Do Not Throw Away Those Eggshells

Calcium has many important functions in the work of the body. Besides creating bone mass and preventing osteoporosis, calcium normalizes the function of the nerves and muscles, regulates heartbeat, and encourages sleep.

It is also important for the work of the immunological cells and healthy skin and hair.

There are numerous factors that drain calcium from the body, and that is too much seating, coffee, alcohol and carbonated beverages. Pregnant women and women in menopause, older men and people suffering from digestive disorders are especially prone to the lack of calcium.

An eggshell contains 90 percent calcium and is a natural source of minerals. The body easily absorbs it because of the chemical composition of the eggshell that is almost identical to human bone and teeth.

At higher doses it does not only treat the symptoms of deficiency of calcium and stops the development of osteoporosis, but also helps against high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and stimulates bone marrow to produce blood cells.

Eggshells also contain iron, copper, manganese, zinc, fluorine, phosphorus, chromium and molybdenum. Thus, most experts recommend eggshells as very effective addition of calcium to your body. Depending on the environmental age, the recommended dose is 1.5 to 3 grams of crushed shells.

Always rinse eggshells well, and then bake them in the oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes to kill any bacteria.

Here are some wonderful egg shell uses:

Thyroid gland

Wash 8 eggshells, dry and crush them, pour the juice of 2 lemons over them and leave in the refrigerator for several days. When the eggshells become soaked and softened, filter the liquid and mix it with 1 liter of brandy and a kilogram of honey. Leave it to stand for 7 days before use. Consume 1 teaspoon two to four times a day after meals.

Gastritis, ulcer

Mix one teaspoon of grounded eggshells with a spoonful of sugar and a tablespoon of crushed walnuts. Take it for 20 days, 3 times a day with a spoon. On the tip of the knife put crushed egg shells and mix them with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. When the eggshells soften, add 1 deciliter of hot milk. Take it 2 times a day, in the morning on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping.

Strengthen the body and cleanse the blood

Wash 4 or 5 eggshells, crush them and put them in 3 liters of water. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days and use it as a drinking water. Take two to three cups of water daily with a little lemon juice.

Nourishing Face Mask
Pulverize dried egg shells with a mortar and pestle, then whisk the powder in with an egg white and use for a healthful, skin-tightening facial. Allow the face mask to dry before rinsing it off.

Treat Skin Irritations
Drop an eggshell into a small container of apple cider vinegar and let it soak for a couple of days. Dab the mixture on minor skin irritations or on itchy skin.

Better Tasting Coffee
Add some crushed eggshells to ground coffee before brewing it to make it taste less bitter. When you’re done, toss the grounds and shells on your compost heap!

Sources: 
www.naturalhealthcareforyou.com

http://www.healthyfoodteam.com/you-throw-away-the-eggshells-after-reading-this-you-will-never-do-that-again/

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/06/15-surprising-uses-for-eggshells.html 

http://searching4savings.com/2013/06/20-alternative-uses-for-eggshells/

Strengthen the body and cleanse the blood
Wash 4 or 5 eggshells, crush them and put them in 3 liters of water. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days and use it as a drinking water. Take two to three cups of water daily with a little lemon juice.
- See more at: http://www.healthyfoodteam.com/you-throw-away-the-eggshells-after-reading-this-you-will-never-do-that-again/#sthash.2fA74eIn.

Thyroid gland Wash 8 eggshells, dry and crush them, pour the juice of 2 lemons over them and leave in the refrigerator for several days. When the eggshells become soaked and softened, filter the liquid and mix it with 1 liter of brandy and a kilogram of honey. Leave it to stand for 7 days before use. Consume 1 teaspoon two to four times a day after meals.
Gastritis, ulcer
Mix one teaspoon of grounded eggshells with a spoonful of sugar and a tablespoon of crushed walnuts. Take it for 20 days, 3 times a day with a spoon. On the tip of the knife put crushed egg shells and mix them with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. When the eggshells soften, add 1 deciliter of hot milk. Take it 2 times a day, in the morning on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping.
Strengthen the body and cleanse the blood
Wash 4 or 5 eggshells, crush them and put them in 3 liters of water. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days and use it as a drinking water. Take two to three cups of water daily with a little lemon juice.
- See more at: http://www.healthyfoodteam.com/you-throw-away-the-eggshells-after-reading-this-you-will-never-do-that-again/#sthash.2fA74eIn.dpuf

The Story of Cosmetics

20 Home Remedies Everyone Should Know

1. Having pomegranate’s juice daily is good for heart and useful for people suffering from low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)

2. One natural treatment for acidity is chewing a few Basil (tulsi) leaves after a meal. This not just works as an antacid as it helps the body absorb food but also prevents reflux and the formation of ulcers.

