Welcome to the Kidzeum blog!
Read family-friendly stories, articles and more from Kidzeum staff and super special guest bloggers!
December 1, 2023 Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre performs at Kidzeum
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company will perform at Kidzeum on December 9, 2023 in celebration of their upcoming 50th anniversary!
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August 25, 2023 Five Strategies to Help Your Child Succeed at School
There are as many parenting strategies as there are parents, and it’s hard to know which ones work best in the seemingly high-stakes game of school. What will really help our kids succeed, and what will not?
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August 2, 2023 This simple practice can transform your relationship with your child
If your toddler is in a pattern of hitting or biting, or your school-aged child is defiant and won’t listen, you might be at a loss for what to do. Luckily, there is a research-backed practice that can significantly improve your child’s behavior, and strengthen your relationship with them. It’s called “Special Time.”
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May 15, 2023 Everything you didn’t know about polar dinosaurs
When you think of dinosaurs, do you think of them lumbering around wet, tropical, swampy areas? If so, it’s because that’s how dinosaur habitats are usually depicted in books and on TV. And it’s true, scientists believe many dinosaurs lived in tropical or temperate climates, because of what they know about the climate during the time period when dinosaurs lived.
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February 26, 2023 Children’s Books about Black History & Culture to Read All Year Long
February is Black History Month, and perhaps you’ve been thinking about what kind of education your child is receiving about Black history in the United States, and wondering if it’s enough. Curriculums at schools vary widely, and often, those curriculums are lacking historical context, are incomplete, or don’t delve into the ways Black history has shaped our current society and culture.
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January 28, 2023 Parenting and anger: how to keep your cool when tempers flare
If you’re a parent, you’ve been there: You’ve asked your child five times to get dressed, and you find them in their room playing when it’s time to leave. Anger wells up inside you. You also had to remind them multiple times to do their homework last night, and you’ve already intervened in several sibling fights today...
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December 16, 2022 New classroom spaces, STEAM lab & expanded programming coming soon to Kidzeum!
Plans are underway at Kidzeum to create a STEAM Center for Education by renovating two vacant storefronts adjacent to the Kidzeum entrance, at 414 and 416 East Adams Street in Springfield.
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October 31, 2022 Total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, November 8: All about eclipses
Get ready! On November 8, 2022, a total eclipse of the moon (lunar eclipse) will be visible from North America (yes, that’s Election Day!).
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October 16, 2022 The eerie, ancient origins of Halloween
Nothing sets the Halloween mood quite like placing a glowing jack-o-lantern on the front porch, dressing up in an elaborate costume, or going trick-or-treating. We’ve come to love these Halloween traditions, but where did they come from?
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October 3, 2022 Five STEAM-inspired DIY Halloween Costumes
It’s a less than month until Halloween, but you won’t need much time to put together these STEAM-inspired DIY Halloween costumes for kids!
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September 16, 2022 Fall craft ideas with gourds, pinecones and acorns
Ready or not, cooler weather is arriving, and harvests of pumpkins, gourds, squashes and apples aren’t far behind...
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September 2, 2022 The STEAM Residency for 2nd graders returns to Kidzeum!
The school year has begun and with it comes the return of the STEAM residency at Kidzeum on September 8th! This exciting program creates a 7 day residency at Kidzeum for 2nd graders in the Springfield School District...
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August 17, 2022 Reduce stress with a solid back-to-school routine
Whether you’re a parent who loves the predictable routine that the school year brings, or you’re dreading the end of long, unstructured summer days, having a solid back-to-school schedule can help ease the transition...
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August 9, 2022 Make the most of summer with a backyard campout!
August. For parents, the word has become synonymous with back-to-school prep, buying supplies and new shoes, getting haircuts, and fitting in the last few items on the summer bucket list...
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July 19, 2022 Parents: Here’s how to support LGBTQ+ kids (whether or not they’re your own)
Pride Month may be over, but LGBTQ+ youth need affirming support and care all year long -- even, and especially, from non-LGBTQ+ families...
