10 Tips to Plan a Zoo Trip {free printables}

1. Try to get the best price

Philadelphia Zoo Web Page

 

 Our trip was to the Philadelphia Zoo.  Before our trip I searched online for the best deal.   I found that the zoo was offering free admission to teachers over the summer.  I also found a coupon code that took $14 off of my total purchase if I bought my tickets online in advance of our visit.

2. Pack your own lunches and beverages

There was a peacock walking around the picnic area.  Ella was entertained and Sydney (on the left) was cautious. 

The food at the zoo can be very expensive and that can add up quickly.  We packed sandwiches, snacks and water bottles and had lunch in the picnic area at the zoo.  I used some of my Thirty- One insulated totes and they kept everything cool for the entire day.

3. Try a zoo scavenger hunt

FREE Printable Scavenger Hunt

 One way to keep the kids focused on the animals is through a zoo scavenger hunt.  My almost four year old, Lucas, took his scavenger hunt seriously. Bring a clipboard with you so it is easier to write on the sheet.  Lucas brought his clipboard all over the zoo.

 

4. Follow zoo rules and be polite

Even though the zoo may be "stroller friendly,"  some exhibits in the zoo may have a "no stroller" policy.    We saw this policy at the Tiger exhibit.  It is a very popular exhibit and the pathways were rather narrow.  In order to accommodate all of the visitors they prohibited strollers.    Follow the rules while you are there.  Try not to annoy other people!

 Try and be polite to the other families at the zoo.  Some of the exhibits will be very crowded especially if the animals are awake and moving about.   In this picture of the polar bear exhibit, this rude family stood in front of the exhibit for a VERY long time.  The stroller in front of the lady is empty.  She would not slide over in the least to let my little almost 4 year old through to see the polar bear.   Try to be polite while you are at the zoo so that all of the kids at the zoo can see the animals.

5. Accept that you may never get the "perfect" photo

 Between a kid being grumpy and a wandering 2 year old, we were not going to get the perfect group shot.   We tried many, many times and we were not successful in getting all 5 kids to pose for the "perfect shot."  My poor 9 year old, Sydney, stayed ready and smiling in each shot but the other four were not having it. 

6. Don't forget to include yourself in some of the shots.

Sydney took this awesome picture of me with the tigers.

 If you don't, it won't even look like you were there.  If you at the photos of some your family vacations, you are probably missing someone- the photographer.  The person who is usually responsible for taking the pictures, usually doesn't end up in too many of the pictures.  Make a point of getting into some of the shots.

7. Let the kids take pictures too

Sydney had so much fun taking pictures of the tigers.  We had the perfect view of them and she took advantage.   She really enjoyed being the photographer and to be honest... she took better pictures than I did. 

8. You don't have to go on all of the "rides" to have fun.  

 There were many "rides" at the zoo that have a charge in addition to the ticket price. They had camel rides, swan boats, pony rides and a carousel.  We told the kids in advance that we would be going on the carousel (an extra $3 each kid.)  We warned them that we would not be going on the other rides (an extra $6 each kid for each ride.)  We explained to them that the lines would be long for those and that it would be very expensive.  Since the kids knew in advance that they would not be doing that, it was much easier to say "no" at the  zoo.

9.  Do some research in advance

These were the only elephants to be seen at the Philadelphia Zoo

Do some research in advance to see if all the animals that you think will be at the zoo will actually be there.  You don't want to talk up the elephants for the week before your trip and get there and realize that there are no elephants.   It would be disappointing for both you and the kids.

10. Don't just let the fun end when you leave the zoo

Over 70+ FREE Printables

Have older kids write and reflect when they get back from the zoo.

Don't lose the momentum when you get back from the zoo!  Keep the enthusiasm going by continuing the fun with some of the free printables above. 

Need more ideas? 

 Check out my Zoo Pinterest Board!

Book Review: The Perfect Score Project

 

Title: The Perfect Score Project

Subtitle: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT

Author: Debbie Stier

Genre: Parenting, Family Relationships

Book Release: February 25, 2014

Author's Blog:  http://perfectscoreproject.com/

Here is the description of the book from the editor:

I think you’ll find this book hard to put down

even if you haven’t reflected much lately on standardized

tests or worried how they may affect the students in your life.

 

In The Perfect Score Project: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT,

Debbie Stier has skillfully embedded invaluable information and advice within a compelling personal narrative of a devoted and loving mother striving to relate to her teenage kids.

