The teacher in me loves creating great activities for kids, and holidays are an amazing opportunity to share them with you! With Father's Day approaching, I have put together a number of printables, all available FOR FREE. Last week I published an exclusive Q&A About Dad activity, for my newsletter subscribers, and now I'm bring more exclusives to the Mindfully Scientific Caregivers Group! 

These four coloring pages are great for little kids who aren't able to make their own cards yet. Create beautiful homemade Father's Day Cards by having your child color the pages (make sure to edit your print settings to scale down the size!). Then paste onto coloring sheet onto folded construction paper to create a card. Help them sign the inside, and you are done! 

You can also have your children color the sheets and put them inside of a store bought card. Or, use these in your classroom if you are a teacher! However your kids play, these coloring pages are perfect for them!

BE SURE TO HEAD OVER TO THE GROUP AND JOIN NOW TO GRAB YOURS!

It has been quite some time since I've shared what I have been working on over atWestchester County Mom! If you are local, you definitely need to check out three of my latest pieces, though. Once of the coolest features on on the website are the community spotlights. From the best places to brunch in Westchester County, to community spotlights, you can find recommendations for anything you'd want or need. 

I recently published three local spotlights for communities I love:

Pleasantville,
Armonk,
and Chappaqua.

These central New York communities offer something for everyone; great schools to hiking, amazing food to cultural festivals. Each has a unique vibe, but one thing they all have in common are they are excellent places to raise families. Be sure to click below to read each feature. ​

​Do you live in Westchester County, or a surrounding area? If so, what are some of your favorite places? Comment below to share!

Sensory play continues to be a family favorite, and with summer approaching, it was time to bring the season to the sensory bin! But why stick with a basic kinetic sand sensory bin? I upped the ante by including water beads (for some extra texture contrast).

Water beads can be a choking hazard, so this may not be appropriate for younger toddlers (and make sure to monitor a child of any age, especially if they may put the beads in their mouth or nose). That said, this is a great preschool activity (and can be a good toddler activity for the right child, with supervision).

NEW TO THE RESOURCE LIBRARY!!!!

Grab your copy of this question and answer activity for Father's Day! Guaranteed to get some laughs from Dad, this Q&A for kids is perfect to include in a scrapbook, picture book, card, picture frame, or on its own. Want to see how your child grows? Have them do one every year! "Kids say the darnedest things", am I right?!

You can get yours by subscribing to my mailing list here. There are loads of other great, free printables available on my subscriber's library, too. I'm always adding new content, so once you sign up, check back regularly. Also follow me on social media for updates (my newsletter will be coming out soon with updates as well).

Are you looking for great gift or celebration ideas for Father's Day? I have you covered with this Father's Day post (more ideas are being added regularly). There are also free cards available for immediate download there.

If you do this activity with your child, be sure to tag me on my social media accounts! I'd love to see what creative thoughts they have about their fathers.

Want to elaborate on this activity? Try some of these questions out:

1. What is Dad's favorite song?
2. What is Dad's favorite place to go on vacation?
3. What was the last grade/school Dad graduated from?
4. Where does Dad work?
5. Who is Dad's best friend?
6. What is Dad's hobby?
7. What is Dad's favorite animal?
8. What is Dad's favorite season?
9. What is Dad's favorite month?
10. What type of car does Dad drive?
11. If Dad were a super hero, which one would he be? Why?
12. If Dad were a color, which one would he be? Why?
13. Where is Dad from?
14. What is Dad's favorite sport?
15. If Dad were an animal, which one would he be? Why?

Have other fun questions to ask the Dads in your life? Comment below to share!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Commisions earned help suppport my small business, and my participation in this program comes at no added cost to you. You can learn more here. Nothing contained in this article constitutes medical advice. Always speak with your doctor for information about your family's health.

1 in 13 children and 1 in 10 adults have a food allergy.

Chances are, someone you know, and love, has a food allergy. With how common food allergies are, you wouldn't think there would be a lot of misinformation out there. And yet, myths abound.

Food Allergy Awareness Week runs from May 9th to May 15th, 2021, and May is Asthma and Food Allergy Awareness Month.

​In honor of the occasion, and in line with my mission to continue providing evidence based parenting and caregiving solutions, I've put together a list of 8 common food allergy myths, and the related facts. How many of these myths have you heard?

Myth: Food allergies and intolerances are the same.

Fact: Food allergies and intolerances are not the same thing. Thet are two separate medical conditions, affecting two separate systems. Food allergies are the result of an immunological response. In contrast, intolerances are a gasterointestinal disorder.

Food intolerances are also not typically threatening. In contrast, food allergies can be.

Myth: If you have a mild allergy, you can eat small amounts of your allergen.

Fact:

1. There is no such thing as a mild food allergy, only mild reactions.

2. If you have a food allergy, you should avoid ingesting any amount of your allergen.

Never, ever feed someone with food allergies any amount of their allergen, for any reason. Food allergy support groups are filled with anecdotes of family, friends, and educators giving people their allergen because "a little bit can't hurt". "A little bit" of someone's allergen can be enough to kill them. If you do not understand someone's allergen, ASK. Do not, for any reason, make assumptions or executive decisions about what a food allergy patient can or should eat. Ever.