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July 14, 2022 Ditch the floaties: here’s how to keep your kids safe around water
Time on the water is one of the sweet highlights of summer: swimming in the pool, floating on tubes or kayaking down the river, going boating with family and friends...
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June 22, 2022 All about turtles!
Do you or your kids love turtles? Or maybe you don’t know much about them and would like to learn more? Either way, you won’t want to miss Kidzeum’s first major traveling exhibit since 2019: Turtle Travels!
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May 26, 2022 Build emotional intelligence in children for better mental health
Since the beginning of the pandemic, children’s mental health has been in crisis. Virtual schooling, social isolation, lack of activities, and losing loved ones or coping with a loved one’s illness have all taken an immense toll on children...
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May 20, 2022 How armed conflict affects children in Ukraine & around the world
As Russia’s war on Ukraine rages into its third month, you may be grappling with several questions: What’s happening to the children of Ukraine? How do I talk to my own kids about this? Is there anything we can do to help?
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April 1, 2022 Seven native wildflowers to look for on your early spring hike
After a winter of dormancy, there’s little more thrilling than witnessing the first tender green shoots push up from the earth. Certainly, one of the gifts of living in the Midwest is the excitement and exhilaration of new life in spring after a long, cold winter...
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March 16, 2022 The Fascinating Women Behind Three STEM Breakthroughs
For Women’s History Month, we’re sharing the stories of three remarkable women whose research and discoveries transformed their fields and paved the way for modern technology that has literally changed the world: effective AIDs therapies, WiFi technology, and diabetes treatments.
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February 25, 2022 Three extraordinary Black scientists (and fun experiments inspired by them!)
If you’ve been following our social media, you know that we’ve been showcasing Black scientists and artists, and their work, all month long. There are so many inspiring people and stories to share that we’re continuing here, on our blog...
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February 17, 2022 The Power of Play in Combating Inequality
Play. It’s the common denominator in the equation that equals healthy, vibrant kids. We know, from an abundance of studies over time, that play isn’t just fun -- it is essential to children’s development...
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January 31, 2022 Five Easy Valentine’s Day STEAM Crafts
It’s a common theme on our blog: when kids are excited and interested, they’re more likely to engage and learn. And holidays are one thing that kids are almost always excited about! On Valentine’s Day, there’s
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January 10, 2022 Five fun and simple ways to keep kids active indoors this winter
According to Harvard Health, kids need at least an hour of physical activity every day for mind and body health -- even when they can’t be outside. These simple activities will help you get kids off their screens, or focused on something...
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December 21, 2021 The Science of Winter Solstice
Many kids are naturally fascinated by the movements of the earth, sun and stars. This is especially true if their parents are, too! We sure are excited about special celestial events, and one of the most important days on Earth’s calendar is happening right now: The winter solstice...
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December 8, 2021 The Science of Snow
Snow is magical. There’s just something about it that gets kids excited -- the sledding, the fort building, the SNOW DAYS! -- not to mention the nostalgia and holiday memories that it conjures for us adults.
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November 23, 2021 STEAM Residency Program at Kidzeum Sets Kids up for Success!
This fall, Kidzeum and the Springfield School District began partnering to create a two-week STEAM residency for all second graders in the district. This exciting program...
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November 9, 2021 Tips to reduce stress and have more fun with your kids this holiday season
It sounds deceptively simple, but the most reliable way to reduce your stress this holiday season is to do less...
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October 26, 2021 Five Easy Ways to Support Your Child’s Science Learning
A report based on a review of 150 studies shows that very young children, even infants, can grasp complex science concepts...
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October 8, 2021 What are animals up to in autumn?
Fall is a beautiful time to enjoy nature in Illinois, and if you watch carefully, you’ll notice that many of our animal friends are as busy as can be!
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September 17, 2021 Four easy outdoor activities to make the most of autumn with your kids
Autumn is almost here, and it’s time to take advantage of the cooler weather and get outside! Kids benefit from time outdoors in all seasons, but fall in particular offers an abundance of ways to engage...
