School is out and we’re practicing social distancing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun!
Stateline Kids will be bringing you daily videos from local businesses and organizations who want to add some positivity to our current situation. These videos will be educational, informational, and entertaining! Things like lessons from a princess, kid-friendly snacks you can make with your little helper, art instruction, STEM experiments, and learning about nature! You might also see me and my Stateline Kids showing you something fun you can do at home.
Starting Monday, March 16, we invite you to sit down at 10 am every weekday with your kiddos and watch our video of the day to learn something new!
Videos will first appear on our Facebook page and then be posted here.
We’re so excited to present our first Virtual Playdate with Once Upon a Dream Performances and the “Royal Tea Room”!
In the first video, two special sisters are here to teach us a lesson on how to properly wash our hands!
If you enjoyed this video, check out Storybook School! Once Upon a Dream is offering two weeks of educational, fun and magical videos. There will be four new lessons every day from a different princess or superhero for the next two weeks! Go here to sign up: https://www.onceuponadreamperformances.com/storybook-school
In our second video, our friends at Severson Dells Nature Center will show you how you can find more than 100 Things to Do outside!
If you enjoyed this video, check out 815Outside’s list of 100 Things to Do Outside Before You Grow Up and pay a visit to Severson Dells soon!
In this fun video, we wanted a turn to show you something cool you can do in your own neighborhood! We put together a neighborhood scavenger hunt full of things you can find around the block! Join my daughter and me as we enjoy the beautiful day and look for items on the list.
If you want to try this in your neighborhood, get your copy of the Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt here:
This video is perfect for a rainy day! Our friend Jake from Rockford Buzz shows you how to make an awesome fort in your living room using blankets and pillows. He shares some tips and tricks for fort building including using an office supply in a unique way!
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to check out Rockford Buzz! They are beacons of positivity in our community. Their videos and posts showcase local organizations, events, and businesses that need our support now more than ever. Go give them a like if you haven’t yet! ❤️
In this video, Michelle Rossi from the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois will show us how to make straw rockets!
To build a straw rocket, you will need:
- Scissors
- Tape
- Standard pencil
- Straw
- Ruler
- Pencil or pen for recording data
- Page 5 and 6 of this PDF
If you don’t have a printer, you can cut your own rocket shape. The body is 3 cm by 26.6 cm. There are four folds and the lines are 2.2 cm apart.
Michelle Rossi is a Cadette and Senior Leader and Service Unit Manager in Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois. She is also a bilingual middle school special education teacher in U-46 who loves wearing her flight suit from Space Camp for Educators whenever she can. She encourages everyone to explore their engineering side and learn to solve problems and design better solutions. If you want to learn more about Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, go to https://www.girlscoutsni.org.
Have a few balloons lying around your house? You can do some pretty awesome science experiments with them! In today’s video Stem for Kids Stateline shows us how to use a balloon to do a variety of science experiments.
STEM for Kids Stateline is a local family business that provides fun and engaging STEM programs to children all over the stateline in after-school programs, summer camps, scouting events, birthday parties and more. Find amazing opportunities for children to discover a love for STEM through robotics, computer programming, virtual reality, video game making, engineering, and more! STEM Summer camps are open for registration. Information about their programs, registration, and early bird discount codes can be found at www.stemforkidsstateline.net.
In this video, Sandy reads her book Open the Door which encourages girls and boys to dare to dream! Throughout this story, girls are empowered to pursue their biggest dreams and career goals including those that have been traditionally male-dominated like Mayor, Fire Chief, and Astronaut.
Sandy Stansell is a retired Rockford Stateline 911 project manager and author. She wrote Open the Door to empower and encourage girls to become interested in public safety careers. If you’d like to get a copy for your kids, you can buy it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the Open the Door Facebook page.
In this video, Mindy from Follysome Prints and her daughter Grace will show you how to do some printmaking and how to use corks and fingerpaint to create something beautiful!
Mindy is an artist and music teacher who has led printmaking workshops across the country. She is a member of the People of Print and the Speedball Network of Professional Artists.
Follysome Prints is the creative studio of Mindy Schumacher. Every follysome creation springs from a fascination with thoughtful, eclectic and nostalgic design. Ranging from handmade clothing, accessories and decor, to original art prints, everything is proudly crafted by hand in Rockford, Illinois.
Get inks for this project here.
In this video, you will learn how to make your own pizza with the Franchesco’s family!
For over 30 years, they have channeled their passion for food around bringing families to the table together. While they are disappointed that they aren’t able to open their doors to dine-in guests during this time, they are still committed to bringing families together through delicious meals. They are open for business with FREE delivery and drive-thru pick-up.
Current specials include:
? $14.95 family pasta special – ½ gallon of pasta, special salad and 2L soda
? $9 cheese pizza
? $8 Baked mostaccioli and Lasagna
? $9.95 pizza kits for families and kids to make together at home!
