Two Great Educational + Fun Websites for Kids

I am ambivalent about electronics, especially when it comes to my kids. I know that they have their place and that they can be both useful and entertaining, but I still worry about how easily television and computer can fill time that could be spent jumping on trampolines, catching lizards, painting with water colors, and writing the next great American novel.  You know what I mean?

I made a personal decision to not have a television nearly 7 years ago and I don't miss it. The computer, however, is something that everyone in the family wants to use . . . a lot. I don't have any answers or even any real clarity to provide when it comes to figuring out how to manage family screen time (though this article from Project Based Homeschooling did give me a lot to think about).  We are still figuring things out together here as the kids get older. I can, however, recommend to two great sites that my kids are enjoying - websites that are educational and enjoyable and have both kid and mom approval at our house. 

Curiosityville is a mom-owned start up business that I can fully get behind. It is a research-based learning website for pre-k to early elementary school aged children.  All three of my girls, ages three, five, and almost seven, love it!

We were given a subscription to the site so that we could try it out and share our experience, but I can honestly say that it is a site that I would gladly subscribe to.  There aren't many kid's websites that I have found that I can feel good about. So many of the sites that claim to be "educational" are really just full of video games. Curiosityville is unique in that it is actually an educational adventure that my kids think is still so much fun.

The Ten Core Learning Areas that the site focuses on are:

1. Executive Function
2. 21st Century Skills
3. Social-Emotional development
4. Language and Literacy
5. Mathematics
6. Science and Scientific Thinking
7. Creative Expression
8. Social Science and Culture
9. Technology
10. Physical and Healthy development

Things this mom likes about Curiosityville:

• Each of the kids has their own easy sign in (even my 3 year old) so that I can keep track of their site use separately
• A report is emailed to me after each kid uses Curiosityville and it details for me what the kids did on the site so that I know what they are up to and can follow up with them. I can also check out each kids Learning Tree to see how they are doing. 
• Curiosityville sends personalized ideas for activities to do at home based on what they show interest in on the site. They also have a lot of ideas and resources for parents in the Family Room of their site. 
• I even actually love the periodic emails I receive from Curiosityville with ideas for games to play with my kids at home, things to do outside together, and even ways to manage technology in our family. 
• I also appreciate that the site is fully interactive - there aren't a bunch of video clips and shows for the kids to get stuck on. 
• Most of all, I like that this website actually encourages the kids get off the computer. They enjoy the activities on the site, but it leads to them wanting to get off and have a pretend safari of their own, go outside and examine a real ant hill, turn on some music and have a family dance party.  It gets them excited to play and learn and do new things! 

Things the kids like about Curiosityville: 

• The kids love getting to choose which room they are going to play in - Eila's favorite buddy is Pablo the Frog, Esme loves Jack the Police Dog, and Ada loves Ruby the Cat. 
• Eila loves all the art projects, especially making sculptures and practicing art Ed Emberly Style. 
• Esme, my little scientist, loves using Rosie's microscope to examine pond water and dust . . . it has her wanting a real microscope now and I'm on the search! 
• Ada, who has lately taken a real interest in learning to read, has been enjoying Ruby's reading and alphabet activities. 
• Most of all, the kids like being able to use a website without Mom hovering and outlawing certain games or videos. Curiosityville has this mom's 100% approval. 

The Adapted Mind is another great website that has been getting a lot of use at our house. It is a math learning website for First Grade through Sixth Grade. It isn't a game website - they aren't teaching math with games. The site actually has useful video tutorials explaining math concepts, and then kids can print out worksheets or answer problems online. 

Again, I appreciate that Adapted Mind helps parents easily track and measure their kids' progress. I also like that it gives customized help based on your children's math strengths and weaknesses. There aren't games, but I've found that kids don't always need games to enjoy learning. Often just being able to see their own progress and feel good about learning new skills is enough. It is working well for my almost seven year old, who actually asks to use Adapted Mind and enjoys earning badges on the site as she progresses.  

The site is a great resource for homeschooling parents, but it is also a perfect supplement for kids in school that need or want extra math practice.  This is a site that I have been subscribing to for about 6 months now and Esme and I highly recommend it! 

Homemade Taco Bowls: Turmeric Chicken & Avocado Salsa

I really like Tacos. I like them because when the kids start moaning inexplicably and picking fights over a felted play-kitchen banana and I realize we're hurtling head first into the witching hour and I should have had dinner ready fifteen minutes ago for-heaven's-sake . . . then I can make tacos, quick quick quick, and at least partial sanity can be restored as black beans fill mouths and avocados soothe souls.

