Towne Square Academy - Riverdale

Beat the heat with ice cream in a bag!

Nothing beats homemade ice cream on a hot summers day. With this quick and easy recipe, you don’t even need an ice cream maker – just a bag and a few simple ingredients.

Here’s what you need:
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk or half & half
6 Tbsp rock salt
1 pint-size plastic food zipped storage bag
1 gallon-size plastic food zipped storage bag
Ice cubes

Directions:
Fill the gallon-sized bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
Put the milk, vanilla, and sugar into the pint-size bag, and seal it.
Put the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again.
Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
Wipe off the top of the small bag, then carefully open it.
Enjoy!

Serving size: one scoop of ice cream.

Back to School with Peace of Mind!

Enroll Your Child in Our Safe and Fun Childcare Center!

Making strawberry watermelon popsicles is a delicious and refreshing summer treat! Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:

Ingredients:
- 1 cup diced strawberries
- 1 cup diced watermelon
- 1 tablespoon honey or sugar (optional, adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup water
- Popsicle molds
- Popsicle sticks

Directions:

1. Prepare the fruit: Wash and dice the strawberries and watermelon into small pieces.
2. Blend the fruits: In a blender or food processor, combine the diced strawberries, watermelon, and water. If you prefer sweeter popsicles, you can add honey or sugar at this stage.
3. Blend until smooth: Blend the mixture until smooth. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more honey or sugar if needed, tasting as you go.
4. Fill the molds: Pour the blended fruit mixture into popsicle molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion. Insert popsicle sticks into each mold.
5. Freeze: Place the popsicle molds in the freezer and let them freeze completely, which usually takes about 4-6 hours, depending on your freezer temperature.
6. Serve: Once frozen, remove the popsicles from the molds by running them under warm water for a few seconds. Enjoy your homemade strawberry watermelon popsicles!

Making popsicles at home is a fun way to enjoy fresh fruits, and this combination of strawberry and watermelon is sure to be a hit!

Today we celebrate Juneteenth: a day of reflection, remembrance, and resilience. Let's honor the emancipation of enslaved Americans and continue the fight for equality and justice for all.

The color red: there are many different ways that the color red is integrated into Juneteenth celebrations. Red is significant because it symbolizes power, sacrifice, and transformation. So when you see the red punch, watermelon, red velvet cake, and of course BBQ, you know it all has significance.

In addition to celebrations, Juneteenth is also a day of service. Below are ways to get involved:
- Volunteer at and/or donate to places that serve the Black community
- Support black businesses over larger corporations looking to monetize the holiday
- Keep the enthusiasm for blackness and Black culture all year round. Stay involved and advocate throughout the year.

Juneteenth Tidbit Tuesday Activities!

Supplies for DIY Beaded Bracelet
- Beads & alphabet beads (red, black & green)
- Scissors
- Stretchy cord
- Pipe cleaners (optional)

Directions
1. First, sort out the red, black, and green beads. Make sure your children are supervised because the beads are a choking hazard.

2. Next, create a pattern with the beads for your bracelet. You can also add the alphabet beads to create words like “Juneteenth” or “Freedom” in between the colorful beads.

3. Cut a 10″ piece of stretchy cord for each bracelet. You can also use pipe cleaners.

4. Thread the alphabet and colored beads onto each cord until it reaches the length needed for your bracelet.

5. Finally, tie the ends together in two double knots & trim the ends close to the knot!

Supplies for Craft Stick Flag
- Craft Sticks (6 per flag)
- Jumbo Craft Stick (1 per flag)
- Paint (red, green, black)
- Glue or Hot Glue with Glue Sticks
- Foam Brush

Directions
1. Start by gathering all your supplies for this craft stick flag for kids.

2. Next, grab a plastic tray or recycled newspaper so the kids will not make a mess on your table.

3. Then have them paint two craft sticks red, green and black. Allow the paint to dry.

4. Finally, glue the painted craft sticks to the jumbo craft stick. Make sure to start with the craft sticks followed by the black and green.

5. This craft stick flag is now ready for a Juneteenth celebration at home or a local event.

In honor of Father's Day this weekend, today is your time to shine, Dad! Let's hear your best Dad Joke in the comments below!

Water Safety Tips for Kids!

1. Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted. Young children can drown in as little as one inch of water, so it’s important to keep them within an arm’s reach of an adult.
2. Empty tubs, buckets, containers and kids’ pools immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children’s reach.
3. Close lids and doors. Keep toilet lids and doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed when not in use.
4. Install fences around home pools. A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.
5. Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills. It is important to know how to respond in an emergency without putting yourself at risk.

Check out this fun summer treat! Sour Patch Grapes. This delicious and easy-to-make treat is perfect for children!

This activity also incorporates fine-motor skills like inserting the toothpicks and twisting the grapes in the coating. Plus, as the name suggests, these grapes have a sour-sweet taste that's sure to set everyone's taste buds tingling! So, go find everyone's chef hat and take your child on a flavor-packed journey that's fun, easy, and educational! With Sour Patch Grapes, the sky's the limit!

Here's what you'll need:
* Wooden toothpicks
* Small bowls
* Green grapes
* Variety of different powdered gelatin flavors

Directions:
1. Don't forget to wash your grapes!
2. Add powdered gelatin to separate bowls.
3. Stick a toothpick into the top of a grape. Dunk the grape into a bowl of water and then into the gelatin powder and then roll it around until the grape is fully coated
4. Continue to dunk and roll each grape, alternating between flavors.
5. Refrigerate or freeze the grapes for a yummy, cold summer treat!

We hope everyone has a safe & fun Memorial Day weekend! 🇺🇸 We will be closed Monday 5/27. 🦅

Memorial Day cookouts are a great opportunity for kids to have fun and learn about cooking and food. Here are some tips to make sure they have a blast:

1. Get involved: Encourage kids to participate in the cooking process. They can help with simple tasks like mixing ingredients, forming patties, or setting the table. It's a great way to teach them about food preparation and responsibility.

2. Safety first: Make sure kids understand basic kitchen safety rules, such as washing hands before handling food, using oven mitts, and staying away from hot grills. Supervise them closely, especially around sharp objects and open flames.

3. Keep it simple: Choose recipes that are easy and fun for kids to make, like grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit skewers, or DIY burgers. Avoid complex dishes that might frustrate them or require too much supervision.

4. Stay hydrated: Keep plenty of water and other non-alcoholic beverages on hand to keep kids hydrated, especially on hot days. You can also make fun mocktails or fruit-infused water to add a special touch.

5. Create a kid-friendly zone: Set up a designated area with activities like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, or lawn games to keep kids entertained while the adults cook. This will give them something to do and prevent them from getting bored.

6. Encourage creativity: Let kids customize their own dishes with different toppings, sauces, and garnishes. This allows them to express their creativity and develop their own unique flavors.

7. Have fun!: Above all, remember that cookouts are about enjoying good food and good company. Encourage kids to have fun, experiment with new flavors, and embrace the joy of cooking.

This weekend we celebrate the remarkable women who make our world brighter with their love, guidance, and endless sacrifices. Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible moms out there! 💐

Here's to the guiding lights who illuminate minds and shape futures. Happy Teachers Appreciation Week!

Happy Friday!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend & Happy Cinco de Mayo!!