I Scream! You Scream! We all...

Nothing screams summer more than ice cream. Are there still ice cream trucks out there in the neighborhoods? That might be a good summer job for me!

Here is an idea for you and your family to do all summer long-The Search for the Greatest Ice Cream in the Area! This could be an activity incorporated into your family Mystery Adventures.

First, you might want to consider setting a 'budget'. Give your child (or children) the amount they can spend. This is a good for your child because they can order, pay and receive the change. It will help with decision making. If they have two dollars, there are choices to be made. You might want to allow them to keep the change for the next trip. Your child will feel an important part of the process when they can do these simple things on their own.

Before I get into some supplemental learning activities, here is a short list of some locations for ice cream in the area. I have included websites because some of the larger chains offer coupons. We love coupons.

Jubilee in Germantown Hills*Culver's http://www.culvers.com/ (Peoria, East Peoria, Morton)*Dairy Queen http://www.dairyqueen.com/ (Metamora, Morton, Peoria), Charlotte's in Spring Bay*Cold Stone Creamery http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/ (Grand Prairie)*Theo's on Sterling* The Ice Cream Shack on Adams in Peoria* The Dairy Barn in Eureka*Emo's on War Memorial*Emack and Bolios http://www.emackandbolios.com/ on Prospect in Peoria Heights

Now, what can you do after you eat all this ice cream?

Talk about the experience.

Older children can count their change. Create a a graph and record who liked and disliked their ice cream. Older children should be able to create a graph on their own. Your preschooler will have ideas on how to label the graph. Have the family rate the ice cream and record the ratings (you could grade A, B, C or use 1-10).

Have your child draw a picture of the trip, the location and what everyone ate.

Older children could write a restaurant type review of each experience. For preschool children, have your child dictate to you about the experience, type up and put with the rest of their dictated stories. Underline and bold the word ice cream. Use clip art and picture clues like what we do with school stories.

Do you feel really energetic? If you look either under Science or in November 2009, there is the How To's of how to make Tin Can Ice Cream.

Put a cherry on top of your ice cream and enjoy your summer!

Chalk It Up

To reinforce alphabet and number recognition, take a look at this idea. Once again from 'Family Fun' magazine. http://familyfun.coverleaf.com/familyfun/201003?pg=31#pg31 Reader/contributor Ann McConnell had this great idea to help her daughter learn her letters. You could use this idea with very young children who are learning their shapes and colors. This would also work with older children practicing math facts.

Road Trip!

I have fond memories of family vacations. Every year, my parents loaded up five kids in the family station wagon and traveled. Most years we headed 'up north' to Wisconsin or Minnesota but we also drove to the West Coast (twice). All without car seats, cell phones, a GPS, hand held games or DVD players in the car. I do not know how my mother did it.

With the current economy, the 'stay-cation' is a popular choice for families. You can feel like you are breaking away without breaking your budget. This idea comes from 'Family Fun' magazine in the Family Traditions section http://familyfun.coverleaf.com/familyfun/201003/?pg=38#pg38 The idea is 'A Mystery Adventure' from Goo and Dan Newman in Littleton, Massachusetts. The Newmans used this idea with their three children who are 8, 9 and 12. I love it because the get-aways are at no cost or low cost. My kids are too big but I am hoping to do some mystery adventures with my husband.

Want to do more? Have your children children journal about the trip in a notebook or special journal for mystery adventures. Too young to write? Have them dictate what they experienced. Older children can record the odometer start and finish and figure miles traveled. Use the family field trip first ( and most important) for family fun and second for family learning experiences.

Breakfast Playdate

Would you like to encourage your child's preschool friendships? If you would like your child to get together with classmates for a play date, have everyone meet up at the McDonald's Playland for breakfast. This is a great play date on rainy days (like today) and during the winter months when it is too cold to go out. Breakfast is nice because usually the Playland is empty. When my youngest was in preschool, a friend and I would meet semi-regularly for breakfast at McDonald's with our boys. He has fond memories of these trips. The Playland opens at 9 a.m. and don't forget socks are required for play.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

If the sun starts to shine, an excellent family field trip would be to Bicycle Safety Town. Safety Town has been around forever. I went there as a kid! BST is located at 6518 N. Sheridan in Peoria.

