New York Nanny Center » weather http://www.nynanny.com Mon, 26 Oct 2026 18:22:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 Wacky Weather http://www.nynanny.com/uncategorized/wacky-weather/ http://www.nynanny.com/uncategorized/wacky-weather/#comments Fri, 26 Jul 2013 15:56:02 +0000 Alison Gore http://www.luckylildarlings.com/?p=1523   Read more (...)]]> All these crazy heat waves and cold fronts are a great opportunity to teach the lil’ ones about weather, temperature, and the instruments that measure temperature: (homemade) thermometers!

What will you need:

  1. Tap water
  2. Rubbing Alcohol
  3. Clear narrow necked plastic bottle (water bottle will work just fine)
  4. Food coloring
  5. Clear drinking straw
  6. Modeling clay or play-doh

 

Directions:

  1. Pour equal parts of tap water and rubbing alcohol into the bottle, filling about 1/8 to a ¼ of the bottle.
  2. Add food coloring to the water and alcohol mixture and mix well
  3. Put the straw in the bottle, but don’t let it touch the bottom.
  4. Use the modeling clay/ play-doh to seal the top of the bottle so the straw stays in place.
  5. Hold hands on the bottle and see what happens to the mixture.
  6. When done with experiment, make sure bottle is disposed of and not reused!

therm               homemade thermometer

Cool science explained:
The mixture in the bottle will expand when it gets warm, which means it will no longer fit in the bottom of the bottle and must move up through the straw. If the bottle were to get really hot, the liquid would have to come through the top of the straw. Put the bottle in the sun & shade to see the difference (feel free to mark lines with sharpie).

*Note: this thermometer will teach a little bit about science and temperature, but you won’t be able to record an exact temperature unless you buy a real thermometer.

-Lauren D, creative intern with LLD by day & babysitter & older sister by night. 

 

]]> http://www.nynanny.com/uncategorized/wacky-weather/feed/ 0 Where’s the Winter Weather? http://www.nynanny.com/family-2/wheres-the-winter-weather/ http://www.nynanny.com/family-2/wheres-the-winter-weather/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:03:36 +0000 Alison Gore http://www.luckylildarlings.com/?p=1165   Read more (...)]]> Like all working moms, I am very busy and don’t find much time to watch the news. I have heard buzz about global warming the past few years, but I am the first to admit I don’t know much about it. What I do know is the weather has been much warmer in Chicago this winter and we are taking full advantage, whatever the reason! Avery loves being outside more than anything else in the whole world!  She wakes up wanting to go outside and goes to bed talking about playing outside. When it rains, she sings “Wain, Wain, Go Away” longingly as she stares out the window. When it is so cold I feel like I can’t breathe, she seems unfazed. This love for the outdoors has me thinking about her future….

Don’t know what’s going on with the weather…but we’re loving all the outdoors time we’re getting!

I believe one of my challenges as a mom is to help Avery continue to love and lead an active life. I see so many children who spend hours a day watching TV and playing video games. They have lost their love for the outdoors as some point along the way. As Avery grows up, I need to encourage and support her love for the outdoors. Which means I need to find my inner kid and remember how much fun snow angels, swings, and bike riding can be!

Finding my inner kid in the warm Chicago winter

-Mindy is a former LLD sitter and lives in Chicago with her daughter and husband.

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