Click HERE to download the coloring sheet.

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage people to take action to protect our planet. As a parent or caregiver, you can use this day as an opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of environmental stewardship and show them how they can make a positive impact on the world around them. Here are some fun ideas on how to celebrate Earth Day with kids:

1. Plant a Tree

Planting a tree is a great way to celebrate Earth Day with kids. You can choose a tree that is native to your area (check out the Arbour Day Foundation handy guide), and have your child help you dig the hole and water the tree. This activity teaches kids about the importance of trees in our ecosystem and can give them a sense of accomplishment as they watch their tree grow over time.

2. Clean up Your Neighborhood

Organize a neighborhood clean-up event with your child and their friends. This can be as simple as picking up litter in your local park or on your street. Make it fun by turning it into a scavenger hunt or a competition to see who can collect the most trash. This activity teaches kids about the importance of keeping our communities clean and the impact that litter has on our environment.

3. Go for a Nature Walk

Take your child on a nature walk and explore the beauty of the natural world. Encourage them to look for different plants, animals, and insects that they might not have noticed before. This activity teaches kids to appreciate the natural world and to understand the importance of preserving it.

4. Make a Recycled Craft

Gather up some recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, and plastic bottles and have your child create a work of art. This activity teaches kids about the importance of recycling and reusing materials instead of throwing them away. Raising Global Kidizens has a great list of low waste craft activity books for kids.

5. Start a Garden

Starting a garden is a great way to celebrate Earth Day with kids. You can start small with a few pots or containers and grow herbs or vegetables that your child can help care for. This activity teaches kids about where their food comes from and the importance of sustainable agriculture.

6. Have a Picnic in the Park

Pack a picnic lunch and head to your local park to enjoy a meal in nature. This activity teaches kids to appreciate the outdoors and to enjoy the simple pleasures of spending time with family and friends.

7. Watch a Nature Documentary

Watch a nature documentary with your child and learn about different ecosystems and the animals that live in them. This activity teaches kids about the diversity of life on our planet and the importance of protecting it. Disney+ has a whole Earth Day collection you can stream online.

Earth Day is such a great opportunity to teach kids about environmental stewardship and the importance of taking care of our planet. By engaging in activities like planting a tree, cleaning up your neighborhood, going for a nature walk, making a recycled craft, starting a garden, having a picnic in the park, or watching a nature documentary, you can help your child develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world and inspire them to become environmental advocates.

I love this apple pie recipe by Ina Garten where she uses tart granny smith apples and a touch of citrus. I give the leftover dough to my kids so they can use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. We sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar and bake them on a cookie sheet until just golden. If you are looking for a grown up version of a spiced cider, check out Food and Wine's Hot Buttered Spiced Cider recipe. It's not overly complicated but soooo tasty!

Fall is a great time to pull out some kids books about the change of the season, leaves, pumpkins and nature. Read a few then head outside to collect leaves for crafts or pressing.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves: A Fall Book for Kids
2. The Roll-Away Pumpkin
3. Apple Cake: A Gratitude
4. Splat the Cat and the Pumpkin-Picking Plan
5. Sweep
6. You're My Little Pumpkin Pie
7. It's a Pumpkin!
8. Pete the Cat Falling for Autumn
9. Apples, Apples Everywhere!: Learning about Apple Harvests
10. Because of an Acorn
    
    

I LOVE Halloween-themed crafts. There is something so cute about little hand drawn ghosts and pumpkins that I adore. Collect beautiful leaves for rubbings or trace your little one's foot to turn into a ghost. 

Here are a few other fun crafts:

1. Playful Posable Leaf Spirits by Handmade Charlotte
2. Craft Stick Spider Webs by Typically Simple
3. Apple Stamping by Made to be a Momma
4. Lolly Pop Spiders by One Little Project at a Time
5. Fluffy Pumpkin Slime by I Heart Arts n Crafts

Celebrate Halloween with these fun paper banners! These pennants make additions to decorations, boo bags and parties. Add ribbons and yarn or put them in a vase with candy corn filler. 

Supplies:

• Halloween printable banner available here.
• Small wooden towels
• Scissors
• Tape or hot glue gun

Directions:

1. Download and print banner page on cardstock.
2. Cut out banners.
3. Attach banners to a round dowel or stick with tape or a hot glue gun.
4. Attach ribbons, yarn or other decorations. 

Enjoy!

Browse our new collection of fifteen new onesies and tees! Launching April 27th at sweetpeaandco.com

Black history needs to be celebrated and studied throughout the year, not just this month. Exposure to diversity in books, toys and media is especially important for children when inequality and inclusion for Black people is still a struggle. 