3. Sucking a piece of Clove after meal helps in reducing acidity problem.

4. A flake of garlic swallowed with water taken empty stomach daily in the morning can be helpful in solving many stomach & gastric problems.

5. Headache caused by summer heat is cured by consuming watermelon juice. Just one glass a day works wonders…

6. Eating an Apple on an empty stomach in the morning relieves one of migraine pain. This must be done for a few mornings. I have been a migraine patient for past 10 years and this one worked most for me.

7. Open 6 dates and boil in 1/2 liter of milk for 25 minutes over low heat. Drink three cups a day. This is ultimate dry cough remedy.

8. Mix 2 teaspoons of honey with equal quantity of ginger juice. The concoction helps to expectorate mucus, providing relief for the common cold, coughs and sore throat.

9. Eat before breakfast half cup of cooked beets if you suffer from chronic constipation or indigestion.

10. Ayurveda cough syrup at home. Peel and chop six medium onions. Put the pieces in a container and add four tablespoons of honey. Cover and leave them in a water bath over low heat for two hours. Strain and take one tablespoon every three hours.

11. Grated cucumber applied over the face, eyes and neck for fifteen minutes is very much beneficial for acne and blackheads.

12. A simple remedy for Anemia or iron deficiency - Pound 3-4 soft dates with milk and add a little ghee in it. Eating this mixture will help to prevent Anemia.

13. Home Remedy to Cure Dark Circles- Tomato paste is one of the most effective remedies for dark circles. You can make it easily at home. Take one or two fresh tomatoes, one tablespoon of lemon juice and a pinch of gram flour and turmeric powder. Blend these ingredients nicely until they become a thick paste and apply it very gently around your eyes. Rinse it off gently with clean water after 10 or 20 minutes. Repeating this process twice or thrice every week will make your skin tone around your eyes lighter and will eventually make your dark circles go away completely.

14. Best natural remedy for sore throat is to gargle with turmeric and salt. Mix: ½ cup of warm water ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp powdered turmeric After you gargle, don’t drink or eat anything for at least ½ hr for the salt and turmeric to do their job of killing bacteria. You can repeat this as often as you need throughout the day.

15. A drop garlic juice into your ear helps to relieve the pain of an ear infection.

16. A mixture of baking soda and lemon juice applied underarms will reduce body odor.

17. Add a few fennel seeds in a pot of hot water, and then boil it for five minutes on a low temperature. Strain the solution and then drink it. You can also chew the fresh fennel leafy plants if you can bear the taste. Else you can take a mixture of fennel, cardamom and mint leaves and boil them in water to make a concoction that can help during stomach gas. This is very effective Home Remedy for Gas and Bloating:

18. Lemon is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C on the planet and it also contains nutrients like Vitamin B, riboflavin, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. Lemon juice with warm water can also help eliminate waste in your system and serve as a Liver tonic. Daily intake of lemon water has several health benefits: It keeps your stomach healthy; acts as cure for nausea, heartburn, indigestion, high blood pressure, stress, and depression.

19. When you suffer from a hangover ,a banana milkshake with honey can give you immense relief. Cold milk soothes the stomach lining and bananas with honey build up depleted blood sugar levels.

20. Home Remedies Treatment for Cough - For severe cough, mix tulsi juice with garlic juice and honey. A teaspoon of this mixture is taken once every three hours will treat excessive coughing.