Tacos are a lifesaver. I mean it.

I also like Tacos because I can invite people over for something like Cinco de Mayo, and I can pretend that I have it all together and be kind of impressive. Never mind the closed doors down the hall that are hiding the latest crayon disaster and my lazy laundry folding disorder. Just keep your eyes on the tacos. For an evening, I can be the confident, nonchalant host even though I am not really a confident, nonchalant host - it's the tacos, yes I owe it to the tacos.

So, this weekend I invited people over for a Taco Fiesta and I totally played it cool. I made tortilla bowls, which scored me some extra points in the fancy department (even though they are super easy when you have these tortilla shell pans), and I made sure everyone knew I was using things like "Sicilian Sea Salt" a.k.a. these are no ordinary tacos. I even remembered to marinate the meat the day before. (You don't have to marinate that far in advance, but it helps if you do and it made me feel like I had really put some effort into the Fiesta and earned my hardworking host title.)

The Taco Fiesta was a success! Taco bowls mean everybody can put their meal together with the ingredients they like best, which means everyone eats, everyone is satisfied, and then I am very, very happy.

So, after all the taco success of late, these are the reasons why I like tacos and you should too:

• They are quick and easy
• It's easy to make a lot so you can feed a lot
• They are completely customizable
• They taste really good 
• Why not?

Tumeric Spiced Chicken with Tomato Avocado Salsa

This colorful grilled chicken and garden-fresh salsa are the foundation of a flavorful build-your-own taco bowl, perfect for easy entertaining.

Chicken Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt
1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Turmeric
1/2 teaspoon McCormick Crushed Red Pepper
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, trimmed

Salsa Ingredients

6 medium vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
2 avocados, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1/2 cup coarsely chopped red onion
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon McCormick ground Turmeric

Other Taco Bowl ingredients:

8 flour tortillas
2 cups frisee, kale, or spinach
2 cups cooked black beans
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 cup cooked quinoa

Directions

For the Chicken: Mix oil and spices in a small bowl. Place chicken in a large resealable bag or glass dish. Add marinade and turn to coat well. Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer for extra flavor.

Remove chicken from marinade and discard any remaining marinade. Grill the chicken over medium high heat for 6 to 8 minutes per side or until cooked through. Cut chicken into strips or chunks.

For the Salsa: Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serve in rolled tacos or in baked taco bowls. Serves 8.

Check out the McCormick Pinterest Page and their Taco Night page.  Pin any taco recipe with the hashtag #mccormicktaconight and tag me (@somethewiser) to be entered to win an assorted spice kit of your own! 

I received an assortment of McCormick spices for recipe development and I was compensated for my time. All opinions are my own and I really do love tacos. 

The Santa Fe: Southwestern Turkey Sandwich

Whether you're taking a break from the office at a nearby cafe or sneaking a bite here and there at home while the kids beg you to blow more bubbles and please find the rubber stamp ink, there comes a time when you wish you could expect more from lunch. 

After weeks of rushing through a quick smoothie, appeasing the kids with almond butter on toast, or scooping scattered bites of hummus and bell peppers throughout the day, I'm raising my lunch expectations. 

This sandwich, dubbed The Santa Fe Club, is delicious in a way that has me watching the clock in anticipation of my midday meal. Perhaps it came about because it's been far too long since I made the forty five minute drive north to the magical adobe mountain town of Santa Fe for a concert in the plaza or an afternoon with Georgia O'Keefe. Or maybe I was just really hungry.

Either way, this sandwich is seriously good.

The Santa Fe Turkey Sandwich

Ingredients

2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon plain greek yogurt
3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper (or to taste)
1/2 large, ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 tablespoon pickled jalapeno chiles, chopped
2 slices of cooked bacon
4 slices highest quality deli sliced turkey breast
1 small tomato, sliced
1/2 cup fresh baby kale leaves
2 slices muenster cheese
4 slices sourdough bread
1 teaspoon butter

Directions

Brush one side of each slice of bread with butter. Heat grill pan over medium-low heat.

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, yogurt, Chipotle spice and stir together. Spread evenly on all four slices of bread.

In a separate small bowl, mash avocado, lime juice, and jalapeno chiles together with a fork and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread mixture evenly over all four slices of bread.

Assemble the two sandwiches, layering turkey, bacon, cheese, kale, and tomato. Place sandwiches, buttered side down on grill pan and heat for about a minute on each side, or until bread is crisp and golden brown.  Enjoy! Serves 2.

Do you normally eat lunch?

