Love to Laugh and Learn

Fun and interesting learning activities to do with the children in your life

Learning Fun at Disney: Manners

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I think learning should be fun. I can’t think of a more delightful place to learn than Disney!

Manners

Today, we are going to tackle manners. Using good manners is such an important attribute. Your child will have many opportunities to use their manners and to see manners exhibited while at Disney.

Please and Thank You

The first, in my book, is the simple, “please” and “thank you”. The cast members work hard and sometimes in less-than-ideal situations. It can be really hot or stormy and the cast members still have to be there to care for you. A simple thank you can add some joy to their day.

There will be many opportunities, during the day, to use your manners. One of my favorite times is mealtime. 

     “Will you please pass the salt?”

     “Thank you for letting me get dessert.”

My family came from the south. We were taught to throw in a “please” or “thank you” when answering a question.

     “Would you like tomatoes on your salad?”

          “No, thank you.”

 “Would you like ice cream for dessert?”

          “Yes, please.”

The Napkin

Another manner, that is not so widely practiced, is the placing of your napkin. If it’s a restaurant with cloth napkins, we place them in our laps. 

Did you know you can send a secret message to your server by where you place your napkin? (Of course, that is, if your server knows the code.) If you leave the table, but will be returning, place your napkin on your chair.

When you are totally finished with your meal, place your napkin on the table next to your plate. This lets the server know they can start taking away your dirty dishes and bring you the bill. 

I hope this post on manners has been fun and has given you some ideas of how to use them. What other manners might you use, while on your trip? Don’t forget to continue using them when you get home.

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Learning Fun at Disney: The Importance of Imagination

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Learning Fun at Disney: The Importance of Imagination

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Disney, the land (or world) of fun and imagination. It can also be a fun place to learn. Some of these learning ideas can be used in other settings such as home, at the store or at other amusement parks but some learning activities will be especially for Disney. 

First, let’s discuss imagination. Some people may not understand how important it is but it is, oh, so important. Sometimes very intelligent people feel that they don’t need to use it. They feel using their imagination is childish. 

Let’s look at the definition of imagination. According to Merriam-Webster, it is “the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality”. It is “a creation of the mind,” “fanciful or empty assumption”.

Yes, sometimes imagination can be fanciful, seemingly silly and useless but think of the great things that have been accomplished and the wonderful inventions that have been created all because of someone’s “creation of the mind”.

Flying
Imagination Takes Flight

My grandson and I recently flew on an airplane to Disney World. I am always in awe as  the plane gathers speed. Then all of a sudden this big metal contraption lifts up, off the ground and we are flying above the houses and eventually above the clouds. What kind of an imagination must the Wright Brothers have had to believe that they could fly through the air like a bird? They didn’t simply give up and say, “There is no way we can ever do what a bird does.” No, they imagined the possibility of fight and then used their brains to figure out how to make this dream a reality. 

This is what inventors do. They use their imagination to dream about some fanciful new gadget or way to travel. Then they use their brains and education to test and experiment with everyday items in new and different ways. The great imaginers of today will be the outstanding inventors of tomorrow. 

imagination
Journey into Imagination with Figment

Disneyland and Disney World are places full of imaginative activities but you can find an extra helping of imagination at Disney World Epcot. There you can enjoy a ride on Journey to Imagination with Figment. Figment is a little purple dinosaur. He is an adorable figment of some Imagineer. He helps you to learn how much fun and how important it is to imagine new and wonderful things.

Being smart and learning as much as you can are wonderful objectives but don’t forget to add in a large dose of imagination. You might come up with the next great invention because you were able to imagine it. 

Figment of your imagination.
Use Your Imagination

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Ready to Plan Your DisneyTrip?

We always have great family time and make special memories when we travel to Disney. Click here to purchase tickets and start making your special trip plans.

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard

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Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard


Learning experiences at the apple orchard can be so much fun. I like to incorporate a little learning in everything I do but I don’t want it to be heavy handed. I don’t want the kids to actually realize they are learning. All I want them to experience is fun.

There is so much learning that can happen at an apple orchard. The lessons can be complex, such as learning about how bees pollinate or the growing cycle of an apple. Or the lesson can be very simple, like learning that the apples in the grocery store actually grow on trees.

Today, we go for the simple. We are headed to the apple orchard with our 2 year old, great-nephew. I like to start learning opportunities with a book so we began by reading, “Picking Apples” by Gail Saunders-Smith. It was a great book for a young child; lots of pictures and a small amount of descriptive text. It describes picking apples from the tree to storing them in large wooden crates and finally trucking them everywhere. We were able to see the big wooden crates at the apple orchard; just like in the book!

We decided to head to Stuckey’s Farm today because they grow my husband’s favorite apples; McIntosh. When we arrive a gentleman gives us a basket and a bag to gather our apples in. Jeremiah wanted to carry the basket.