 

The book probes deep into a ritual of adolescence in this case, taking the SAT. Debbie’s son was approaching the age when he’d begin grappling with the test, and to help him through the ordeal, she decided to research every test prep method imaginable.

As it turned out, the quest played out like a fun Hollywood

movie-not what she expected. 

 

It began with the College Board’s Question of the Day, which activated Debbie’s anxiety from her own high school SAT experience.Her efforts led her to retake the SAT seven times, shuttling from the Gothic halls of private boarding schools, to the cinder-block gyms of suburban public schools, to an urban high school in the Bronx, where, after passing through a metal detector,testers were greeted by posters advising them to “SAY NO 2 KNIVES.” 

 

In reading the story of Debbie’s “whatever it takes” effort to rescue her son from underachievement, you may experience a shock of recognition and feel yourself propelled by the same fears and concerns about how your child is going to get into a decent college and realize his or her potential.Debbie’s relationship with her son will resonate with parents everywhere.

 

You’ll come away from this book having learned a ton and feeling good about the kind of love that makes a mother like Debbie Stier go the extra mile. The book is surprising, hilarious, and, at times, poignant. There are some antic “Perils of Pauline” moments, some wacky characters, and even a parent/teenager war that breaks out. There’s reconciliation and, ultimately, a happy ending.

She took the test 7 times! Can you say "helicopter mom?"  or maybe "tiger mom?"  Either way, when you read this book you can see how much the author loves her son and wants him to succeed.  I took the test once and that was because I had to.  I would never willingly take it again.  I understand the sacrifice that this mother made.  

Most teenage boys and some teenage girls are not fans of studying for the SAT.   Most of them despise the SAT but know it is necessary evil if they want to attend college.  Where should your child start?  What classes should they take?  What prep books should they read?  What are the best test taking rituals?  The author answers all of these questions.  She knows because she tried it herself.  She not only took the test seven times but she studied for it seven times!

I don't see teenagers reading this book but I do think that every parent should.  She does all the work for you.  It is the best "how to" guide to the SAT.  Even if you took the SAT, it was probably 25 years ago and boy have times changed.  She tells it to you straight and gives you advice about where to invest your time and money when it come to prepping for the SAT.

My only disappointment was that I thought the book would be written from a Christian perspective since it was from a Christian publishing company.  There were no references to faith or the Christian life in the book.  I think that praying for your child as they enter this exciting time of their life is the most important thing that you can do!

 

Disclaimer:  I received this advanced copy of the book for free from Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.

Nature Club for Kids with free Printables

 

My 8 year old daughter Sydney loves technology.  If I let her, she would sit on the couch and play her DS all summer long.  It is my goal to get her off the couch and to expand her mind this summer.

 I decided that starting a nature club would get her outside away from the electronics.  I searched my old standby "Pinterest" to get some free printables for our nature walk.   You can see all of my nature club finds on my Pinterest page.

We invited Sydney's best friend, Gavin, and his big sister, Eva,  to join us.  Nature hunts are not just for Earth Day. I grabbed some clipboards and pens and printed out one of these ABC Nature Walk free printables.

 

Free Printable ABC Nature Walk from Classroom Freebies

They searched throughout our neighborhood to find something in nature for each letter of the alphabet.  They did a great job of almost finding each letter.

I was even able to get my almost 3 year old involved in the fun.  We did a second (simpler) nature scavenger hunt.  This hunt did not require any writing.  Since Lucas can't read yet, he had some help from his "assistant"  Eva,

I printed these free printables and taped them onto brown paper lunch bags.  We headed down to the park to fill our bags.

Free Printable Nature Scavenger Hunt from Five Little Chefs

All three kids filled their bags.  We spent about an hour completing both searches. 

Since Lucas is only a toddler, he lost interest faster than the bigger kids.  He spent some time hanging out on the swings.   

Some of you may be asking, where was Ella (my 16 month old) during the nature walk?  She sat happily in her wagon and cheered on the nature hunters.  She also enjoyed a ride on the swings with my friend Eileen (Gavin and Eva's mom.)

I consider the day a success since that was one full hour with no electronics!  For our next meeting of the nature club, the kids decided they wanted to "take care of our earth."  That is their words!  They want to walk around our neighborhood and clean it up.   Check back to see if we end up doing that!

 

Rules for Moms at the Park

 I went to the park last week with some of my friends and their children.  There was a mom there that we had never met before.  We wished that she was familiar with this list of "unwritten" mommy rules:

1. Don't give food to children that aren't yours without asking their mom first.   It is frowned upon to cause another child to have an allergic reaction and go into anaphylactic shock.  So unless you carry an Epipen in your diaper bag alongside your Nutter Butters, keep your snacks to yourself.

