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Guest post by our friend Emily Gibson from Siege Media... Enjoy!

As we get into the middle of summer, we don’t always want to get outside where it’s too hot to enjoy ourselves. But, we still want to have fun!

Making a pillow fort is a great way to achieve the best of both worlds. Pillow forts are fun, low-cost activities that typically only require common household items to get started. All you need to do is gather sheets, blankets and decorations, then start building the indoor oasis of your dreams. 

[in-post image downloads]

Here is a step-by-step guide on creating the ultimate fort: 

Step 1: Gather Supplies

Collect blankets, pillows and sheets to serve as the walls and roof of your fort. 

Step 2: Choose a Location

Try to pick a well-ventilated that is sunny but not too hot. You can also build the fort near a wall plug if you want to have an area to plug in lights or electronics. 

Step 3: Build the Base

Choose a large, sturdy piece of furniture like a couch or chair to serve as the base of your fort. Arrange several smaller pieces of furniture around your base to serve as anchor points. 

Step 4: Build the Roof

Secure a sheet or blanket to your base and to an anchor point, then continue to do so until you have a solid roof. Alternatively, you can make the roof of your fort by attaching the sheet or blanket to the wall with pushpins. 

Step 5: Make the Walls

Fill in the gaps between the roof and the floor by laying blankets and sheets over the fort. For added security, secure them with pushpins. 

Step 6: Add Personal Touches

Making your fort personal for you and your family can make it more fun to spend time inside. Bring in decorations such as lights, stuffed animals and rugs. Consider also making a fun, festive sign or bringing in your family’s favorite things to make the fort all your own and a sanctuary where you can have fun together as a family. For added whimsy and personalization, check out the following printables from Bestow. 

Customizable Welcome Sign

[printable download]

[mockup download]

Download this customizable welcome sign and give your fort its own, fun name. 

Printable Night Sky

[printable download]

[mockup download]

Print out these stars and planets to create a night sky in your fort. Hang them from the top of your fort or attach them to string lights to give yourself the sensation of being in space.

Printable Garden

[printable download]

[mockup download]

Print out these fun garden plants and bugs to add a garden feeling to your fort. Attach them to the sides of your structure with tape or string.

Beach Day Garland

[printable download]

[mockup download]

Print out this beach day garland to bring the fun feeling of a beach tent into your home. String the letters and marine animals together on a string and hang it in your fort to get yourself into a beachy mood. 

Today we have a Guest Blog from our good friend, Matt Zdun - enjoy!

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As you scrape the bottom of the barrel looking for at-home activities to keep your kids entertained this summer, why not try bringing outer space to your sidewalk?

The recent SpaceX launch during the coronavirus pandemic taught us that we’re all pretty fascinated with space exploration, and we all could use a little distraction these days. If your kids love space, and they love chalk, they’ll love this fun and educational activity.

How to set it up

All you need is about 10 feet of sidewalk. In that 10 feet, you can create a solar system that is about 1.5 trillion times smaller than the actual solar system.

Start by tracing out the sun in yellow chalk. Then, using your tape measure or smartphone measuring app, trace out Mercury one inch away, Venus two inches away, Earth three inches away, and so on all the way up to Uranus about six feet away and Neptune 10 feet away.

Make it a fun learning experience

Be sure to write the names of the planets and the actual distances they are from the sun. This is a great way for your kids to visualize the scale of the solar system and get a feel for where the planets are.

Also be sure to draw the relative sizes of the planets correctly for the most accurate sidewalk chalk model. (For example, Jupiter should be a lot bigger than Mercury and Venus.)

Download this fun outer space chalk printable, as well as other free staycation ideas, provided by the team at Wikibuy.

Hi Chalk Friends - Another great guest blog post by our close pal Leslie Campos of Wellparents.com - enjoy and stay safe!

Never has the need for a family safety plan felt more pressing than it does right now. The coronavirus pandemic is causing countless families to realize just how unprepared they are for a major emergency. But while you might feel helpless in the face of a global pandemic, there’s a lot you can do to protect your family right now and in future crises.

Staying Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hand washing and household cleaning

• Wash your hands often.Hand washingis the most important thing you can do to prevent coronavirus transmission. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, especially after leaving the house or touching your face, and teach kidsto do the same. If you can’t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizerthat contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Disinfect high-touch surfaces.Doorknobs, lightswitches, toilet handles, and other high-touch surfaces should be disinfected daily with an approved disinfectantlike alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or bleach. Be sure to maintain the required contact time before drying.

How to grocery shop safely

• Use delivery and curbside pick-up.The less time you spend in crowded stores, the safer you’ll be. Be sure to order groceriesin advance as many stores are taking longer than usual to fulfill orders due to heightened demand.
• Shop alone.If you do need to visit the supermarket, don’t take the whole family with you. Plan shopping trips during times when there’s another adult home to supervise children. For single parents, assess if your child is old enough to be left home alone, and take precautionsto keep them safe while you’re away. Kids should know who to call in case of an emergency, understand basic first aid and CPR, and know how to handle strange visitors while home alone.
• Keep your distance.Maintain a social distance of at least six feet while shopping and checking out. While this may slow down your shopping trip, it’s worth staying safe.