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Carrying the basket

We climbed onto a wagon behind a big tractor, to get a ride out to the area that the McIntosh apples were at.

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Riding on the Wagon

The first apple Jeremiah picked came right off the tree with no problem…

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Picking Apples

…but the next one wouldn’t let go so Uncle Pat stepped in to explain if you just turn the apple a couple of times, it will come right off the tree.

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Picking Apples with Uncle Pat

This only had to be explained once and then Jeremiah became an expert apple picker.

Love to Learn and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Picking Apples Collage

We finished our day up with a frozen apple cider slushie…

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Frozen Apple Cider Slushie

…and a special apple Bento meal. Bento meals come from Japan and are in divided boxes. They do some pretty creative things with food and I find them fun for kids. Jeremiah’s apple themed meal consisted of a peanut butter and apple butter sandwich, cut with an apple shaped cookie cutter. There were a couple of apple cars, made from apple slices and grapes, and some cooked carrots.

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Apple Bento Meal

We spent a little time at the playground before we left.

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Playing

Stuckey’s Farm is opening a new fun area called Adventure Acres. It consists of a 20′ tall tube slide, a barrel train pulled by a real tractor, pedals cars and more. We are going to have to go back and check that out, once it opens.

Learning Opportunities Jeremiah had at the Apple Orchard

1. That apples in the grocery store come from apple trees.

2. He got to see the big wooden crates the apples are stored in; just like we read about in the book.

3. He was able to watch a machine wash the apples then some workers sorted them and put them in bags.

4. He got the experience of receiving and following directions on how to get stubborn apples off the tree.

5. He was able to experience nature and enjoy climbing around and under the trees.

Future Learning Opportunities at the Apple Orchard

1. We can learn about bees because there is a beehive that you can safely observe from inside the orchard store.

Love to Laugh and Learn at the Apple Orchard – Bee Hive at Stuckey’s

2. We can learn about the life cycle of an apple tree; from seed to apple.

3. We can see how apple cider is made. They make their own apple cider. You can watch the machines make it and fill the bottles but they weren’t manufacturing any the day we were there.

4. We can take apples home and make applesauce and other recipes. Cooking has so many learning opportunities and it’s fun.

We had so much fun at the apple orchard. I can’t wait to go again. Have you been to an apple orchard? What did you like about your trip? Maybe you live in an area where you go to orange groves instead of apple orchards. I would love to hear about your experiences.

You can find more fun activities with apples on an earlier post called, “A is for Apple: You Can Learn More Than Your ABC’s from Apples”.

More Books about the Apple Orchard:

Out and About at the Apple Orchard by Diane Mayr
Reading Level: Ages 5 to 8 yrs old
This is a very good book that describes the activities that go on at an apple orchard. The book explains how the apples start as flowers and how the bees help the flowers change into fruit. Your child will learn about the many things the orchard workers need to do to help the apples grow. It is a fun little book. The pictures in this book are brightly drawn illustrations. Although, I prefer photo illustrations in books I am using for learning purposes, the drawings are quite adorable.

Related Posts:

Pumpkins are Orange; and Other Learning Concepts
A is for Apple: You Can Learn More Than Your ABC’s from Apples
Colors – Overview
Shapes – Overview
Fun with Music – Overview

The Thinkery

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The Thinkery

Thinkery in Austin, Texas
Thinkery in Austin, Texas



If you and your child enjoy S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and math) activities or you simply want fun hands-on activities, the Thinkery, in Austin, is the place for you!

Thinkery
A fun children’s museum, in Austin: The Thinkery!

We recently took our first trip to the Thinkery, with a three year old and a one year old in tow. Everyone had a wonderful time.

One of the first things through the door was a train table. This boy has trains and track at home but NOT on a table. This was so exciting to him. We had a hard time convincing him to leave the table and go see all the other fun things the Thinkery had.

Train Table at the Thinkery
Train Table at the Thinkery
Innovators’ Workshop

The next area we came to was the Innovators’ Workshop. Within this exhibit was Build Landscape. There were all kinds of wheels, pulleys, etc., you could build with. Keagan was still a little upset at us for pulling him away from the trains so he didn’t stop to build. That’s okay, that gives us something to do on another trip to the Thinkery.

Build Landscape at the Thinkery
Build Landscape at the Thinkery

Here were some other gears and construction activities to explore.

Gears to explore at the Thinkery
Gears to explore at the Thinkery

The one year old and mommy enjoyed the magnetic wall with the “magic” wooden pieces. Keagan finally came over and joined them.

Magnetic wall at the Thinkery.
Magnetic wall at the Thinkery.

Keagan did enjoy the opportunity to paint and squeegee a window. He even asked to go back to this area later in the day.

Painting at the Thinkery, in Austin.
Painting at the Thinkery, in Austin.