Historian Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, established Negro History Week in 1926. He choose the week that included the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. Eventually, the week was expanded to include the full month of February. 

There are many ways to celebrate as a family and learn about Black history. One way is through books. There are so many wonderful children’s books by Black authors and illustrators about Black history or culture. Here are a few to consider:

Mindful Moves by Nicole Cardoza

Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones  and  Renée Watson

Homemade Love by Bell Hooks

I am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry

Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery

Another by Christian Robinson

Stacey's Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams

The ABC's of Black History by Rio Cortez

Another great way to teach children about Black history and culture is through some screen time. Here is a sample of some educational shows, documentaries and story time: 

PBS Kids short on what is Black History Month

Movie from the National Museum of African American History on the 1963 March on Washington

Sankofa Read Aloud videos of children's books

Bookmarks: Celebrating Black History on Netflix Jr.

PBS's Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott 

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum videos (specific episodes on George Washington Carver, Zora Neale Hurston, Jackie Robinson, Fredrick Douglas, Maya Angelou, Harriet Tubman and more)

American Experience Civil Rights documentaries (please note some episodes may contain footage too graphic for younger children)

- plant a small garden
- go through your neighborhood and pick up trash 
- start composting at home
- make DIY bird feeders with pine cones or toilet paper tubes, peanut butter and birdseed 
- swap out plastic bottles of water for reusable water bottles
- make a bee house

Download and print off this fun Earth Day coloring sheet for your kiddos to fill in and enjoy!

Truthfully, I'm not very good at sticking to resolutions especially if it involves exercise, getting to bed earlier, ect. Shortly after we started staying at home more and more it occured to me that I missed reading. Like stay up until midnight because you couldn't put a book down reading. I did what many of us do (and I still sometimes do) and scrolled on my phone before going to bed. I also have a daughter who loves books, but doesn't feel very confident in reading out loud. I wanted to model a parent who read even if that was in the short snippets of spare time I had. 

So I printed off a habit tracker I found and started keeping track of the days I read, even if just a few pages. As of today, I have read almost every day for the past two months. It's such a simple goal, but one that I'm proud of actually sticking to.

One secret that I had to learn the hard way is that certain types of books pull me in and if I'm not engaged, I'm not as eager to pick the book up. There are a handful of books I read in 2020 that really stuck with me. Most of these are new releases but a few have been around. 

1. Where the Crawdads Sing

I picked this one up at the end of 2019 and finished it just into 2020. The story is about a young girl, Kya Clark, who grows up to survive on her own in rural North Carolina in the 1950's. Curiosity and the draw of others brings her in contact with some of the locals, including two boys. It's part love story, part mystery and part nature writing. 

The wilderness of Kya's home almost takes on a character of its own as Owen beautifully describes the setting. This story stuck with me well after I was done reading it. 

2. This Close to Okay

I first heard about this book in a list of new recommended reads and loved it. It's a heavy subject as the story is about a psychologist, Talli Clark, comes upon a man, Emmett, about to commit suicide. Convincing him to come get a coffee with her, they slowly open up to each other over a long weekend. Emmett isn't the only one with a painful past they are still working through.

If you have ever dealt with trauma or mental health issues, this book will hit close to home. I found myself rooting for and concerned for the two main characters. It touches on the messiness that can happen in relationships, racism and it's deeply felt impacts and the role of therapy.

3. Anxious People: A Novel

I'm a huge fan of Fredrik Bachman. If you haven't pick up A Man Called Ove as it's funny and sad and just damn brilliant. Anxious People is part mystery, hugely funny but also tinged with sadness. An apartment open house sets the stage for a group of strangers to be taken hostage by a bank robber. Filled with many twists, we learn about these memorable characters and why and how they ended up in their situation. 

Backman has a way of writing characters who are messy and so human, yet you grow to care about them. If you need a funny read then I can't recommend this enough.

4. The Hate U Give

After the murder of George Floyd, I picked this book up. Starr Carter is a teen growing up in Garden Heights who lives a double life. She goes to a predominantly white private school. She feels like two people, Garden Heights Starr and Williamson Prep Starr. She witnesses a cop shoot her childhood best friend and the aftermath of that event. 

It's heartbreaking, very honest, thought-provoking and timely as our country faces the effects of police brutality and racism on the black community. It's a hard read, but a necessary read. 

5. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

As a young woman in the early 1700's, Addie LaRue makes a deal with a demon on her wedding day to live forever but at the cost of being forgotten by all she meets. Navigating through time and learning how to survive, she manages to make her mark on the world, even if in small ways. One day she meets a man in a bookstore who remembers her and everything changes. 