Safe socializing during COVID-19

• Are playdates safe?Families want to know if it’s safe to schedule playdates during the coronavirus lockdown. Unfortunately,experts saythe answer is “No.” The safest thing families can do is stay home and avoid contact with anyone they don’t live with. While kids are at less risk of serious illness, they can still spread the virus to others.
• Safer socializing options.Instead, parents should look for ways to keep kids engaged at home. As long as no one in your family is sick, it’s safe to play backyard sports, go on walks, or have a family game night. Parents can also use online platforms like Zoom to stay in touchwith friends and family from a distance.

Essential Safety Planning Steps for Families

Your family’s safety should be a priority all the time, not just during the current crisis. Use these tips to create an emergency plan for your family.

• Make an emergency contact list. In addition to 911, an emergency contact list should include phone numbers for family members in case you’re separated in an emergency. Keep a copy in kids’ backpacks in case of an emergency during the school day.
• Plan your natural-disaster response.Learn which natural disasters are common in your area and how best to stay safeduring them, whether that’s evacuation or sheltering in place.
• Create an emergency kit.In addition to a first aid kit and other emergency kit essentials, make sure you have a bright, long-lastingflashlight to use during power outages.
• Stock up on essentials.At minimum, families should have a three-day supplyof water and non-perishable food on hand for emergencies. But as the current crisis shows, it may be wise to stock up to a two-week supply of food and household goods.

There’s no such thing as being too prepared. Whether it’s a pandemic, a natural disaster, or another emergency, it’s important to know the best ways to keep your family safe. Instead of letting the next crisis catch you by surprise, start thinking about how to ensure your family is ready for anything.

Image via Unsplash

If your grandchild’s birthday is coming up, use these tips to plan a budget-friendly celebration everyone will enjoy. Fun for everyone!

As soon as the weather warms, kids are automatically geared for getting outside and letting loose of the winter blues. Chalk is an affordable, colorful, and magical tool of creativity for kids to use when playing outdoors is a priority. A child’s imagination is truly the limit when chalk is involved!

Hi Walkie Chalk fans - we have our great friend Denise Long here with a fantastic guest blog! Take it away, Denise!

Outdoor Explorers!

Kids are naturally curious about their surroundings, and the best way to engage that curiosity and their senses is to offer plenty of opportunities to explore. Experts know that exploring nature has a powerful, positive effect on the brain. It also teaches kids to cooperate with others and to think creatively. So invite them to venture outside and experience the natural world’s magic.

Backyard Activities

Take children on a scavenger hunt walk and ask them to find different objects. Give them a simple camera with which to snap pictures of, for example, a bird, a red leaf, a flowering bush, or a yellow car. Set up a water table, fill it with toys and water, and let your kiddo go to town. Or, add a sandbox and hide “treasures” for your explorer to discover. A simple swing hanging from a sturdy tree branch provides hours of entertainment, as well.

Set her up with a set of child-safe binoculars and a magnifying glass. Find an ant trail and put a little crumb of food next to the insects — then watch what happens. Collect flowers and press them between the pages of a heavy book to dry, then use them to make crafts.

Keep in mind that older kids love outdoor play, too. By the time kids reach age 5, they’re still very curious and observant about their world. That curiosity leads to critical thinking and greater understanding. Let them take the lead so they can make discoveries first.

Create a treasure hunt for older kids. You’ll need an end prize and a map with plenty of clues. You could put clues in bottles scattered around the yard or write them on a jigsaw and scatter the pieces. Use invisible ink for a real challenge, or incorporate the natural world and use natural markings such as arrows on trees or ones made with piles of rocks and sticks.

For an even more high-tech treasure hunt, try geocaching. All you need is a smartphone with a GPS app to start, but you can also purchase a GPS unit specifically designed for geocaching. Geocaching involves a set of coordinates which you follow to a cache of hidden treats. Currently, there are more than 1 million web-logged caches scattered throughout the world.

Give a kiddo supplies and they’ll create art. A bucket of sidewalk chalk is perfect for creating a hopscotch game, amazing sidewalk murals, or racecourse for RC cars. Go big with Walkie Chalk®, a supersized sidewalk chalk with a holder that extends up to 36 inches and accommodates standard square and round sidewalk chalk. This tool alleviates the need to bend or sit down on the ground to draw — it’s perfect for parents, grandparents, kids, and people with disabilities.

Swimming and Pool Safety

We are attracted to water — it makes us happier, healthier, and brings us peace. Ask any kid and he’ll tell you that water’s perfect for splashing, jumping, and swimming. But a mix of water and children can be deadly. Nearly 1,000 children drown each year, and it’s the second-leading cause of accidental death for people ages 5 to 24.

