents the expense of purchasing an extra ticket. The agency recommends the use of an FAA-approved safety harness as a better choice, however, when the option of a separate seat is feasible.

Long airplane rides in cramped quarters can result in restless, cranky children so come prepared. Have some snacks and juice available in your carry-on luggage. Pack a variety of small books, toys, and other distractions. One tiny tot on our flight home had a pint-sized monkey backpack, which not only held a few playthings but also doubled as a stuffed toy. Eddie Bauer offers one model that doubles as a harness, to help prevent children from wandering away from their parents.

Changing air pressure can cause ear problems. Flight attendants suggest giving a baby their bottle at take-off and landing to minimize pain and provide relaxation. Older children, who don’t know how to pop their ears, might benefit from earplugs.

Dress kids in comfortable clothing and bring a sweater for cold cabin temperatures. Veteran parent-flyers recommend packing an extra outfit for both yourself and your child, in case of minor accidents en route. Always carry a travel pack of baby wipes, to help with emergency cleanups.

Try to be sensitive to other passengers’ comfort. If your child becomes upset or noisy, do what you can to soothe them and offer a word of apology to your neighbors.

Even curmudgeons respond well to a sincere “sorry”. Your courtesy might lead to an impromptu game of hide and seek between a would-be grump and a distracted toddler.

If any of you have additional tips or anecdotes, please share. Young parents need all the help they can get to make traveling an adventure rather than an ordeal!

Diane Cordell is the mother of two adult, married children. In her position as a K-12 teacher/librarian, she interacts with students of all ages on a daily basis - good practice for future grandchildren! You can read more about Diane here. Diane also blogs at Journeys and can be found on Twitter as dmcordell. Click here to read more of Diane’s posts.

Saturday morning, my husband and I will leave for San Antonio. I’ll be participating in NECC 2008 (the National Educational Computing Conference); Tim will be visiting art museums and checking out the “Cold Margaritas and Hot Senoritas” (Hmmm).

I’ve already mentioned in Twitter that we’ll only be taking carry-on luggage: a duffel bag for hubby, and a backpack, with laptop compartment, and a small handbag for me. After a few less than successful incidents with airline baggage handling, we’re convinced that traveling light is the only way to reach your destination with wardrobe intact.

If you would like to follow our example, you might want to visit One Bag for tips on how to avoid overpacking.

A challenge faced by vacationers hoping to travel light is the restriction on the type and size of liquids and gels that are permitted in carry-ons. The Department of Homeland Security’s TSA gives updates on the current regulations on its site. Remember 3-1-1…no more than 3 ounces per container packed in a 1 quart ziploc bag with 1 bag permitted per traveler.

The size of the carry-on is also important. Rules vary by airline, but a general rule of thumb given by the FAA is “the maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag). Anything larger should be checked.”

A final tip to make your trip less stressful: go to Expedia and read the guide to whichever airports you connect through. There you will find information about food, shops, activities, even smoking areas. Rather than settle for the limited (or non-existent) food choices on an airplane, purchase a sandwich or regional specialty to munch on. Oh, and be sure to include some extra ziploc bags to contain leftovers - you don’t want any drips or leaks to stain your pared-down wardrobe! [I usually tuck in a Tide pen, just in case]

I love to travel and am very excited about exploring San Antonio for the first time. I’m bringing along a small tote bag to contain any tiny treasures we find there. Anything larger can be shipped home.

No checked luggage for this couple - we want to get there and go, not wait at a carousel for cases that have taken an unexpected left at Albuquerque !

“Suitcases” by masochismtango

Our area of upstate New York has many attractions that draw tourists from the New York Metropolitan area, New England, and Canada. There is an amusement park, indoor and outdoor waterslides, miniature golf courses by the score: plenty to occupy young and old alike.

There are also a number of free or inexpensive activities for young families. Today I visited two events that were held within a few blocks of each other.

The Farmers Market offers locally grown produce, specialty cheeses, baked goods, and flowers. There was even a chicken in attendance, surveying the scene with a wary eye. Little ones munched cookies, drank cider, and saw healthful food choices that looked colorful and appealing. The Market is open every Saturday morning from May through October and sponsors a number of special events. Next week is the Strawberry Festival, sure to draw a large and enthusiastic crowd.

The summer Arts Festival was an easy walk away. While there was plenty of jewelry and home accessories for the adults, there were also a number of child-themed items and activities, including face-painting, sand art, and a beguiling assortment of wooden toys, dolls, and pinwheels.

For those who hadn’t filled up at the Market, there were sausages, hot dogs, fresh-squeezed lemonade, homemade strawberry shortcake and, my special treat, fried bread dough sprinkled with confectioners sugar or cinnamon sugar (or both!).

Check your local papers to find similar opportunities for inexpensive family fun. There are usually a variety of county fairs, church bazaars, and parades held in the summer months. Gather up the family and do a little local exploring. You’ll have a great time, and it won’t blow the budget.

In my career as a Librarian, I’ve often had to decide whether or not to preserve and store ephemera “paper items (as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles.” At work, I can be ruthless. It’s not quite so easy at home!

Kate and I had this discussion once on Twitter: how does a mother choose which priceless childhood artifacts to save? Throughout their lives, your children will produce an endless stream of pictures, notes, cards, ornaments and handmade gifts. These bits and pieces provide a visual history of life, growth, and development. But they do tend to pile up.

When my children got married, I gave them each some mementos from their elementary school days. Other items are saved in fabric boxes labeled with their names and neatly stored under one of my bookshelves. As I sort through drawers and closets, I add to these repositories.

When I have the time, I’ve been scanning photos and paper items into flickr. Adding more detail to the descriptions will have to wait, though I do try to date everything as I go.

It’s a nostalgic, frequently emotional, way to spend a few hours. But I believe that my children appreciate having access to these pieces of their past.

And I know that I’m grateful to my father for saving a bit of my own personal history. The bill pictured here was found in his desk after Dad passed away. It was the receipt for my mother’s 9-day stay in the maternity hospital where I was born. I believe he always felt he got a good bargain.

How do YOU decide what to save and where to keep it?