I so loved this book. Addie is a woman who is clever and tough but also vulnerable. The story is rich, heartbreaking, romantic and beautifully told. It was extremely hard to put down and led to many late nights for me.

6. The Starless Sea

First, go read Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus. It's such a beautiful story and one of my ultimate favorite books. Okay, now onto The Starless Sea. This is one book where I felt like it was a little slower to get into, then I couldn't put it down, then I kept wondering how this was going to end. It's very difficult to explain the plot because it's really unlike any other book I have ever read. 

Zachary Ezra Rawlin is a grad student who through finding a book at the school library - one that includes a story about something that happened to him as a boy - learns of a world underground filled with stories and the Starless Sea. The story alternatives between what seems like random stories and Zachary's adventures, but eventually they come together. It's layered and mysterious and filled with love stories. And cats. Lots of cats. It's also very long, but worth picking up as it is one of those books that sticks with you.

If you are looking for some other fun and easy projects you can also find our Tic Tac Toe game.

Scroll down for your printable coloring Valentines day cards

I created these gift tags that can be printed at home, cut out and attached to a gift card to a favorite local coffee shop.

Print the tags here

I wanted to share with you a fun holiday printable for your kiddos. Print out this letter to Santa that your little one will love to fill out and send off!

If you use it, I would love to see it! Tag us on instagram #sweetpeaandco so we can share it!

Download the letter here!

2020 has been, well...a year. As the temps have dropped and I'm getting all cozy in my sweatpants (I'm a full believer now, #sorrynotsorry), I have been thinking ahead to this winter. 

With many small businesses struggling to keep their doors open, we can support them by shopping local. It's true that every time an order comes through, a small business owner does a little happy dance. In their sweatpants. 

This season I wanted to share with you some of my favorite goods from local shops and talented makers. I have rounded up a few of my favorites that are sure to make perfect presents. You can find something fun for everyone on your list: mom, dad and the kiddos. 

So how can we still enjoy Halloween while still being safe? Here are a couple of ideas.

Rethink Trick or Treat

Crowds of kids reaching into a bowl is like offering up a petri dish at this point. One alternative would be to set out a table with individual treat bags that kids could grab. Kids could make signs and help decorate the table.

Nighttime Candy Hunt

Another option would be to do a trick or treat candy hunt Easter-style. Hide candy in little bags, or heck, break out the Easter eggs and glow sticks, and hide them around your yard. Or you can find glow in the dark eggs online.

Go Big at Home

I’m not one to decorate for Halloween save for the cute art projects my kids make. Those get prized positions on the front door. Maybe this year have the kids make a few extra decorations or see if you can score some fun ones at the Dollar Spot. Carve a few extra pumpkins, maybe your pets get one this year. Dress up your house or yard to help bring the spirit of Halloween home.

Scary Movie Night

Depending on the age of your kids, there are a wide and fun range of Halloween movies out there. For toddlers, we like Room on the Broom (also a great book), Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest and Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie. For elementary age kids, check out Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. 

Whip up a DIY treat 

Have your kids help make spider web pancakes, popcorn balls or mummy cupcakes. A special Halloween dinner with black squid ink pasta is fun and easy to make.

While it’s sad that Halloween will be so different this year, the silver lining is that this gives kids a chance to help brainstorm, be creative and think out of the box.

"Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. To do something, as my colleague David Souter would say, outside myself. ‘Cause I’ve gotten much more satisfaction for the things that I’ve done for which I was not paid." - Ruth Bader Ginsburg, when asked how she would like to be remembered

On September 18th, we lost a great champion of human rights and gender equality. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was 87 when she passed away from complications from metastatic cancer of the pancreas.

If you have ever seen pictures on social media of little girls (or women for that matter) wearing her distinctive black robe, lace collar and large eyeglasses as a Halloween costume, then you are familiar with the legacy and impression she has made on so many of us. She was pushing boundaries, working hard and determined. She was a mother and grandmother. She was notorious. She was a badass. 

Fearless Girl donning a collar shortly after RGB's passing

Things we take for granted - having a checking account without needing a male co-signer to having a guaranteed job while pregnant - are givens in large part to her effort. As with many subjects, books and other stories are a great way for children to learn about these important people and our history. 

No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality

I Look Up To... Ruth Bader Ginsburg

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The Story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Biography Book for New Readers

Another wonderful resource is the Best of Rebel Girls podcast where they have a special show on RGB titled Best of Rebel Girls: Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Make sure to check out the other episodes as well.

Families and the people in them come in all forms. Children's books about pride, diversity, LGBTQ history and gender identity are a great way to help educate and teach kids about love, diversity and equality. These books can be great conversation starters. 

Here is just a sample of some great children's books to read!

1. Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
2. Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
3. They She He Me: Free to Be! by Maya Gonzalez and Matthew SG 
4. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
5. Annie's Plaid Shirt by Stacey B. Davids
6. Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution by Rob Sanders
7. Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman
8. Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
9. A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O'Leary
10. From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom and Kai Yun Ching 

How sweet would this onesie be in a family photo for dad?! Available in 0-3 through 12-18 months here.

One way to prevent this bias is to acknowledge and name racism. An effective tool for this is through reading children's books starting at a young age. These books can be the starting point for important conversations and what it means to resist oppression.

Here is just a sample of children's books curated by critical literacy organizations and teachers.

1. Something Happened in Our Town, a Child's Story About Racial Injustice by M. Celano
2.  A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory 
3.  Do Like Kyla by Angela Johnson 
4.  Let the Children March by Monica Clark Robinson 
5.  A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy
6.  Smoky Nights by Eve Bunting
7. Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renée Watson
8. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
9. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford
10. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney
11. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
12. Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney
13. The Stone Thrower by Jael Ealey Richardson
14. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles 
15. Daddy, There’s A Noise Outside by Kenneth Braswell

To read more on the Harvard study, take a look at the following links:

How Racism Harms Children by the Harvard Health Publishing

Children's Responses to Group-Based Inequalities: Perpetuation and Rectification study by Harvard's Mahzarin R. Banaji

Teachers help things grow pot from Giggles Galore

A sweet succulent plant from Tiny Oranges

A movie themed gift basket from Craftibilities

A beach bag gift from Skip to my Lou

Pencil gift card holder from Lovely Planner

School bus gift card holder from Design Eat Repeat

Spa day in a tin by the DIY Mommy

Unicorn spa jar from The Gunny Sack

A beach ready gift from Sisters What!

DIY apple jar from the 36th Avenue

With many of us working from home and staying inside, here is a roundup of some great fun and educational resources for your kiddos!

Art Activities

• Facebook Live drawing with Ben Clanton of Narwhal and Jelly
• Narwhal and Jelly activity sheet
• Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams of Elephant and Piggie
• Crayola has free coloring sheets plus art lessons

• Josh Gad is reading stories from his Twitter account each evening
• Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams read stories and created #savewithstories

• Scholastic books has free lesson plans that include books and a worksheet
• National Geographic for Kids (videos, games and more)
• Highlights for Kids
• Switcheroo Zoo
• Fun Brain
• PBS Kids (also sign up for their newsletter to get daily activities)
• ABCya!

• Visit a farm
• Vist the Louvre
• Visit the Guggenheim
• Visit the National Gallery of Art
• Visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
• Visit the Met

Happy Valentine's Day!

Rachel

Halloween is THE BEST (sorry Christmas)! As a kid I LOVED dressing up and heading out into the night with my friends for trick-or-treating. I was that kid who pushed costuming and going out as long as I could. Now that I'm a parent, I get such joy from seeing my kids dressed up and enjoying the fun. It's the perfect occasion to be a bit more creative.

I have rounded up some clever ideas for costumes, treats, and fun activities for you and your kiddos. Happy crafting!

Download and print from HERE

 1. Sloth Backpack / Skip Hop

2. Colored Pencil Set / Kid Made Modern

3. Yumbox Bento Box / Yumbox

4. Music Waterbottle / CamelBak

5. Strong Like Mom Tee / Hilland sonconstruction.

6. Space Cat Notebook / Petit Papillon Bleu

7. Reusable Snack Pouches / Squooshi

8. Shark Crayon Pouch / Minnebites

9. Book Plates / Boy Girl Party

10. Lunch Box Notes / Cheery Berry Paper

Here is a list of 5 things your child can do outside that they will love and enjoy doing!

1. Grow a garden - 
Carve out a little spot for your child's own plot to grow vegetables or flowers, whatever they choose. They can tend to their plants, watch them grow and enjoy the harvest. This also teaches them responsibility when it comes to upkeep.  

2. Break out the art supplies -
Your budding artist can do sidewalk chalk art, paint rocks to look like animals or bugs or create stepping stones for the garden. 

3. Camp in your own backyard - 
Watch the sunset, roast marshmallows and then watch the stars come out. There is something exciting about sleeping in a tent for kids and staying close to home is a good introduction for further expeditions. 

4. Head to water - 
Swimming, fishing and canoeing in a nearby river or lake are fun ways to explore the various fish, birds and plants that call the water home.

5. Create a nature collection -
My daughter's personal favorite outdoor activity! Let your children explore and look for neat rocks, feathers, plants and flowers. Display their collection on a shelf or have them create a special box to hold their treasures.

What are your favorite things to do outside with your kiddos?