For this recipe you’ll need:

• Vanilla and chocolate cupcakes
• Chocolate and vanilla frosting
• Vanilla wafer cookies
• Assorted candies for ears and bows
• Food coloring
• A pint sized glass
• A knife
• A spoon
• Spatula
• Scissors
• Gallon and sandwich sized bag

Eep the Mouse cupcake:

Add one teaspoon of blue food coloring to store-bought vanilla frosting and whisk, or add to homemade butter cream frosting.

Make a piping bag. Put one corner of a gallon sized plastic bag down in the bottom of your cup and fold the bag open over the edges. Scoop in your blue frosting until the bag is full. Lift your bag out, squeeze out the air and zip the bag shut.

Squeeze the frosting down to the bottom corner of the bag, and then snip off the end.

Starting from the edge of the cupcake, frost gently in a spiral motion until you reach the cupcake’s center.

To make the face, prepare two piping bags: one with black frosting, and one with white.

Using black frosting, draw little eyebrows, eyes, a nose and a mouth on your vanilla wafer cookie. Use white frosting to add a little sparkle to his eye.

Place your cookie in the center of your cupcake.

To make the ears, cut a chocolate circle in half and place them.

Trace over the chocolate with blue frosting, and finish with two blue candies.

Mother Goose Club’s Teddy Bear cupcake:

Use a chocolate cupcake.

Make a piping bag with chocolate frosting, frost starting at the edge and work your way to the center.

Place the cookie face and chocolate circle ears. Trace over the ears with chocolate frosting.

For Teddy’s special bow, add two blue candy-covered chocolates.

Baa Baa Sheep cupcake:

Use a vanilla cupcake. Add eight drops of red, and two drops of blue to vanilla frosting to get the right color. Make a piping bag.

Make a series of dots with pink frosting around the edge of the cupcake.

Using your spoon, smear each dot towards the center of the cupcake.

Make a second circle of dots, just like the first in the center.

Add the cookie face and two purple chocolate-covered candies for ears.

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Even if babies can’t sit through an entire story, they can interact with books, and every interaction is good. Holding a book and turning its pages are great practice for reading someday. The more familiar babies are with books, the more likely they are to pick them up to read when they’re older.

Talking about the cover or the pictures inside shows kids that pictures are a part of the story. You don’t need to get through all the pages, pictures or even past the cover with really young kids. The important thing is to make book time fun.

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If your child is learning her ABC’s, making the alphabet out of Play-Doh or modeling clay is a fun hands-on activity to help them practice!
For this activity you’ll need:

• Play-Doh
• Tools (for rolling, cutting, etc.)
• A smooth surface

Objects from around the house can make interesting textures or shapes. Get creative!

View on YouTube!

View on YouTube!

View on YouTube!

View on YouTube!

How to Sing “The Wheels on the Bus”

Singing “The Wheels on the Bus” is great for kids because the repetitive words and structure help them memorize, and hand motions help them understand what words mean.

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town.

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town.

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Short form videos are not just for kids! For this Father’s Day, why not think about creating your own TikTok or IG Reel videos? We have compiled a list of helpful tips and tricks to get you started on the road to loads of creative fun for your family.

Express yourself!

• There are some videos that just by the title alone make them hard to resist watching, choose your words wisely and keep it brief
• Showcase an engaging thumbnail that highlights the best moments of your video, such as emotional or funny facial expressions
• Use the first few seconds to grab your audience’s attention, no need for fade ins or slow music

No need to dive into the deep end.

• Start off with shorter, 15 second clips to begin with, and as your get more comfortable with making videos then move up to making longer clips
• Every video doesn’t have to an original masterpiece, many popular clips are different versions of other popular dances, skits or singing shorts
• If you aren’t entirely comfortable being in front of a camera, involve your family from the start! MGC Playhouse is popular because kids love watching other kids playing, singing and dancing.

Don’t neglect the basics.

• Most people will watch TikTok and IG videos on a mobile device, so make sure your video is filmed in a format with that in mind. Make it easy for viewers so they don’t have to zoom in or flip their device to optimize their viewing experience
• Take care that there is adequate lighting, camera stability and that there are no unwanted distractions in the background while filming
• Make yourself familiar with the rules associated with each platform so that you don’t ruffle any feathers of the social media powers that be

I hope these tips will help you have tons of fun this Father’s Day weekend. Just one last tip to add to the list, and probably the most important one at that. Don’t forget to promote your videos by sharing on other social media like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #mothergooseclub.