Check out their carryout menu here and call 815-229-0800 to order.
In this video Ali from The Macro Kitchen and her son Bennett will be showing us how to make delicious peanut butter energy bites that you can make in your own kitchen!
To make the peanut energy bites you will need:
✔️ 1 c. of oats
✔️ ½ c. of peanut butter
✔️ ⅓ c. of honey
✔️ ¼ c. of chocolate chips
✔️ ¼ c. of coconut flakes
✔️ ¼ c. of raisins
The Macro Kitchen is a local meal prep service company that focuses on healthy, great-tasting, fully prepared meals!
Their menu changes weekly, and orders can be placed on their website. They offer free delivery directly to you each Monday. Follow them out on Instagram and Facebook!
Check out their menu and order here.
In this video, Colin from Crosstown Exotics teaches us all about monkey tailed skinks! They are the largest species of skink in the world and they are herbivores! Watch this fun video to learn a lot more about them.
Crosstown Exotics is a reptile and bug show that travels throughout Chicagoland providing hands-on education entertainment. Their lineup of prehistoric creatures consists of a mixture of reptiles, amphibians, and bugs from African Giant Bullfrogs and Hissing Cockroaches to Green Anacondas and American Alligators. Audiences get to interact with the animals for an experience unlike anything you’d receive at your local zoo. They take pride in providing memorable encounters with our extensive collection of cold blooded ambassadors.
If you enjoyed this video, Crosstown Exotics has a livestream this Sunday at 1 pm on their Facebook page.
If you’d like to make a donation to support the care and husbandry of the animals, click here to do so.
In this video, Kuenzi Dearth from the Rockford Park District’s Therapeutic Recreation Department shows us a fun at home art activity you can do with your kids. Grab some Q-Tips and paint and start creating! Click the Virtual Playdate link in our bio to watch the full video!
The Rockford Park District is tapping into many of its recreation experts to provide ideas like this to help keep you stay active and entertained at home. For more ideas, check out their resource page.
In this video, Sydney Stensland from Ida Public Library reads The Rain Came Down by David Shannon and makes rainbow stew! If you’re missing storytime at your library, this video should put a smile on your face!
Ida Public Library in Belvidere hosts a wide variety of weekly storytimes and programs for children ages birth through high school. All of their programs are open to the public with or without a library card! Even though the library is currently closed, you can watch daily virtual storytimes with your family on their Facebook page. They hope that these storytimes can provide your family with some normalcy and, of course, fun! They hope that you stay safe, snuggle in, and enjoy a good book together every day!
In this video, we’re trying the popular handwashing experiment that’s going around Facebook! This experiment shows the importance of washing your hands and how soap repels germs!
If you’d like to do this experiment too, you need:
? A white plate or bowl
? Pepper
? Dish soap
? Water
Add some water to the plate or bowl, sprinkle pepper on top of the water, then dip your finger in soap to make the pepper move!
In this video, Stephanie will show us what it would be like to be invited to dinner with Rockford’s mayor, Robert Tinker, in 1875! Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens was built in 1865 by Robert Tinker and became a museum in 1943. It is surrounded by gardens and filled with artifacts from the Tinker family. The house is rumored to be haunted and has appeared on Ghost Hunters.
If you enjoyed this tour, follow Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens on Facebook for more! During the year, Tinker is open for tours Tuesday-Sunday at 1 pm and 3 pm and for haunted tours a few times per year in the evening. Be sure to pay this beautiful part of Rockford history a visit when they reopen!
In this video, you’ll meet Octavia and Emmett, the North American River Otters that live at Summerfield Zoo in Belvidere! These adorable creatures love to eat fish, swim, and slide in the snow when it’s cold.
If you enjoyed this video, follow Summerfield Zoo to see more pictures and videos of their cute animals as well as announcements about upcoming events when the zoo opens. If you’d like to help support the care of the river otters and other animals that live at Summerfield Zoo during this difficult time, please consider making a donation here.
In this video, Marissa from Alt Yoga with Marissa and her daughter will walk you through a yoga routine you can do with your kiddos!
In addition to being a yoga instructor, Marissa is a mental health therapist (LCPC). She likes to combine the two and incorporate therapeutic techniques into her yoga practice.
If you enjoyed her video, you can check out her YouTube channel and Facebook page for videos on how to cope with stress and anxiety during this difficult time. Marissa also hosts alt yoga for adults and is having a free beginner’s class this Saturday at 8 pm on Facebook!
In this video, Jess from the Rockford Park District will show you how you create a backyard obstacle course! Play is an essential part of everyone’s day and is needed now more than ever!
If you’re looking for more ideas on how to add play to your days, check out RPD Recess! New videos are posted every weekday at 1 pm on the Rockford Park District’s social media channels. Find more fun ideas here.