Myth: Not all food allergies are life threatening. Peanut allergies are the most severe.

Fact: Any food allergy has the potential to be life threatening.

Myth: If you have always had mild reactions to your allergen, you are not at risk for anaphylaxis.

Fact: Past reactions ​generally do not predict future reactions. Any food allergy patient can be at risk for anaphylaxis!

Myth: There are only 8 food allergens: peanuts, treenuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, fish, and shellfish.

Fact: There are more than 160 identified food allergens!!!! With the passage of the FASTER Act in 2021, there are now 9 top allergens (#9 is sesame). The FASTER Act goes into effect 1/1/23. 

Myth: You can tell if a product is safe for a food allergy patient to consume by reading the label.

Fact: Labels can tell you if a product is NOT safe, but not if it is safe. Companies only have to disclose if their product contains the Top 8 allergens, and do not have to disclose risk of cross contact.

Myth: You should only epi if your throat closes, or you can't breath

​Fact: Signs of anaphylaxis vary. Speak to your doctor, or see FARE's action plan to learn more. You'll notice that symptoms are not just confined to the respiratory system. Allergic reactions can affect the skin, nervous system, cardiorespiratory system, eyes, and even the gasterointestinal tract. My reactions to peanuts have varied from hives to an itchy throat and swelling of my lips and mouth. I have also experienced severe headaches. I have family members who have had severe GI symptoms, but no skin or respiratory symptoms. Other family members have profuse hives, GI symptoms, and wheezing. Knowing all the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and acting early by administering epinephrine, can save a life.

Your individualized action plan will be the best source of information of when to administer epinephrine, so be sure to obtain one from your allergist if you do not have one (and follow it closely).

​EPI FIRST, EPI FAST!!!

​*When prescribed by a doctor, administered under the guidance of a medical professional, and/or used as directed. Always speak with a medical professional to see if epi is right for you. Also note, in some places, epinephrine is a component of first aid kits. In these regions, epinephrine has been deemed safe enough to administer when anaphylaxis is suspected. Do not rely on this article to dictate if epi is the correct medication for you, or your family. 

Want to learn even more about food allergies? Be sure to visit Food Allergy Research and Education! Also, check out my list of 5 things I've learned as a food allergy parent, and visit my food allergy portal for even more food allergy family resources and blog posts!

Food Allergy Research and Education also has a section on food allergy myths and misconceptions. You can find that here. 

Find the perfect gift for dad, or way to celebrate the fathers in your life! I'll be adding to this post periodically with new lists, resources, and printables, so check back regularly!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Commissions earned help support my small business, and my participation in this program comes at no added cost to you. You can learn more here.

Great Father's Day Gifts

• DIY Father's Day Canvas Art Gifts
• The Best Gifts for Him (this list has plenty of great Father's Day options)
• Footprint Flower Art

Free Printables - Great for Gifts, DIY Cards, and More!

FATHER'S DAY "ABOUT MY DAD PRINTABLE"

Sign up for my email list to get access to this printable, and loads more great free content in my subscriber's library!

Free Father's Day Cards - Printables for Instant Download

You can also download one of two Father's Day cards instantly below! No strings attached!

FREE FATHER'S DAY COLORING PAGES!!!

Grab your free Father's Day coloring pages over on the Facebook group! While I share many exclusives with my email subscribers, I also offer Facebook group only exclusives such as these:

Make Memories: The Best Father's Day Activities 

• For the gardening fanatic: Buy fruit trees or native saplings to symbolize growing as a family. Plant them together. Make the activity more special by giving dad a plaque he can put by the trees with the year they were planted in his honor. This is an annual tradition in my family for both mother's and father's day.
• For the fisherman: Get dad some fishing gear, and let him take the day to go fishing alone. Does he love sharing this activity with the family? Have him take the kids, take pictures, and either frame them or make a picture book for him.
• Poems and Stories for Dad: Have each child write a poem or story for their dad! Put in a composition notebook or create a picture book for an extra special keepsake.  
• For the outdoorsman: Take a camping or hiking trip as a family, or let him take one with his friends to get away for a bit. 
• For the gaming fan: Set up a gaming day! Get some great snacks for him, and let dad play his games, uninterrupted. 
• For the bookworm: Let Dad read uninterrupted, in his favorite spot. Take the kids out for awhile to give him plenty of peace and quiet. 

With food allergy awareness week around the corner, I am back with a new printable available for immediate download. This free food allergy advocacy resource has 100% no strings attached! Why? 

Because raising awareness about food allergies is life saving work, and to make a difference we need to include our children in the discussion. 

Food allergy bullying is a common problem, and one way to combat it is with early education. Food allergies are a life threatening disability. There is nothing funny about that. 

You can find more tips for addressing bullying over food allergies here.

Stay tuned, because even more printables are coming soon!!! And be sure to participate in Food Allergy Awareness Week from May 9th - May 15th. Food Allergy Research and Education has a ton of activities planned; you can find the entire schedule here.

And, of course, the real reason you came to this post.... the printable! You can download it via the image, or click on the file below.