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May 20, 2020 A Little Help from Some Friends
A majority of plants and flowers on Earth rely on a little help from their pollinator friends to get by in regard to cross-pollination. And, while a few plants form a symbiotic relationship with their pollinators, many plants and flowers are left to compete for the attention of potential pollinators. So, what’s the secret?
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May 15, 2020 Honeybee Hives: A Matriarchal Matrix
If you’ve seen the Observation Hive at Kidzeum (or observed a functioning honeybee hive some other way), you were probably impressed by everything those little honeybees accomplish.
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May 13, 2020 Trending in the Hive: Waggle Dance
Imagine you’re a honeybee, just out-and-about, buzzing around under the bright blue sky of a brilliant Spring morning. Your luck gets even better when you bumble into a vivid patch of flowers oozing with nectar and bursting with pollen!
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May 10, 2020 Awesome Animal Moms!
Ahh, another lazy Sunday…absolutely nothing special about today… Kidding! Of course, it’s Mother’s Day! In honor of all the human moms out there, let’s check out a few Awesome Animal Moms!
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May 7, 2020 Looking for Lepidopterans in Illinois!
While we may focus on Monarch butterflies for good reason, it doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate all the other Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths), too! In fact, our community and surrounding areas have the potential to attract interest from a wide range of butterflies and moths.
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May 5, 2020 Monarchs: A Majestic Migration!
There is just something awe-inspiring about the thought of a Monarch butterfly fluttering its way along a 3,000-mile trek south to the mountain forests of Mexico; thinking about the millions of Monarch butterflies making the same journey at the same time is truly mind-blowing...
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May 3, 2020 We See You, Birds!
Birds are a fascinating class of animal! But what are they up to? Besides eating and growing and migrating, of course. What roles do they play in the big, wide world?
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April 30, 2020 To Be, or Not to Be…a Migrating Bird!
Most of us are probably familiar with the basics of bird migration. Birds come when it’s warm and leave when it starts to get cold. Simple! Except, of course, it’s not!
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April 28, 2020 This is Your Life: Birds!
From a bird’s eye view, the scientific class Aves is rather impressive! Of course, we love the roles birds play in pollination, but they are also critical to ecosystems and human interests.
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April 26, 2020 Five (More) Things to Do Outside!
The plan was to have something pretty awesome happening this weekend. And, while that’s obviously not happening (yet!), there is still hope for the future, and we are still excited about the message: Pollinators are important!
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April 23, 2020 Have Some Science for Dinner!
There are some real benefits to preparing meals at home! Of course, it is usually a cheaper option that allows for more control over quality and specific tastes. But, way beyond that, cooking at home provides the opportunity for everyone to participate in an educational activity together...
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April 21, 2020 Little Hands and Kitchen Safety
We’ve suggested all kinds of things to do in the kitchen over the past few weeks! From volcanoes to starting seeds, the kitchen just seems to have the right characteristics for scientific projects and pursuits. But, at some point, someone is going to have to make dinner!
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April 19, 2020 The Pollinators’ Oasis
Throughout the past week, pollination – and, specifically, pollinators – have been a theme. Unfortunately, most of the pollinators we covered have something in common: their existence is threatened...
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April 16, 2020 Nature’s Vast Pollinator Network
If we could ask a plant or flower, it would probably tell us that the most essential pollinator is whomever (or whatever) gets the job done! Today let’s pay homage to a few other creatures playing pivotal roles as pollinators!
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April 14, 2020 Bee-ing Seen in the Nature Scene
An initial wave of green washes over the fields and trees; a comforting sign that springtime is upon us. But as reassuring as all that grass and all those leaves are, they just don’t quite grab our attention like a flower in full, vibrant bloom...
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April 12, 2020 Sow, The Seeds Have Sprouted?
It has been mentioned before but worth saying again: gardening is an awesome activity to take up with early learners…for a variety of reasons!
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April 11, 2020 Want to be a Scientist?
What if there were places online where we could DO real science, and work right alongside real scientists to DO things that could really make a difference? Now, THAT would be cool! I have found two places that do just that...
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April 9, 2020 Starting from Seed: Digging Deeper
So, the idea of gardening from seed seems intriguing, and everyone has put some thought into what they’d like to grow…now what? Is it as simple as you made it seem?! Well…kind of...