To keep young swimmers safe, teach them to follow the rules. Keep your phone and other distractions away when you’re watching a younger, inexperienced swimmer. Don’t rely on swimmies, pool noodles, or other non-life saving flotation devices to protect your kiddo. Stay in the water with your child or put him in a Coast Guard-approved life jacket — or do both. Have older kids use the buddy system. Also, get your child swimming lessons. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends starting lessons by age 4. Set and enforce pool rules, including no swimming without adult supervision, no running, no diving into the shallow end, no pushing people in, and no dunking.

You don’t need expensive supplies to create a world of magic. Blankets and deck furniture transform into castles. Gardens become homes to fairy creatures. Cardboard boxes transmogrify into spaceships. Give kids space to create and watch their imaginations soar.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

Once in a while we love to feature a guest blog post and we do have a number of awesome grandparents who love Walkie Chalk - so, today we have our friend Denise Long and her wonderful post about how to engage with your grandchildren (feel free to also use a Walkie Chalk too! - Enjoy!

Connect With And Engage Your Grandchildren

Grandparents who have the opportunity and ability to spend time with their grandchildren have the ability to enrich lives and pass on family and cultural knowledge. Some grandparents, however, wonder how to stay relevant in kids’ lives these days, where technology and other distractions seem to drive wedges between generations. Although it requires a little work and planning, it is quite possible, and important, to connect with and engage grandchildren. Here are some tips on how to attract their interest and ideas on how to keep grandkids busy and interested.

Keep the goal simple

In connecting with your grandchildren, resist the temptation to be a super grandparent. Kids want and appreciate your time, will often be fascinated by your stories, and will want to spend time with you - although you may be competing with a device for attention. In order to make the process easier, focus on fun activities that are safe and that have an incidental educational aspect. You’ll likely find that the educational experience is a two-way street.

Teach a hobby

If you have a favorite hobby, such as gardening or woodworking, enjoy the time you spend with your grandchildren by passing on some of your interests. By learning your hobby, your grandkids will learn something special about you while they also learn a new interest or skill. If your children do not share your hobbies, then the activity may be completely foreign to your grandchildren. Some hobbies can spark interests that will last a lifetime. Woodworking, for example, may introduce a child to carpentry and other building maintenance skills, which are invaluable in life and can make a solid foundation for employment.

Gardening is a hobby that can be lost on younger generations who many say have lost their connection to food. With hectic schedules, weekday meals often come from fast food restaurants. Gardening combines science with the outdoors and culinary arts.

Teaching children about food can also extend to the kitchen. Families often have legacy recipes. They can be culturally important and you are the closest connection your grandchildren likely have to their roots. Seize the opportunity to pass on some recipes. When children learn to cook for themselves, there is a combination of joy - from eating tasty food - and health - from eating more wholesome meals. To ensure the kitchen time stays fun, make sure your kitchen is kid friendly, as safety is always the first priority.

Bring science into play

Kids love to discover. There are many ways to incorporate scientific discovery and knowledge in simple play games. Many kids these days are infatuated with DIY crafts and slime-making. To older generations the idea of making big vats of goo may seem ridiculous, but these slime-obsessed kids are learning about science in an artistic way. There are numerous tutorials online about how to make slime, but if your grandkids are in elementary or middle school, they will likely know all about it, have their own favorite recipe - maybe even an Etsy shop and a YouTube channel dedicated to their hobby.

Other fun, and messy science activities include making puffy paint. Since you are the grandparents, you can relax. Let the kids make a big mess - you should put down drop cloths and have everyone wear smocks - you can then teach them the importance of cleaning up.

Teach important lessons

Besides fun and games, grandparents are uniquely able to impart life lessons to their grandchildren. As the elder leaders of your family, you will already have a certain level of respect. Kids will look up to you, your achievements and honor you for being the foundation of your family. Use this opportunity to teach kids the benefit of hard work, and importance of giving back to their communities. Grandchildren may also not be aware of the hardships of life - that you may be closer to because of your own experiences or those of your parents. Without lecturing, share with your grandchildren the importance of counting their blessings.

Grandchildren are one of these blessings. And if your grandchildren are fortunate enough to live near you and have you in their lives, make your time together count. Have fun, learn, make some messes, and connect generations.

Denise Long of GrandMothering

Photo Credit: Pixabay

2018 Michigan Sidewalk Chalk Art Festivals!

It may still be snowing here in the Midwest but Spring is right around the corner...

It is, right? 

Yes, it is - and that means sunshine, getting outside and finding fun creative things to do with your kids on the weekends. One very cool thing is to check out a Street Art Sidewalk Chalk Frestival - fun and when you see the artwork, it's amazing!

Here are a few really great festivals happening in Michigan in 2018, and Walkie Chalk may just pop up at a few!

June 15-16

West Michigan Chalk Art Festival - Byron Center, MI

July 28-29

Chalk Art - Downtown Chelsea, MI  

August 3-5

Chalk The Block - St. Joseph, MI

https://www.stjoetoday.com

If you're out in one of these great towns this summer, be sure to check out the sidewalk chalk festivals - Outdoor fun for the family. And - feel free to let us know what great art you happen to see - www.facebook.com/walkiechalk post a picture!

Happy Chalking!

Shauna & Matt Damman

www.WalkieChalk.com