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Nature Study: Why Skunks Are Good For Gardens!

As parents, we often teach our children to avoid certain creatures in the garden, like skunks, due to their pungent odor and reputation for mischief. However, what if I told you that these striped critters are actually unsung heroes in the garden ecosystem?  In this blog, we'll explore why skunks are beneficial for your garden and why they deserve our appreciation. Skunks as Gardeners 1. Natural Pest Control Skunks have a voracious appetite for many garden pests that can wreak havoc on your plants. They are especially fond of insects like beetles, grubs, caterpillars, and even small rodents like mice and voles. By preying on these pests, skunks help keep their populations in check, reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides. 2. Soil Aeration Believe it or not, skunks are great gardeners! Their habit of digging for food helps aerate the soil, allowing oxygen and nutrients to penetrate deeper, which promotes healthier plant growth. Additionally, their digging can help expose a

60+ Screen-free activities for kids (Indoor Edition)

Here's a list of 61 screen-free activities for kids aged 4-9 yrs to enjoy indoors on hot, poor air quality or rainy days:

1. Build a fort with blankets and pillows.

2. Have a picnic indoors.

3. Create a scavenger hunt with clues.

4. Make paper airplanes and have a flying contest.

5. Have a dance party.

6. Set up an indoor obstacle course.

7. Do a puzzle together or have a timed puzzle contest. 

8. Create & cook a new recipe together.

Eggnog Pancakes

9. Bake cookies or a cake together.

10. Create a family birthday calendar with all the birthdays of family members (immediate and extended) and family friends.

11. Play board games or card games.

12. Paint or draw pictures.




13. Have a fashion show using clothes from the dress-up box.

14. Make sock puppets and put on a puppet show.

15. Write and perform a play.

16. Play charades.

17. Do yoga or exercise together.

18. Make homemade playdough.

19. Build with magnetic tiles, LEGO or other building blocks.

20. Create a scrapbook or memory book.

21. Have a (spooky) storytelling session.

22. Play with magnetic letters and practice spelling.

23. Make friendship bracelets.

24. Have a tea party with stuffed animals.

25. Create a mini-golf course using household items.

26. Make paper bag puppets and put on a puppet show.

27. Write and illustrate a storybook.

28. Play dress-up and put on a fashion show.

29. Have a science experiment session.

30. Make paper masks and have a masquerade party.

31. Play indoor bowling using plastic bottles and a soft ball.

32. Set up a pretend restaurant and take turns being the chef and customer.

33. Have a karaoke session.

34. Create an indoor garden using small pots and seeds.

35. Play the "What's in the Box?" game, blindfolded and guessing objects.

36. Make paper boats and have a race in the bathtub or a large container of water.

37. Play "I Spy" or "20 Questions."

38. Create a DIY musical instrument and have a jam session.

39. Write and mail letters or draw pictures to family or friends.

40. Play "Simon Says" or "Duck, Duck, Goose.

41. Have a pillow fight.

42. Make homemade slime.

43. Play the memory game with objects on a tray.

44. Have a shadow puppet show using a flashlight.

45. Do a DIY science experiment, like making volcanoes.

46. Play "Hot Potato" using a soft ball or stuffed animal.

47. Set up an indoor bowling alley using empty water bottles and a small ball.

48. Make paper snowflakes and decorate the windows.

49. Play "Dress the Doll" using paper cutouts and clothes.

50. Have a LEGO building challenge with specific themes or objectives.

51. Create a marble run using cardboard tubes and other household items.

52. Play "Hide and Seek."

53. Make paper plate masks and act out different characters.

54. Create a DIY musical band using household items as instruments.

55. Play "Guess the Animal" by giving clues and mimicking the sounds.

56. Make cards for different occasions using a different element of design each time. 

57. Make an idea box 

58. Make a boredom jar and fill it with 50 notes of things you can do when bored. 

59. Make home made popsicles or ice cream

60. Practice drawing portraits of family members, fruit or objects.

61. Have a bubble-blowing (or bubble popping) contest.

62. Put on a talent show and showcase various skills.

63. Create a cook book with simple child friendly recipes and lots of illustrations for instructions.

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