GET YOUR KIDS OUT THE DOOR
Simple Ways to Unplug and Play Outside
Some of the best childhood memories start with someone saying, “Let’s go outside for a minute,” and then nobody comes back in for hours. You don’t even need a perfect backyard to make that happen. A bit of grass, a driveway, or the corner of the park is usually enough for a fun game. Tag is still one of the easiest ways to get kids running. You can stick with regular tag or switch it up. In freeze tag, one touch turns you into a statue until a teammate rescues you. In shadow tag, you chase the shadow instead of the person, which kids find hilarious on a sunny day. Blob tag is pure chaos. Every tagged player links hands with the “it” kid, and the blob keeps growing. If your family likes a little friendly competition, find old pillowcases and hold a sack race. Parents versus kids makes it even better, especially when adults wipe out first. Some kids are happiest when they can climb, crawl, and zigzag around the yard. You can give them a simple obstacle course
using chairs, a broom laid on the ground, a few cushions, and a strip of tape or chalk. Then, let the kids decide how to run it. One round, they might crawl under the chairs. The next round, they hop over the broom and tiptoe along the line. On hotter days, water makes everything more fun. Fill water balloons, and pair everyone up for a balloon toss. The last team with a filled balloon is the winner, but when the sun is beating down, it’s the kind of game you don’t mind losing. Bubbles are also a great way to get water into the mix. Make a simple soap-and-water solution and build wands out of straws and string. Then, see who can make the biggest bubbles in the yard. When everyone’s ready for a slower pace, you can switch to a scavenger hunt or sit down in the driveway and make art or games with chalk. The point of all these activities is to have a little fun and get some fresh air while spending time together outside.
CHICKEN MISO SPINACH SOUP YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS HOW OLD IS THE OLDEST CAT THAT EVER LIVED? Creme Puff, a tabby mix who lived to 38, holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest cat! She lived from Aug. 3, 1967, to Aug. 6, 2005.
INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 5 small carrots, thinly sliced • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped • 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1/4 tsp salt • 9 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 4 cups cooked shredded chicken • 12 oz fresh baby spinach • 3 tbsp white miso • 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallion
IS MOUNT EVEREST REALLY THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN ON EARTH? Nope! The twin volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii are actually taller since 19,700 feet of Mauna Kea’s height is underwater, which makes them a towering 33,500 feet (while Mount Everest is 29,029 feet). DO SOCCER TEAMS PLAY BETTER DEPENDING ON UNIFORMS? According to research, they apparently do. A study of soccer matches spanning 55 years found that teams wearing red performed better than those in any other color. This may be because wearing red makes you feel more confident!
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large Dutch oven over medium-high, heat the oil. 2. Add carrots and onion and cook 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Stir in garlic and salt and cook 1 minute. 4. Add broth and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. 5. Stir in chicken; cook 2 minutes. 6. Add spinach in batches, stirring until wilted. Remove pot from heat. 7. In a small bowl, stir 1/4 cup hot broth into miso until dissolved, then return mixture to pot. 8. Divide soup into bowls and top with scallions.
Inspired by EatingWell.com
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