2. Don't tell other moms that you think that their children should be careful.  Don't tell them to slow down or not to climb so high. This is especially true for school age children.  If their mothers kept them alive for 5+ years then their mothers probably don't need your help.

This little 15 month old may look like she shouldn't be climbing this equipment.  Refrain from trying to tell her mother (me) that her child shouldn't be doing this.  Her mother has spent like a million more hours with her than you (random woman at the park) has spent with her.  She knows what her child can and can't handle.

 

3.  Don't discipline children that are not yours.  Sometimes it is difficult to resist the urge especially when some children act like miniature sociopaths.  Keep an eye on your own children, even though I am sure they are perfect little angels. 

4.  Watch your language!  Your children may be used to hearing foul language but my children don't live with the Real Housewives of NJ.  I don't need them coming up to me at the park and asking what $%@# and *%#@ mean.

 

Please feel free to print out this list of rules and pass them out to the parents that you see at the park.  Maybe we should have the nurses in the maternity ward pass them out to all new parents.

Make Bed Time a Breeze!

 As a mom of three kids one of the most common questions that I get asked is, "How do you get the kids to go to bed so early and sleep through the night in their own cribs?  I can answer that in one word:

What does that mean?  It means that the kids know what to expect when it is bed time. 

 Here is our night time routine:

6:00pm- Daddy gets home from 
work and we have dinner as a family

7:00pm- We head upstairs to start the bed time routine:

1. Both babies take a bath together.

2. We brush their teeth.

3. We put on their pajamas.

4. They go into their cribs.

5. Dad, big sister Sydney or I sit in between their cribs and read them two stories.

6. We help them say their prayers.

7. Night lights get turned on.

7:45pm-  We walk out of their room

Of course the time frame can vary but we are usually out of their room by 8:00pm at the latest.

Questions You May Be Asking:

1. Don't they cry when you leave the room?

2. Do you ever go back in during the night?

3. Don't the two babies wake each other up?

4.  When do they wake up in the morning?

I will answer all of these questions in my next post:  Make Bed Time a Breeze Part 2.  Check back next week!

Time to Throw the Book Out

My sweet Ella Grace had her one year checkup with the Pediatrician yesterday.  She got a clean bill of health.   That was really good news especially since she has just recovered from the Rotavirus.   

 Ella was a little peanut when she was born, weighing in at just over 5 pounds.  She entered the world in the 5th percentile for weight.  She has now worked herself up to the 25th percentile at a whopping 20 pounds! At least a pound of that is hair! 

Now that we have made it successfully through Ella's first year, it is time to pass on my well worn copy of "What to Expect the First Year."   I think almost every mom has owned this book.  With my oldest daughter, I read this book from cover to cover and referred to it often.  I was a new mom and had about a million questions.  I was not confident as a mom.

Five years later, my son was born.  I was more confident this time.  My oldest survived my parenting skills so I felt better about being a mom this time.  I still referred to this book on occasion since it had been five years since I read it last.

My third, Ella, arrived only 18 months after her brother.  I had the hang of this mom thing so I referred to the book infrequently.  Now that Ella is one, it is time to toss the book.   I am 100% sure that there will be no more babies produced in this factory since I had a hysterectomy 2 months after Ella was born.  The book has served its purpose!  It is a little sad to think that Ella is the last baby I will have.  I have to remember that I am blessed to have had three babies and to focus on their future milestones. 

For any new moms reading this blog, please know that it does get easier.  You can do it!  

My Struggle With Envy

Our Home

The sin that I struggle the most with is Envy.   This past week I was struggling more than usual.  When I got divorced, I bought this two bedroom townhouse.  At the time, it was more than enough space for my daughter, Sydney and me.  Now five years later, there are five of us living here.  It is pretty tight!

Sydney's father  remarried and bought a new home.  It is a really large home with about five times the space that we have.  My old enemy, envy started to creep in.  I started to feel bad that I could not give Sydney her own room and all of the things that her father could.  It is so easy to start going down that road.

Sydney set me straight.  I asked her if she ever wished that she had a bigger house with us, like the one that she has with her dad.  She said, "Mom, the house doesn't matter.  I come here to be with my family, not the house."