In this video, Scott from Skelly’s Farm Market in Janesville shows us how they grow tomatoes on the farm!
Skelly’s Farm Market has been offering farm fresh produce and family fun since 1989. They are open June through October with strawberries, summer produce, sunflowers and fall activities. Save the date for their opening day on May 30, 2020! Be sure to stop by in June to pick strawberries, get some of their delicious strawberry donuts, and play on their awesome play structures!
In this video, Laura from Smarty Pants Rockford Art Studio shows us how to make a face out of paper! Click the Virtual Playdate link in our bio to watch the full video.
For this project you will need:
✂️ Paper
✂️ Gluestick
✂️ Glue
✂️ Scissors
✂️ A marker (Sharpie or regular marker)
✂️ Piece of cardboard (optional)
SmARTy Pants Rockford is located in beautiful downtown Rockford. They offer art classes for kids every Saturday morning, summer camps, and classes for adults including wine and painting nights. Check out their Facebook page for upcoming events and announcements!
In this video, Emily from the Gymnastic Academy of Rockford shows us how to do some conditioning exercises at home!
Gymnastic Academy of Rockford has been serving the Rockford region since 1977! They offer lessons in gymnastics, tumbling, dance, cheerleading, trampoline, ninja warrior and more. They also host super fun birthday parties and monthly parents nights out. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for information on when they will re-open.
In this video, Captain Discovery Center is on the hunt for a delicious snack fit for a science superhero. If you enjoyed this video, the Discovery Center has a YouTube channel with more fun videos of Captain Discovery Center and other friends from the museum!
Discovery Center Museum is an award-winning children’s museum with more than 300 exciting interactive exhibits and a giant outdoor play area located in downtown Rockford. Check out the Playful Learning section on their website for science experiments, recipes, and information on when the museum will re-open!
In this video, Tina from the Nature Center at Boone County Conservation District introduces us to some of the critters that live at the Nature Center! Check out the cool snakeskin that Miss Hiss recently shed!
If you loved seeing these critters, you can help support the Nature Center by adopting a critter! Critters adoptions start at $20 for the whole year and help provide funds for care, feeding, and housing the animal ambassadors. You also gain a special friend at the nature center! Find out more about adopting a critter here.
The Boone County Conservation District’s goal is to preserve and manage natural areas and open spaces for ecological, educational and recreational benefits of present and future generations. They offer events throughout the year, birthday parties, and summer camp. Some sites are still open for the public to enjoy, check Boone County Conservation District’s website to see a list of places and updates on when all sites will all re-open.
In this video, Marina from the Department of Theatre and Dance at Beloit College will teach you how to warm up your voice before you perform! Try these exercises and then put on a show for your family!
Beloit College was chartered in 1846 and offers more than 50+ majors. Throughout the year, The Department of Theatre and Dance puts on multiple performances that are open to the public. Check out their website for more information on upcoming shows in 2020.
In today’s video, Stateline Kids will show you how to do a magic trick with a dry erase marker, plate, and water! You can draw a jellyfish and make it swim!
If you enjoyed this video, remember to check out the 24 other fun videos in our Virtual Playdate series!
In this video, Tina from the Nature Center at Boone County Conservation District teaches us about turtles!
If you loved seeing these critters, you can help support the Nature Center by adopting a critter! Critters adoptions start at $20 for the whole year and help provide funds for care, feeding, and housing the animal ambassadors. You also gain a special friend at the nature center! Find out more about adopting a critter here.
The Boone County Conservation District’s goal is to preserve and manage natural areas and open spaces for ecological, educational and recreational benefits of present and future generations. They offer events throughout the year, birthday parties, and summer camp. Some sites are still open for the public to enjoy, check Boone County Conservation District’s website to see a list of places and updates on when all sites will all re-open.
Do you have a carton of eggs? Then you can do some pretty awesome science experiments with them! In today’s video STEM for Kids Stateline shows us some eggciting eggsperiments you can do at home!
STEM for Kids Stateline is a local family business that provides fun and engaging STEM programs to children all over the stateline in after-school programs, summer camps, scouting events, birthday parties and more. Find amazing opportunities for children to discover a love for STEM through robotics, computer programming, virtual reality, video game making, engineering, and more! STEM Summer camps are open for registration. Information about their programs, registration, and early bird discount codes can be found on their website.
In this video, Andrea from Severson Dells tells us all about the City Nature Challenge 2020. This challenge is an international competition between cities to document wildlife. Anyone in Winnebago, Boone, DeKalb, Ogle, and Stephenson counties can participate in the Rock River Valley City Nature Challenge!
