5 Classic Movies to Watch with Your Kids

Rainy day? Friday movie night? It’s time to put away the video games and take a trip back in time with a classic motion picture. Remember that movie you used to watch at Grandma’s house? Or the one your dad used to rave about, but you never understood why until you were older? These are our classics. Today it’s easy to overlook these movies as things of the past. Maybe you’ve never thought to introduce your kids to a film you used to love, but we can assure you there are a number of classics that not only make us laugh, but also contain important lessons for people of all ages. So, grab your popcorn as we take you through time and five classic movies both you and your children will get a thrill out of. Ready? Action!

5. Toy Story (1995)

Maybe you loved Toy Story as a kid because you could imagine your own toys coming to life and fighting over which one would get the royal privilege of sitting on your bed. Perhaps it was even Mr. Potato Head and his feisty attitude that sparked your laughter as a child. It’s important to know, however, that Toy Story has much more to offer than just a bunch of talking toys running around Pizza Planet.

Toy Story will teach your children important lessons about friendship, loyalty and even jealousy. Woody learns an important lesson by the end of the movie. He accepts that it’s okay for Andy to have more than one favorite toy and more than one friend.

“You’ve got a friend in me.”

4. E.T. (1982)

A little alien is left all alone on a strange planet. He soon finds a friend in ten-year-old boy named Elliot. You probably stocked up on Reese’s Pieces enough to fill your entire closet and tried to bring plants back to life after seeing E.T. We would be lying if we said that Elliot’s determination to save his extraterrestrial companion didn’t have us in tears.

This movie shows children and adults alike the power of friendship. Next time your alien friend gets sick and needs to get on a spaceship to go home, will you ride your bike over the moon without a helmet on even if you don’t want him to leave? After seeing this film, you just might want to!

“You could be happy here. I could take care of you. I wouldn’t let anybody hurt you.”

3. Star Wars (1977)

A giant rebel space station, robots, unexpected heroes and even a princess. What’s not to love? While we are huge fans of this adventure film, it also provides us with important messages. For one, Princess Leia is not just an ordinary damsel in distress with an iconic hairdo. She stands up for what’s right and isn’t afraid to fight off any Stormtroopers that get in her way. It’s in the opening scene that she shows us that even princesses can be brave and tough.

Star Wars blurs the line between good and evil, and reveals to parents and children that though the choice between good and bad is more complicated than we think, good will always triumph over evil.

“Who is more foolish? The fool or the one that follows him?”

2. Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins is the first musical on our list, and also the only film here that combines live action and animation. Maybe you dreamed of having a babysitter as cool as Mary Poppins. Or maybe you just could never seem to get “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” out of your head. Maybe what you didn’t realize the first time you saw this flick is that Mary Poppins teaches us to love and enjoy life. That is the real meaning behind “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Though kids might not recognize this lesson right away, they definitely won't be able to stop dancing and singing along.

“In every job that must be done there is an element of fun.”

1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Get swept away with Dorothy into the magical Land of Oz. We’re throwing it way back here, but we’re sure that this movie is family-friendly and magnificent even today. The first feature film to use both color and black-and-white will take you over the rainbow with lessons about life and love, as each of the characters have something to show us on their own.

The Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow prove that true friendship exists in believing in one another, and that a true friend is always there for you through life’s troubles, no matter how big or small. 

And finally, Dorothy Gale has many lessons to teach people of all ages. Dorothy dreams of a life away from home, but is surprised when she’s taken to the Land of Oz and suddenly longs to return to Kansas. Dorothy not only teaches us to follow our own paths, but she also reminds us not to take home for granted.

“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.”

Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 the Children’s Museum in Easton will be hosting its new event Off to see the Wizard. Activities will be based on the popular story including all of your favorite characters. Don’t miss a visit from Dorothy and several themed crafts and stories. Follow the yellow brick road with your little munchkins from 10am-1pm for a magical day of over-the-rainbow fun! Be sure to watch the popular film and visit us on the 4^th. There’s no place like the Children’s Museum in Easton.

*Written by Deanna Haas, PR Intern

Make this Halloween a Healthy and Affordable one!

Traditionally Halloween is about going trick-or-treating, gathering lots of candy, unhealthy snacks and dressing up as your favorite character! This year there are many new alternatives to making this fun-filled holiday a healthy and affordable one. By creating DIY costumes and eating these spooky, but scrumptious snacks this will be a holiday to remember!

Here are some costumes that are popular this year and affordable ways to make them at home: 

   

Disney’s Queen Elsa from the movie Frozen

This costume is going to be one of the most popular costumes out there this year! Here are two links that will make it simple and easy to transform your little princess into a popular Disney one!

• DIY QUEEN ELSA DRESS INTERMEDIATE

If you are feeling more ambitious and have acquired the skill of sewing here’s a more advanced Elsa costume!