Ham and Black Bean Salad Bowls

No matter what the holiday is, I always need to make amends the next day. Holidays seem to transcend every goal and resolution I have ever made for myself. On any other day I wouldn't dream of buying or eating 3 pounds of Jelly Belly's, but call it Easter and it begins to sounds like a reasonable use of my time.

So this recipe is me making amends, trying to wipe clean a chocolate dipped slate. It's the week after a holiday and I'm not even going to bat my eyes at a jelly bean.  Nope, it's all lettuce and black beans and tomatoes around here.

Ham and Black Bean Salad Bowls

Ingredients

1 medium head butter lettuce, washed and dried
2 1/2 cups cooked black beans
6 ounces ham steak, diced
4 ounces cheese, cubed (Cheddar, Jack, or Pepper Jack)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup salsa
2 scallions, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

In a large bowl mix together all ingredients, except lettuce. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Arrange lettuce leaves on 4 plates and spoon approximately 1 cup of bean mixture onto each plate.  Serves 4.

What are you eating for lunch these days?

Ten Great Children's Non-Fiction Books

Books, I've found, are some of the best tools for learning about the world and people around us. This selection of Non-Fiction for Kids offers a variety of well written books that my kids and I love!

Ten Non-Fiction Books for Kids

Team Moon | Catherine Thimmish 
Combining NASA transcripts, stunning photos, national archives, and even direct quotes from the people involved, this is a unique perspective on the mission of Apollo 11.  This book isn't just about the astronauts, it's about all the people behind the scenes too - from the seamstresses who made the space suits to the welders and the painters and the programmers.

Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth 
This really is the Ultimate Visual Guide to every kingdom of life on earth - a book that should have a place in every home! My girls love to trace the photos, make lists of species, and browse the book constantly. We don't even bother putting this book on the shelf because it's almost always in use here. This book is an investment you won't regret!

The Way We Work | David Macaulay 
This is, in my opinion, the perfect guide to the human body. It explains all of the body's processes and functions (how we breath, what happens to the food we eat, how an egg is fertilized) with beautifully detailed illustrations and written descriptions. It is a comprehensive look at the science and mechanics of the body.

John, Paul, George and Ben | Lane Smith
This book is funny and well illustrated, making it a hit for kids and adults of all ages. Younger kids may not pick up on all of the historical references or even all of the humor, but they will enjoy it no less than the more informed student of history. Best of all, it opens up discussions about this period of American history and its most memorable players.  Even the youngest kids will enjoy this experience of the personalities of five of America's founding fathers.

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo | Sy Montgomery
Montgomery teamed with photographer Nic Bishop to create this incredible account of a science expedition into the Cloud Forest of New Guinea. It is a stunning and detailed look at the plants, insects, and animals that make up this little known region of the world. It is also a good look at the scientists at work and local people of the region as well.

Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead | Rebecca Johnson 
This book is not for the squeamish. This book is gross. But most kids will think this scientific look at nature's parasites and predators is awesome.

Monsieur Marceau: Actor Without Words | Leda Schubert
Marcel Marceau was the world's most famous mime. For more than 50 years he enthralled audiences without ever speaking a word. Children will be fascinated by both the pictures and the history of this incredible man who claimed he learned the power of illusion during World War II, while he worked heroically to save the lives of Jewish children. This book is a beautiful introduction to the art of biography and a glimpse into history.

Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions | Richard Platt
The format of this book, the visual timeline, is the perfect way to look at history and its inventions. Not only do you get a sense of how the passage of time affects creative design, but it also compels the reader to keep reading. The book starts in 600,00 BC and takes the reader almost to the present day.

Twelve Kinds of Ice | Ellen Bryan Obed
This book is the coziest kind of book - the kind that makes you want to curl up under a warm blanket with someone you love. It chronicles one family's winter and the twelve kinds of ice that they journey through in a season. It's a book that is tender and charming, not unlike a work of Tasha Tudor, and has been a favorite here since the first time we picked it up.

Chuck Close: Face Book | Chuck Close
I've been a huge fan of Chuck Close's work since I first saw it on exhibit in Washington, DC several years ago. I was so excited to discover this book and be able to introduce my kids to Chuck Close, his life and his work. Close, who has struggled with severe dyslexia and "face blindness" since childhood and a collapsed spinal artery that occurred later in life, creates from a wheelchair with a paintbrush strapped to his arm. This book introduces art techniques that will inspire even the youngest artist and answers questions from real kids. Chuck Close is truly a role model for children and I highly recommend this book.


Chuck Close by microcinema