Here’s what you need to do to participate:
1. Make an iNaturalist account on their website or the free app available for all phone types.
2. Get outside and start documenting wildlife observations on the app between April 24-27 2020!
Severson Dells Nature Center is also hosting an exciting virtual scavenger hunt for City Nature Challenge 2020! All observations made and posted between April 24-27 that meet scavenger hunt criteria will count toward a raffle prize. Prizes include Severson Dells stickers, water bottles, t-shirts, and more! Get the Scavenger Hunt PDF here and start hunting.
In this video, four friends from the Department of Theatre and Dance at Beloit College will teach you about improv and how to do it! Try these exercises and then put on a show for your family!
Beloit College was chartered in 1846 and offers more than 50+ majors. Throughout the year, The Department of Theatre and Dance puts on multiple performances that are open to the public. Check out their website for more information on upcoming shows in 2020.
In this video, Benny from Lucha Cantina shows us how to make delicious guacamole! Kids can make this with a little help from their parents. Remember to use safe knife handling practices!
Lucha Cantina is open Tuesday – Saturday from 4 – 8 pm. They offer delicious food, fun drink kits to make at home, and an organized curbside pick-up program. Check out their menu, which includes kids meals, then order here.
In this video, Aaron from Welty Environmental Center shows us how to conduct an experiment about surface tension using water, a pipette, and a penny! If you don’t have a pipette at home, a medicine dropper will work too!
Welty Environmental Center is located in the beautiful Big Hill Park in Beloit. Throughout the year, they offer public programs and events for kids and adults. While they are closed, you can check out their Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for videos and ideas for activities to do at home. Find more videos here.
In today’s video, Kimberly from Hoo Haven Events tells us all about the amazing opossum! They are North American’s only marsupial.
Hoo Haven is dedicated to rehabilitating and releasing, sick, injured and orphaned North American Wildlife and to educating individuals to the importance of conservation. Check out their Facebook page for more information about their work and fun animal videos! Consider making a donation to support their cause.
In today’s video, Jodi and Ambyr from Sugar Britches show us how to make gourmet truffles at home! You can follow along with this video to make them with things from the grocery store or you can get a kit from Sugar Britches with everything you need for $25!
Sugar Britches is an old-fashioned candy store in beautiful downtown Rockton. They sell bulk candy, saltwater taffy, chocolates, toffee, marshmallows, turtles, fudge and more. They are offering curbside pick-up Monday – Saturday from 12 – 2 pm and delivery Monday – Saturday from 5 – 8 pm. If you’d like to buy the truffle kit (which makes 20-30 truffles) or any other delicious sweets, go here.
In this video, Elsa the Snow Princess tells us a fun story about Olaf and his little brothers!
Queen Princess Events offers live daily storytimes and crafts with Elsa and friends every day of the week! You can watch the Lives on her Facebook page Monday through Friday at 2 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 4 pm. The storytimes include superhero days, princess days, and other themes like Harry Potter! She also offers private video chats and birthday calls! Check out her Facebook page for more information!
Join my Stateline kids as we show you how to make a volcano with items from your kitchen. This is a fun experiment you can do in your yard that’s easy to clean-up.
Here’s what you need to make this volcano:
? Water (1 c.)
? Baking soda (4 Tbs)
? Vinegar (1 c.)
? Food coloring (or washable paint) to color the foam (Few drops)
? A clear glass or cup
? Dish soap (1 tsp.)
Check out the rest of our virtual playdate videos for more fun ideas for things to do at home.
May the Fourth be with you! In today’s video, The Brickhead Family will show you how to build Anakin’s Jedi Starfighter LEGO kit! Keep watching for a Star Wars skit too.The Brickhead Family is a local family from Rockford, IL who shares their adventures and love for LEGO on YouTube! Subscribe to their channel for challenges, skits, family vlogs and more.
In this video, Mayor Tom McNamara is reading the story The Mixed-Up Alphabet by Steve Metzger. In the story, the letter Z is tired of being last in the alphabet and wants the letters to change their order. Listen to what happens when they do!
Thank you for reading to us, Mayor McNamara!
In today’s video, Laurie from the Rockford Park District shows us a fun game you can play using only a rock, a couple of toys, and your sidewalk or driveway. If you’d like to see more videos with ideas on staying active, check out the other Rockford Park District Recess videos here.
In today’s video, my Stateline kids will show you how to make milk fireworks! This is a cool color-changing experiment that shows how soap reacts with the fats and proteins in whole milk.
For this experiment you need:
? Food coloring
? Whole milk
? A plate
? Dish soap
If you try it at home, send us pictures of your milk fireworks to hello@statelinekids.com.
In this video, Vicki from Alpaca Pines takes us on a tour of the farm! Meet some of the animals that live there and learn about how fiber is made from alpaca wool.
Alpaca Pines in Poplar Grove hosts events and classes throughout the year and loves to have visitors. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to see when you can stop by and learn more about what they do here.
One thought on “Learn Something New at Our Virtual Playdates”