Most people have spent a lot more time indoors this past year than they would have liked. Now that we are all starting to slowly emerge into the sunlight again, this is the perfect time of year to show our planet all the appreciation it deserves. With that in mind, here are five super easy ways to have fun while making a difference this Earth Day.

1. Family trip

It’s been said that passion starts with education. Instead of just filling up that blue bin this week, load up your recyclables into your vehicle and drive on down to your local recycling center. Seeing the large bins that separate each type of material, physically depositing items into the bins with their own hands, and witnessing the entire community contributing to this effort will leave a lasting impression on your children.

2. Have a contest

Over an entire week or for just one day, have everyone in the family compete to see who can collect the most recyclable items. Old newspapers, plastic packaging, cardboard boxes are all fair game. Just make sure the little ones don’t collect things that are still being used. Also be prepared to reward the winner with an appropriate prize. In our house that would be ice cream.

3. One person’s trash

Many items that are commonly thrown away could be repurposed in creative ways. You can use old paper towel tubes and some paint to make a beautiful pencil holder. Cut the tops of some paper milk cartons and use them to plant some herbs for your kitchen. Gather some large cardboard boxes, some scissors and a paint brush to make an awesome secret fort for your kids. Every little bit of reused trash makes a difference.

4. Paper of plastic? Neither

If you are like our family you have lots of cardboard boxes that either take up space in the garage or get folded into stacks for recycling. The next time you go grocery shopping, take some medium sized boxes cut in half with you. Instead of getting grocery bags, place all of your items into the boxes. Not only will they be easy to carry, but they also won’t spill everywhere while you are driving.

5. Farm fresh

An inordinate amount of trash is produced from the packaging of food. Try visiting a local famer’s market once a week. Even purchasing some vegetables and fruits you would normally buy at a store will reduce a significant amount of waste packaging over time. Oh and a great way to transport all of your farmer’s market loot back home? Those boxes you made in #4.

I hope you and your family will try at least one of the ideas in this list. Let’s all strive to tell the world that we learned something, we had fun, and we made a difference. Happy Earth Day everyone! Don’t forget to share your Earth Day activities with us by posting on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #mothergooseclub.

It’s December 23rd, and you suddenly realize you have not done a single bit of Holiday shopping all year. Instead of panicking, take a deep breath, be thankful we live in an age of technology, and keep reading! There are more options today than there ever were for the last minute shopper. Before getting into some gift ideas, let’s go over some of the best ways you can approach your last minute shopping list.

Option #1: Local bookstore

Although they are harder to find these days, locally-owned bookstores are great places to find quick gifts for children. Not only will you be supporting an independent business but you can often find books you may not find at other large retailers. Pick up a copy of one of your favorite childhood paperbacks, or select one from NPR’s 100 Favorite Books for young readers. Suggested item: This Old Truck $17.95

Option #2: Local toy store

Independent toy stores are ideally suited for the last minute shopper. Their selections are just as good if not better than what you can find at any superstore chain, but also offer some things you won’t find anywhere else. Many offer unique handmade products made by local craftsmen as well as rare toys that are difficult to find elsewhere. The best reasons to visit a local toy store though, are the holiday decorations and music playing inside that remind us of what the season is really all about.

Option #3: Physical gift cards

One of the best choices for gifts this year is a gift card. Local pharmacies offer a wide variety of gift cards that can be used at online retailers, specialty stores and even restaurants. With so many families spending more time at home this year, giving the recipient the choice of what movies to watch or what winter sweater to order may be the perfect gift. Make sure to check store hours as many locations will close early on Christmas Eve.

Option #4: You can’t go wrong with something yummy

Sometimes the best last minute gift is not a traditional one. Does your child have a favorite pastry or cake? Maybe there is a custard pie with their name on it at your local bakery. If you are like me, you know of at least one little one in your family who would easily choose a present that goes into their belly rather than under a tree.

Option #5: Surprise, it’s December 25th!

For those that woke up in a cold sweat at 6am on Christmas Day wondering if a frozen burrito from the local gas station would pass as a last minute gift, you still have options! Last but definitely not least on the list are electronic gifts. In less than 5 minutes, you can hop on a computer and email a gift card or purchase a subscription for your family streaming service or app. We recommend the Hellosaurus: Interactive Shows app on the Apple App Store $17.99 (3 month subscription)

If you have any last minute gift shopping tips, we’d love to hear from you. Post your suggestions on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #mothergooseclub. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

This year, all families have spent more time at home than in previous years. This has forced many parents to become masters in the art of gift hiding. Whether you live in a farmhouse in the countryside or an apartment in the big city, these tips should help you get through the struggles of keeping your little ones guessing before the day you are ready for them to open their gifts. Keep in mind that as with most difficult tasks, preparation is key.