Source: Conscious Life News

10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics state infants aged 0-2 years should not have any exposure to technology, 3-5 years be restricted to one hour per day, and 6-18 years restricted to 2 hours per day (AAP 2001/13, CPS 2010). Children and youth use 4-5 times the recommended amount of technology, with serious and often life threatening consequences (Kaiser Foundation 2010, Active Healthy Kids Canada 2012). Handheld devices (cell phones, tablets, electronic games) have dramatically increased the accessibility and usage of technology, especially by very young children (Common Sense Media, 2013). As a pediatric occupational therapist, I'm calling on parents, teachers and governments to ban the use of all handheld devices for children under the age of 12 years. Following are 10 research-based reasons for this ban. Please visit zonein.ca to view the Zone'in Fact Sheet for referenced research. 
1. Rapid brain growth
Between 0 and 2 years, infant's brains triple in size, and continue in a state of rapid development to 21 years of age (Christakis 2011). Early brain development is determined by environmental stimuli, or lack thereof. Stimulation to a developing brain caused by overexposure to technologies (cell phones, internet, iPads, TV), has been shown to be associated with executive functioning and attention deficit, cognitive delays, impaired learning, increased impulsivity and decreased ability to self-regulate, e.g. tantrums (Small 2008, Pagini 2010).
2. Delayed Development
Technology use restricts movement, which can result in delayed development. One in three children now enter school developmentally delayed, negatively impacting literacy and academic achievement (HELP EDI Maps 2013). Movement enhances attention and learning ability (Ratey 2008). Use of technology under the age of 12 years is detrimental to child development and learning (Rowan 2010).
3. Epidemic ObesityTV and video game use correlates with increased obesity (Tremblay 2005). Children who are allowed a device in their bedrooms have 30% increased incidence of obesity (Feng 2011). One in four Canadian, and one in three U.S. children are obese (Tremblay 2011). 30% of children with obesity will develop diabetes, and obese individuals are at higher risk for early stroke and heart attack, gravely shortening life expectancy (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2010). Largely due to obesity, 21st century children may be the first generation many of whom will not outlive their parents (Professor Andrew Prentice, BBC News 2002).
4. Sleep Deprivation 60% of parents do not supervise their child's technology usage, and 75% of children are allowed technology in their bedrooms (Kaiser Foundation 2010). 75% of children aged 9 and 10 years are sleep deprived to the extent that their grades are detrimentally impacted (Boston College 2012).
5. Mental Illness
Technology overuse is implicated as a causal factor in rising rates of child depression, anxiety, attachment disorder, attention deficit, autism, bipolar disorder, psychosis and problematic child behavior (Bristol University 2010, Mentzoni 2011, Shin 2011, Liberatore 2011, Robinson 2008). One in six Canadian children have a diagnosed mental illness, many of whom are on dangerous psychotropic medication (Waddell 2007).
6. Aggression
Violent media content can cause child aggression (Anderson, 2007). Young children are increasingly exposed to rising incidence of physical and sexual violence in today's media. "Grand Theft Auto V" portrays explicit sex, murder, rape, torture and mutilation, as do many movies and TV shows. The U.S. has categorized media violence as a Public Health Risk due to causal impact on child aggression (Huesmann 2007). Media reports increased use of restraints and seclusion rooms with children who exhibit uncontrolled aggression.
7. Digital dementia
High speed media content can contribute to attention deficit, as well as decreased concentration and memory, due to the brain pruning neuronal tracks to the frontal cortex (Christakis 2004, Small 2008). Children who can't pay attention can't learn.
8. Addictions
As parents attach more and more to technology, they are detaching from their children. In the absence of parental attachment, detached children can attach to devices, which can result in addiction (Rowan 2010). One in 11 children aged 8-18 years are addicted to technology (Gentile 2009).
9. Radiation emission
In May of 2011, the World Health Organization classified cell phones (and other wireless devices) as a category 2B risk (possible carcinogen) due to radiation emission (WHO 2011). James McNamee with Health Canada in October of 2011 issued a cautionary warning stating "Children are more sensitive to a variety of agents than adults as their brains and immune systems are still developing, so you can't say the risk would be equal for a small adult as for a child." (Globe and Mail 2011). In December, 2013 Dr. Anthony Miller from the University of Toronto's School of Public Health recommend that based on new research, radio frequency exposure should be reclassified as a 2A (probable carcinogen), not a 2B (possible carcinogen). American Academy of Pediatrics requested review of EMF radiation emissions from technology devices, citing three reasons regarding impact on children (AAP 2013).
10. Unsustainable
The ways in which children are raised and educated with technology are no longer sustainable (Rowan 2010). Children are our future, but there is no future for children who overuse technology. A team-based approach is necessary and urgent in order to reduce the use of technology by children. Please reference below slide shows on www.zonein.ca under "videos" to share with others who are concerned about technology overuse by children.
Problems - Suffer the Children - 4 minutes Solutions - Balanced Technology Management - 7 minutes

The following Technology Use Guidelines for children and youth were developed by Cris Rowan, pediatric occupational therapist and author of Virtual Child; Dr. Andrew Doan, neuroscientist and author of Hooked on Games; and Dr. Hilarie Cash, Director of reSTART Internet Addiction Recovery Program and author of Video Games and Your Kids, with contribution from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society in an effort to ensure sustainable futures for all children. 