All of us enjoyed the Micro Eye. There were several microscopes with plenty of interesting items to examine. The pictures were projected on the wall so we could all enjoy them. Daddy even showed Keagan how to put his hand under the microscope and examine his own skin.

Micro Eye at the Thinkery
Examining things under a microscope.
Spark Shop

The next area, I believe, was Amaya’s favorite. This area is called the Spark Shop and is a place where children can explore the concepts of aerodynamics. She spent a long time placing ping pong balls in the wall and watching them disappear.

Flow wall at the Thinkery.
Flow wall at the Thinkery.

Amaya also loved the beach balls floating on air. I was actually surprised at how coordinated she was at grabbing the floating ball off the column of air. The young man working in the area was very sweet and helpful. He got a stool for Amaya and turned the apparatus so that the ball floated a little closer to her. She spent a lot of time here too.

Floating balls
Balls floating on a column of air.

Keagan loved the floating scarves. I must say that I enjoyed watching them shoot up into the air myself.

Flying Scarves
Scarves floating on air.

Daddy and Keagan were able to create their own flying machines. You took a basic body from one basket, wings and a tail from another, and then put them together. You then take them over to the special launcher, load it up and push the button. You can try to go for distance or attempt to shoot it through a hanging hoop. Keagan shot it through the hoop on the first try.

Flying Machine
Make and fly your own machine.
Light Lab

I believe the Light Lab was my daughter’s and my favorite area. She loved the Frozen Shadows. You stand against a wall and this special camera takes a “picture”. You step away and your shadow is displayed on the wall. Brittany (my adult daughter) “played” in there quite a while. She kept trying to get the kids excited about it but they weren’t nearly as interested as she was. I do have to admit, it was pretty fascinating.

Frozen Shadows
Frozen Shadows

I especially liked the over sized “Lite Brite” table and walls, in the Light Lab. My grand-daughter loved it too.

Light Lab
The Light Lab has an over-sized “Lite Brite”.
Currents

One area that looked like a lot of fun but we didn’t attempt was the Currents. It is a water play area. Although they do have big plastic smocks to put on, kids were coming out soaking wet. We decided to pass this area up for another day when we bring a change of clothes.

Currents
Currents is a fun water play area.
Kitchen Lab

We stopped by the Kitchen Lab. The adults were really interested but we couldn’t get the 3 and 1 year old to stand still long enough to listen. We were able to get a partial explanation of the food chain before the kids were on the run. That’s okay. Again, we will have something to look forward to on a future visit.

Food Chain
Visual of a food chain.
Let’s Grow

Let’s Grow was another area that both kids spent quite a lot of time at. Keagan loved “shopping” for food and then taking it to the kitchen and preparing it. He took quite a while preparing something for Mommy and Daddy while I was off playing with Amaya.

Let's Grow
Let’s Grow is an area where you can collect and “cook” food.

Although there was a special play area for babies, Amaya, at 15 months, does not see herself as a baby and spent the time playing on the mats with the big kids.

Baby Play area
Baby Play area
Story Nook

As we were winding down our visit, they were making an announcement about a storytime in the Story Nook. We decided we would catch storytime on another visit.

Story Nook
Story Nook
Our Backyard

We weren’t able to get to the outside play area because it was a rainy day. As you can tell, we have plenty of reasons to return to the Thinkery. We had a blast at the areas we encountered and there are several things that we missed and look forward to doing in the future.

Outdoor Play area
Outdoor Play area (picture courtesy of the Thinkery)

Admission prices are reasonable at $10 per person, children 0 to 23 months old are free. There is a $2 discount for military and up to five of their family members.

Have you been to the Thinkery before? I would love to hear about your visit. Maybe you were able to experience some of the areas we weren’t.

National Train Day 2017

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National Train Day 2017




Tomorrow, May 12, is National Train Day. There are special events happening all over the country. Check out your local train depot and see if they have anything special planned.

The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum is our local depot. It has a wonderful event planned for tomorrow. Outside you can explore several old train cars or enjoy a handcar ride. Inside you will find several model trains set up and running. The little ones can enjoy craft time and there’s a dress up area.

Last year we took the grandchildren and had a blast. Here are some of the things we enjoyed.

My grandson loved exploring the inside of the different train cars.

National Train Day 2016: Checking out old train cars

One of the engines actually had moving parts. What more could a little boy ask for?

National Train Day 2016: Engine with moving parts

There were lots of model trains to look at and interact with.

National Train Day 2016: Model Trains

There were fun hands-on activities like coloring and playing with trains.

National Train Day 2016: Hands-on Activities

There was even live music for all of us to enjoy.

Live Music

It was a great event and we are excited to join in the fun again tomorrow. The event will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and it’s free. Get there early and enjoy every moment of it.

The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum
315 W. Avenue B
Temple, TX 76501