• DIY QUEEN ELSA DRESS ADVANCED

  

                  Olaf the snowman DIY costume for boys and girls!

Here’s a Frozen costume that can be for your little boy or girl! Who doesn’t love Olaf the Snowman? There’s many ways available to create an Olaf DIY costume just click on the links below!

DIY OLAF SNOWMAN COSTUME!

DIY OLAF DRESS COSTUME

   

Aside from the Frozen character costumes, there are so many other adorable and affordable ones out there. If you would prefer different ideas, here are a few more links to DIY costumes that are easy and simple to make at home! 

• DISNEY DIY COSTUMES
• CHILD COSTUMES FROM CARDBOARD BOXES
• DIY COSTUME IDEAS

       Children's Octopus Costume

Here’s a great costume that will have your child take the spotlight under the sea of on land and is probably one of the easiest costumes to make!

DIY GIRLS OCTOPUS COSTUME

DIY BOYS OCTOPUS COSTUME

  

Although these are some great ideas to an award winning costume there are hundreds of other DIY ideas on Pintrest and other various sites throughout the web. 

Halloween Turned Healthy

With Halloween approaching quickly here are some healthy alternatives to the traditional candy and junk food usually associated with this candy filled holiday! 

Candy Corn Fruit Cocktail

Who doesn't love a healthy candy corn snack that can satisfy even the strongest sweet tooth! Try this candy corn fruit cocktail and learn how to make it yourself here!

Edible Eyeballs

Set out a platter of these creepy peepers, and your party guests are bound to do a double take. Simply slice carrots into 1-inch-thick chunks, top each with a blob of cream cheese and one half of a black pitted olive, and they're ready to serve. Find out how to make these delicious eyeballs. 

Find out how to make these delicious eyeballs here!

Carrot Pumpkin Platter

This may be one of the easiest and healthiest ways to celebrate the Halloween season! 

All you need are some mini carrots, a cucumber, black pitted olives, and small piece of broccoli. Arrange the carrots and other vegetables to look like a pumpkin and just put some dip on the side (for example your favorite salad dressing) and you'll have a boo-tiful looking platter! 

With all of these fun DIY costumes and deliciously healthy snacks, this Halloween will be sure to be a memorable one! Don't forget these safety tips while you are out enjoying this wonderful holiday: Always make sure to trick-or-treat in a group, wear colors that will stand out in the dark, carry a well lit flash light, and always know your surroundings. These are just a few tips to make sure this Halloween is a safe one. For a few more tips visit this website here! Have fun and be safe!

*Written by Ashley Depung, PR Intern

The Children's Museum in Easton's Family Golf Tournament a Swinging Success

This past Columbus Day, October 13, marked the 10^th successful year of The Children’s Museum in Easton’s Play FORE! Kids Family Golf Tournament. Despite the chilly October air, the event drew 100 golfers including grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, kids, friends of the Museum and local golf enthusiasts.

We sat down with several first-time participants to discuss their experience at the tournament. John Mullen, Museum member and father of two, was the winner of the Putting Contest with the only sunk putt. Mullen tells us, with a wink, that he can’t wait to return next year, “If I’m invited!”

Sam and his family showing off their raffle prizes. 

Samuel Schumacher, age 10, one of the winners of the Kids Chipping Contest at 23 inches to the pin, also won two raffle prizes. Jared Clapp, also 10, has been playing golf for about five years. Jared was the winner of the Kids Chipping Contest on the front 9, and says that his favorite part of the tournament is the raffle.

Finally, we talked with Michelle Casey, a new committee member this year, about the successes and even the difficulties that come with planning the tournament. Casey stresses the importance of spreading the word about this family-friendly event to new families: “[It] is such a fun event. We had so many new families this year, and they all loved it.” Casey’s three boys are now ages 7, 8 and 9, but used to visit the Museum all the time. Casey explains that her favorite part of the tournament is the family time—and the firework display that concludes the night.

The winning team, with a score of 7 under par for the 9-hole event was the Rubin Foursome. Second and third place were decided by a one-hole “card-off!” The Riley Foursome finished in second place with five under par, and the Bissonette Foursome took home the third place title.

Lucas Riley giving it his best shot at the Chipping Contest.

Matthew Orphanos is all smiles on the green.

The night produced several individual contest winners. The winners of the longest putt on the front and back 9 went to Frank Meissner and Mark Bissonette, respectively. The winners of the Closest to the Pin Contest were Ryan Riley and Mark Lombardi. The titles of Straightest Drive went to both Mike Stecker and Rich Kerr. And finally, the winners of the Kids Chipping Contest were Jared Clapp and Samuel Schumacher, both age 10.