How is it that a seven year old can see that so clearly but I can't?  Why do I struggle with envy?  Why is it so hard to be content? I need to remember what Sydney said and be content with what we have, to be happy that our family is here together.

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."- Proverbs 14:30

Sydney and her sister, Ella

What Word Comes to Mind...?

When you hear the word "mother-in-law," what comes to your mind?  You may start to cringe and vomit a little in your mouth.  This is the reaction for many daughter in laws.  You have heard the stories.  The relationship between a mother and her son's wife can be difficult and strained.

Nana with Ella just a few hours after she was born

I am so blessed to have a wonderful mother in law.  She is literally the nicest person I have ever met.  Those of you who know her in person know that I am not exaggerating.  She is the Proverbs 31 woman! She is the mother of 8 children (4 boys and 4 girls.)  She has 6 grandchildren (3 granddaughters and 3 grandsons) and her 7th grandchild (a girl) should be arriving in a few weeks!

Lucas helping Nana cook dinner

These past few weeks, our family has been hit repeatedly with illnesses.  We would not have gotten through that time without "Nana's" help. She watched the kids while I was in bed recovering.  She never sits down, she cleans and does dishes and laundry while she is here.  It is amazing what she gets done while watching the kids.  They adore her and love when she is here.

I thank the Lord for giving me such a wonderful mother in law.   I know that I am blessed!

A Love Like That

As you can tell from my lack of blog posts this past week, we have been having a tough time!  We were attacked by the Rotavirus.  

My son Lucas had the mildest case.  He had the Rotavirus vaccine when he was a baby.  I think that helped him to hold his own through the illness.

Lucas just wanted to rest and watch TV

My daughter Ella started showing symptoms on Thursday which was her first birthday.  She did not get the vaccine which might explain why she was hit so hard by the illness.  The Rotavirus vaccine is a "live" vaccine.  At the time she was eligible for the vaccine, I was going through cancer treatments so they were not able to give her the shot.  It would be too contagious for me to be around with a compromised immune system.

Ella in the ER before she was admitted.

She was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday.  She had gone from 19 pounds to 17 pounds in just a few days.  They gave her IV hydration and a prescription diaper cream.

Watching Ella suffer was heart breaking.  She was mildly dehydrated when she got to the ER so they had trouble "sticking" her for the blood draw and the IV fluids.  She screamed in pain.  I wanted to take her place.  I sat there wishing there was a way to trade places with her,  a machine that would allow me to absorb her illness and let her be free of it.  I was willing to take her place.  

Ella after she was admitted and feeling better.
She is in her quarantine "bubble"

It got me thinking about that kind of love.  A parent's love for their child is so great.  Was there any greater love?  Yes!  When Jesus took our place on the cross, he traded places with us.  We deserved  to be punished for our sins but he took our place- a love so great!  God's love was so great that he gave his son to take our place so that we could live eternally in Heaven.

I have known this since I was a child but it really hit home as I was sitting there in the hospital.  I felt a deeper appreciation for the sacrifice that was made for me.

Ella was finally well enough to open her
birthday presents a week later.

We are not all at 100% yet but we are healing.  Feeling a new appreciation for my children's health.  I need to remember not to take that for granted.  Feeling blessed to have the love of God!

Opening the Can of Worms...Vaccines

If you are a mom, then you know about the "mommy" can of worms.  The topics that cause moms to judge other moms.  The mere mention of these words in a group of young mothers makes your hair stand on end and your blood pressure rise.  The Mommy Can of Worms: breastfeeding, cosleeping, homeschooling, circumcision and vaccines.

Today I am opening the vaccination can of worms.   I will be up front and say that I vaccinate all my children and I vaccinate on time.  Only one of my children has missed a vaccine.  My Ella was due to receive the rotovirus vaccine at one of her checkups.  She was unable to get it because it is a "live" vaccine.  I was going through treatment for breast cancer at the time so the doctor thought it was best that she didn't get the shot. It was for my protection.  She missed her window so she never got it.

That being said, I don't take issue with parents that choose to delay their shots.   My kids don't have reactions to their shots so I choose to get them done all at once.  I understand if you choose to spread them out so that it is less likely to cause a reaction in your child. If you are planning to send your children to public school, you need to have the shots completed before Kindergarten.  These are the state of New Jersey's minimum requirements.  The key is to find a doctor who supports your decision and will work with you.  

I do take issue with parents who don't vaccinate their children and then send them to public school claiming a religious exemption.

What is a religious exemption?  A religious exemption for vaccination is a written form certifying a parent's objection to vaccination for religious reasons. 