Tip #1: Figure out your size needs
A smaller gift gives you more options, but if you have a larger object, consider if you have any empty boxes that an appliance or tv arrived in as a hiding spot. The attic or ceiling crawl space is also a great place to put larger items, just make sure you don’t leave a ladder right next to the access point.

Tip #2: Postpone the gift wrapping
If you have shiny green and red holiday wrapping on your gift, chances are it will be easier to spot, even if hidden well. Consider not putting any wrapping on until closer to the actual day of opening, or just use some brown kitchen paper and just before giving put a nice ribbon on top.

Tip #3: Study your opponent
The pantry or tv room is probably not the best choice, think of places your child very rarely would have access or interest in. A box in your home office filled with receipts, or a dusty trunk of family photos would be great for hiding. If your child doesn’t share your taste for music, try hiding your object under a stack of old Billy Joel cds.

Tip #4: Think outside the box (house)
What if you have a small house or apartment that doesn’t offer many hiding options. Sometimes outside is the best choice, like the trunk of your car or a tool shed. If you have a trusted neighbor, letting them hold onto the gift would be an almost foolproof way to hide it, but I recommend you attach a card with the recipient’s name on it so that it doesn’t get mixed in with the neighbor’s gifts.

Tip #5: Avoid damage
You definitely want to avoid risky hiding spots such as ovens, freezers, washers and dryers. You are very likely to end up destroying the very gift you had spent so much time keeping safe.

Tip #6: Hide it well, but not too well
The only things worse than damaging your gift would be completely forgetting where you placed it. If you have hidden multiple items, make a list on your phone of where you put everything so that you aren’t suddenly giving out gifts in March to some bewildered children.

Tip #7: There is no shame in defeat
Remember that this is all in good fun, and given enough determination children will likely end up discovering the gifts no matter how well you hid them. Be prepared to accept defeat and still share a good laugh with your family.

We hope that you and your family have a wonderful holiday, and make this a memorable season of giving. We would love to see what creative hiding places you have come up with. Share photos of your most clever spots on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #mothergooseclub.

This year presents some unique challenges, especially for normally festive occasions such as Halloween. While the safest option would be to simply stay home, the area you live in might allow for a higher level of participation than others. Whatever you decide to do, it’s important to have a plan before throngs of goblins and superheroes knock on your door or you yourselves head out into the evenings to fill your bags. I strongly suggest you check with your local, county and state governments for rates of community spread and adjust your exposure risk accordingly.

No matter where you live, you should still consider avoiding large gatherings and events where people from outside your community are likely to be present. This includes festivals, parties, and public haunted houses. It would be best to forgo leaving the house on Halloween and stay home for movies, games, spooky decorations, or baking together. If you decide not to go out but expect costumed visitors to come knocking, leave a table in front of the house with some packaged goodies laid out separately next to a bottle of hand sanitizer. If you are in an apartment building, try handing some string on your door with clothespins to hold pre-packaged candy such as M&Ms or mini candy bars.

If you are planning to trick or treat, a detailed strategy is a must to reduce risk and still scare up a good time for the little ones. It all starts with the costumes you pick this year. Try steering your children to outfits that incorporate masks and gloves. You can also make your own mask at home or visit your local sporting goods store to find coverings in a variety of designs and colors. Fishing gaiters make great face coverings as they completely cover the mouth and nose yet are comfortable enough to be worn under a plastic mask.

Gloves are crucial for trick or treating given the number of treats your children may come into contact with. Carry extra pairs of latex gloves with you, as well as a packet of sanitizing wipes. You might want to take a pair of tongs with you to pick up candy for your kids to avoid them handling any at all. Maintain your distance from other groups, and avoid houses that are handing out candy or have a communal bowl out front.

After you return home with your sugary loot, wash all clothing immediately and wipe down everything else. Throw away any disposable gloves, masks and bags that were used. It is very important that you wait at least 72 hours before touching any of the candy that was collected, and make sure to dispose of any items that are not in a sealed package or damaged. Prepare ahead of time by stocking up on some of your family’s favorite sweets so that they are not tempted to dip into the quarantined goods ahead of time.

Regardless of how you decide to spend your Halloween, remember to wear a mask and gloves, keep your distance, and wash your hands. While this year Halloween may be a bit scarier than in previous years, let’s make it a safe and fun event for everyone.

Did someone in your family dress up as a Mother Goose Club character? If so, please be sure to share it with us by posting and tagging with #mothergooseclub!