If your children are learning to ride a bike, this is an excellent location to provide experience and learn the rules of the road. It would be fun to get several families together and go as a group. This is a good field trip for a wide range of ages plus it is FREE!

You must bring your own bikes and helmets (that are fitted and adjusted).

BST is open daily from dawn to dusk. For more information go to

www.peoriaparks.org/bicycle-safety-town or call 309/682-6684

The Family Field Trip

From the Illinois State Board of Education-

Learning and Fun on Family Field Trips
What is a family field trip? When you and your child travel into the wide world with learning as your goal, you are on a field trip! Your destination can be as close as the front porch or as distant as a museum in another town. What are the secrets of successful family field trips?
*Plan with care
Where will you go? Illinois and neighboring states are packed with interesting places to visit. But keep in mind that to a young child, even the back yard or the neighborhood can offer many discoveries and new experiences.
What will you see, do, and find out? Any trip can be a rich learning experience if you and your child go with questions to answer, problems to solve, or a list of “things to look for.” You and your child can observe, sketch, write, photograph, audiotape, count, measure, or take notes about the place you visit.
How will you get there? Walking and biking are good ways to get physical exercise as part of the field trip. (Be sure to wear protective gear!) Traveling by bus, boat, train, or trolley can add to the learning experience.
What will you want to consider in scheduling the trip? Trips with young children may need to include mealtime and naptime. Plan ahead so your child can get both. It’s a good idea to set a “rain date” with your child in case of bad weather. You might also want to avoid peak visiting times at large public places.
What will you take? Maps, drinks and snacks, diapers (if needed), a change of clothes, books, paper and drawing materials, and change for parking meters are basic field trip equipment. Your trip might also call for special items like cameras, binoculars, tape recorders, or sandwich bags for collecting specimens. Family members can carry backpacks or “fanny packs” so their hands can be free.
How will you assure your child’s safety on the trip? Parking lots, trails, and large crowds call for special safety precautions. Parents need to be especially vigilant. Talk with your child ahead of time about how to stay safe. Be specific and firm so that your child knows exactly what she needs to do.
*Have a good time
Don’t try to do too much. You can see and do more another time!
If you have to wait, try playing games or looking at books with your child.
*Follow up
After the trip, make time to talk with your child about the experience. Encourage her to tell you the story of the trip, and write it down while she watches you. Keep a scrapbook or collection box of specimens, photos, or other reminders of the trip. Your child might enjoy dramatic play with items from your field trip.

To learn more about family field trips in Illinois, visit these Web sites!
Illinois Department of Natural Resourceshttp://dnr.state.il.us/
Illinois Directory (from the Association of Children's Museums)http://www.childrensmuseums.org/visit/us_members.htm#illinois
Museums in the State of Illinois (38 Total)http://www.museumca.org/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/museumca/usa_search.cgi?state=il
Crossing the Street: How to Teach Your Child to Cross Safelyhttp://www.education.pitt.edu/ocd/publications/parentingguides/CrossingTheStreet.pdf
For a copy of Illinois' Annual Visitor's Guide call:
1-800-2-CONNECT

For additional information and more tip sheets go to http://www.illinoisearlylearning.org/

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Dictionary of Meanings (Author Unknown)

Dumbwaiter-one who asks if the kids would like to order dessert
Feedback-the result when the baby doesn't appreciate strained carrots
Full Name-what you call your child when you are mad at him/her
Grandparents-the people who think your children are wonderful even though they are sure you are not raising them right
Hearsay-what toddlers and preschoolers do when anyone mutters a dirty word or a cuss word
Show Off-a child who is more talented than yours
Sterilize-what you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva
Top Bunk-where you should never put a child wearing Superman pajamas
Two Minute Warning-when the baby's face turn red and s/he begins to make those grunting noises

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!