If you choose not to vaccinate your children- that is your choice.  I have friends who do not vaccinate but they home school their children- that does not bother me.  They are the parent- they made their choice.  They are still following the law.  They stand by their convictions.  I respect that.

The problem is that using a religious exemption can be lying.

 I don't know the details of every religion.  I can only speak about my own.  So in this instance I am talking about Evangelical Christians.   I see nothing in the Bible that states that you should not vaccinate your children.  How can you claim a religious exemption?  Where in our religion does it say that?   

Dr. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, has published their perspective on vaccinations:

What is Focus on the Family's perspective on vaccination and immunization safety for babies?

QUESTION

What’s your perspective on vaccination and immunization safety? Several of our friends, who are also new parents, have very strong feelings against vaccinating children. I want to do what’s best for our baby - can you give me some guidance in this area?

ANSWER

The first thing you need to know is that, contrary to the claims of some groups and individuals, vaccines are safe. Before any vaccine reaches your doctor’s office, it has undergone several rounds of rigorous clinical testing. The government continues to monitor all vaccines after their release to ensure that they are as safe as possible. While a small minority of children may experience mild reactions, including irritability, tenderness in the area of injection and low-grade fever, the likelihood of a severe reaction to a vaccine is extremely small— much smaller than the likelihood of complications due to the disease.

Some vaccines, such as the measles-mumps-rubella and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis triple vaccines, are administered in combination and infants often receive several during a single office visit. This has led some parents to express concerns that their infant’s immune system might be weakened as a result of receiving too many vaccines at one time. In actuality, a child’s immune system is exposed to far fewer antigens over the entire course of recommended vaccinations than a child will face within the course of a normal day.

It is extremely important that immunization occur when children are young and still vulnerable. It’s also vital that we continue to vaccinate for childhood measles, which we no longer see nearly as often as we once did. The fact of the matter is that these diseases have not been eradicated—we simply see them less frequently because most children are immunized against them. Even for diseases that have not occurred in North America for years, vaccination is still essential. For instance, wild polio has not occurred in the Western hemisphere since 1994, yet the accessibility of international travel means that someone elsewhere in the world who is infected with polio could carry it into parts of the world that have not seen it in decades.

We should add that many diseases that are commonly regarded as benign childhood ailments can be far more serious than many people realize. Rubella (German measles), for instance, can result in infant death and cause serious birth defects. Prior to immunization, pertussis (whooping cough) struck between 150,000 and 260,000 individuals annually and caused as many as 9,000 deaths per year. Before we had a vaccine, nearly everyone in the United States could expect to contract measles. At one time, this disease was responsible for about 450 deaths nationally every year (and it still kills more than 100,000 children every year around the world).

It’s worth noting that there may be instances in which a doctor might postpone immunization—for example, when a child is ill or recovering from a severe illness.

There is, of course, a great deal more we could say on this subject, given the time and space. We could explain, for example, why the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Institute of Medicine have concluded that there is no relationship between autism and the MMR-II vaccine. We could provide documentation spelling out why there is no significant threat of mercury poisoning associated with modern childhood immunization. We could argue at length that the idea that physicians are involved in a global conspiracy to promote immunization at the expense of children’s health is ludicrous at best and slanderous and dangerous at worst. But by this point we think you’ve probably got the main idea; Focus on the Family strongly favors the practice of protecting small children against dangerous infections by way of immunization. If you need more detailed information, we suggest you consult your family doctor or pediatrician.
Excerpted from The Complete Guide to Baby and Child Care published by Tyndale House Publishers. Copyright © 1997, 2007, Focus on the Family.

Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family are considered to be reputable, Christian conservatives.  They make no mention of using a religious exemption from vaccines so that your child can attend school.  On the contrary, they support the use of vaccines. 

What is my point?  It is that if you choose not to vaccinate your children, that is your choice.  It is wrong to send your unvaccinated children to public school claiming religious exemption status.   It is lying.  Our religion does not exempt you from vaccinations.  Our religion also doesn't say that you should vaccinate your children.  The law says that you must. So if you choose not to vaccinate, you need to stand by your convictions for the reasons that you think are correct and homeschool your children.   Sending them to public school without the vaccinations is breaking the law.  Claiming a religious exemption is lying.

Some of you are reading this and your head is nodding in agreement.  Some of you are boiling hot about it.  Please feel free to comment on the issue.  Keep the comments free of foul language.  I will delete any comments that contain profanity or inappropriate language.