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April 7, 2020 Seeds and Spring Just Grow Together
Gardening has been mentioned in this space a few times before…with good reason. The benefits are numerous; the opportunities for learning and engaging in outdoor activity are copious. Really, a minimal investment in basic supplies and a willingness to do it are all you need to get gardening! Well, kind of…because you will also need plants for your garden...
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April 4, 2020 Five Things to Do Outside
It’s not breaking news that, for most kids (and adults), spending time outside is extremely beneficial! But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to accomplish…even under the best circumstances. So, to help, here are five activities to get everyone moving outdoors...
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April 2, 2020 Capturing the Beauty of Insects
Technology has made accessing basic information about plants and animals very easy. But, of course, it wasn’t always so simple. Way back in the 17th century, during the time of today’s subject, study of the natural world was really just beginning in the modern sense...
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March 31, 2020 Can Your Kite Touch the Sky?!
No matter the age, a certain satisfaction comes from catching that perfect gust of wind and feeling the line unravel as your delicate but marvelous creation soars toward the puffy, white clouds. But that moment of triumph actually begins inside with design and construction…and plenty of opportunity for creativity, fun, and learning...
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March 28, 2020 Five Ideas for Science at Home
We’ve got Five Ideas for Science at Home to help get things started. Some ideas are simpler or require less to get going than others, but all provide ample opportunities for fun, creativity, and learning...
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March 26, 2020 More Than A Human Computer
Progress isn’t just the result of work done by a few brilliant individuals – even if history sometimes makes it seem that way! Let’s take a moment to credit and celebrate one of the lesser-known champions of science and technology...
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March 24, 2020 Growing Green Thumbs
Already the first signs of Spring are sprouting. The soft greens and newly budded trees attest to an ideal time for planning and beginning a family garden! Millions of people enjoy gardening as a hobby, but it also has some very practical benefits for kids (and adults)...
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March 21, 2020 Five Times Science Changed Its Mind
Doing science, whether theorizing, researching, experimenting, or analyzing, means seeking to change what we know – or what we think we know! Furthermore, new technologies and methods bring more clarity to evidence we already had and access to new evidence we may not have even known existed...
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March 19, 2020 The Einstein of Structural Engineering
Progress isn’t just the result of work done by a few brilliant individuals – even if history sometimes makes it seem that way! Let’s take a moment to credit and celebrate one of the lesser-known champions of science and technology...
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March 17, 2020 The Best Paper Airplane
Nothing captures the essence of learning through play quite like building (and testing!) paper airplanes! Endless templates and designs, no limits to color or scheme, and potentially hours of folding lead to (hopefully) seconds of delight watching those creations soar across the room...
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February 19, 2020 Creating Healthy Little Smiles
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! Because we at Springfield Pediatric Dentistry want kids to have the brightest, happiest smiles, we thought we’d go over four important aspects of pediatric dental care...
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February 6, 2020 Helping Kids Through Flu Shot Anxiety
Flu season is in full swing, and if you’re putting off your child’s flu shot because you’re concerned about how they’ll react, I have about four rules that I think are very helpful for parents when they’re preparing their child to get a shot...
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January 20, 2020 How Does Solar Energy Really Work?
It’s true that sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. When you think about solar energy abstractly, it certainly fits that bill: light from the sun is collected by flat panels and magically converted to energy that you can use to turn on your lights, or power your refrigerator...
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December 3, 2019 Holiday Baking Makes Memories
As the holidays approach, I reminisce about my childhood and holiday-themed baking with my mom. One of my favorite things to bake with her was, and still is, sugar cookies. Each winter mom would pull out the assorted cookies cutters, in every shape and size gingerbread men, trees, snowmen, candy canes and more...
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October 29, 2019 Halloween Food Allergies
For approximately 5.6 million children with food allergies, Halloween can be a scary time. Many treats contain small amounts of an ingredient that may trigger an allergic reaction. Here are some recommendations for how to prepare for Halloween with children who have food allergies...
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