This annual event raises funds that support not only Museum admissions and programs, but also the Museum’s outreach and service to needy and under-served families in the Metro South region. This year, more than 40 sponsors from the Easton and greater Brockton area business community showed their support by helping with the expenses of running the tournament.  More than 50 area venues, sports teams, resorts, restaurants and service companies donated goods and services for the raffle that preceded the firework show at the conclusion of the night.

The Casey Boys get ready to chip.

The Museum would like to thank Evolution Sports Performance of Easton, Sharon and Kingston, MA for their sponsorship of the fireworks display—one of the most popular moments of the night, as well as the many sponsoring businesses and families. For the full list of our sponsors click here. The Museum would also like to extend its thanks to everyone that came out in support of the Museum and its family-fun event. We hope to see some new faces next year for another swinging day of golf FORE! kids.

*Written by Deanna Haas, PR Intern 

How to Stay Active and Healthy in the Summer Time

Summertime is the best time to start becoming more physically active. With all the extra time your child has its important to make sure they have fun during summer vacation but also that they stay happy, active and healthy.

Here are some ways to stay active and healthy in the summer:

Keep them Hydrated:

It’s obvious that staying hydrated during summer time is important, but it is not always easy to get them to drink as much water as they should. Here are some tips that can help you:

• Fruit Infused Water: By letting delicious fruits soak in water it makes a plain drink more delicious! You can also purchase cool looking fruit infused water bottles made just for kids!
•  Schedule more drink breaks: Get your child in the habit of taking water breaks throughout the day and it will soon become routine. This is especially important if your child is participating in a lot of physical activities throughout the day.
•  Popsicles: Try to get some with low sugar so your kids can stay hydrated with less sugar. You can also make popsicles fun by looking up recipes to make them with your kids!

Engage with nature:

Marla and her Falconry bird Mack from The New England Reptile and Raptor Show

The Children’s Museum in Easton recently had Bigfoot summer drop in day, which focused on nature and ways to have fun in your backyard. The New England Reptile and Raptor show had an interactive performance where children learned about the cool creatures that live right in their backyard. They even got the chance to meet the animals up close!

 The performance also taught visitors about bones and how they differ for each animal. Their new found knowledge about  nature helped children create amazing Bigfoot dioramas that Bigfoot himself would love to call home! Visitors also made a Bigfoot expedition kit which would help them catch Bigfoot and many other creatures that may be nearby. The Bigfoot obstacle course was also a huge hit because it allowed children to literally “walk in Bigfoot’s shoes”!

 

All these activities promoted learning about nature and inspired creativity. The Bigfoot drop in day allowed Children to learn and be active in ways that they enjoyed. Children were able be active while exploring their surroundings and learning.  Many children left the museum happy and eager to continue their search for Bigfoot.

Attending Bigfoot day isn't the only way to have your children engage with nature. Make every day an adventure and start exploring wherever you can, which leads me into our next tip for staying healthy and active in the summer.

Make sure your child gets daily exercise:

It may seem like something obvious, but the summertime is when children become less physically active. On hot days it can be tempting to stay inside and sit around all day, but there are many ways to make sure your child gets daily exercise in the summer. Here’s what you can do:

•  Take walks to the local store to buy Popsicles and cool down.
• Go for a swim to stay active and cool down.
• Go on at least three bike rides a week.
• On rainy days instead of staying in and watching movies turn on some music and get your groove on!
• Visit your local park and play games such as, Frisbee, basketball, or soccer.

Hopefully all these tips help you and your children have a healthy and happy summer and remember you can always stop by the Children’s Museum in Easton to have a healthy and happy summer!

*Written by Love Boussiquot, PR Intern

Visitors have "Snow much Fun" at the Children's Museum in Easton

 Who doesn’t love to cool down in the summer? The Children’s Museum in Easton recently had the Snow Queen as our special guest. Although she didn’t use her Ice Powers her performance provided a nice escape from summer.  

The Snow queen sang three of her most popular songs and also read a story to the audience! Everyone in attendance had a blast dancing and singing along while admiring the beautiful crystal’s on the Snow Queen’s dress. After the performance everyone got the chance to get an autograph, take a picture, and even get a hug from her!

Before and after the performances children enjoyed making crafts in the wild place. Visitors had the chance to make “ice castles” with a special concoction that made the castles glimmer like ice, Olaf masks, and crowns that they were able to decorate themselves. Mix 104.1 also stopped by to give out delicious vanilla ice cream treats that many visitors enjoyed!

Boys and girls enjoyed the show, and many children were dressed for the event. Some put funky hair colors in their hair while others came in costume so they could match with the Snow Queen. The Hair Cuttery also provided their services and transformed everyone into royalty. Some children got cool streaks of color and glitter in their hair, while others got a classic braid. Some parents also got a little makeover too!

Although “Frozen Friday” is over, there are still many ways you can have “Snow much fun” in summer. Check out the museum “Fun for kids” page for Ideas!

Written by Love Boussiquot, PR Intern