Technology Use Guidelines for Children and Youth

 
Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/10-reasons-why-handheld-devices-should-be-banned_b_4899218.html

Please contact Cris Rowan at info@zonein.ca for additional information. © Zone'in February

Remember Lead? Be Warned: Pesticide Exposure in Womb Affects I.Q.

I.Q. may not be the most important thing about our children but why in the world would anyone let something adversly affect their child's IQ?  

Let me tell you a story to illustrate my point. 

There once were two Moms with beautiful, bright, healthy little girls. The little girls loved balloons. They loved to toss them and carry them and run with their balloons tied to strings. Both the little girls loved the color yellow so, of course, a yellow balloon was like a slice of heaven. 

One day the Moms learned that yellow balloons posed a serious health risk. Yellow balloons were considered more detrimental to childrens' well-being than staring into the sun, lead paint or smoking cigarettes while downing a vodka tonic.  

~~> One Mom swiftly walked through her home gathering yellow balloons and immediately threw all of them into a toxic waste dump. She pried the yellow balloon from her little girl's hand and kissed her child's tears away. She explained, as plainly as she could, that it was for the best and she told her daughter that she loved her more than life itself.

~~> The second Mom went into her house and hid all the yellow balloons. She remembered loving yellow balloons as a child and she thought, "They didn't hurt me. I cannot bear to make this change. Yellow balloons are a family tradition." 

She rationalized that a good amount of money had been spent to buy all the yellow balloons. What a waste of money to throw them all away! She walked over to her daughter, who was playing with her favorite yellow balloon and watched in silence. Surely one balloon couldn't hurt her. After all, it was so very pretty. She looked at her daughter's smiling face and told her that she loved her more than life itself.

Now, I know this seems like a silly story. It is so very obvious which Mom is making the right choices.

I know which Mom I strive to be. When faced with facts that show me dangers for my children I do my best to protect them . . . . even if they cry, persist, don't understand or get angry with me.

"Yes, you must wear that seatbelt."

"No, you may not play by the creek when the water has swelled to the brink and the current is dangerously swift because of recent flooding."

"No, you may not buy firecrackers."

There is strong evidence available to us now, based on 10 year studies by very reputable organizations, that show pesticides on fruits, vegetables and other household products may lower a child’s I.Q. Babies exposed to high levels of common pesticides in the womb have lower I.Q. scores than their peers by the time they reach school age, according to three new studies.  The good news is that yellow balloons were not included in the findings!

The research is based on data collected in New York and California from about 1,000 pregnant women and their babies. It is certain to set off a new debate about many things. Some of the risks of chemicals found in the food supply and consumer products we have control over and some we do not.

What Can We Do to Protect Our Children and Ourselves?

• Avoid everyday consumables that contain pesticides and select more natural choices.  This is easily done by requesting info at EVHealthyLiving.com/Peggy
• Choose organic produce whenever possible.  The Environmental Working Group offers a shopper’s guide showing which foods have the highest and lowest rates of pesticide exposure. Better washing and peeling of conventionally grown produce can also reduce exposure.

Want the details on the scientific studies?  It is as easy as 1, 2, 3 and a LINK . . . 

The latest findings are based on three separate but similar studies financed by the National Institute of Environmental 
Health Sciences and the federal Environmental Protection Agency. 
1) and 2)  Two were conducted by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Columbia University and studied urban New York families.

3)  The third was done by researchers at the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, and focused on children in Salinas, Calif., an agricultural area. 

LINK: All three were published online on Thursday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. 

10 Years Ago . . . .    Each study began about a decade ago, when researchers recruited pregnant women who gave blood and urine samples that were used to measure pesticide exposure. In some instances, umbilical cord blood was tested. After the babies were born, the researchers continued to monitor the health of the children and also obtained regular urine samples to determine exposure to pesticides. 

Over all, the studies found that women who had higher exposures to pesticides during pregnancy gave birth to children who eventually had lower I.Q. scores once they reached school age.

In the Berkeley study, for instance, children with the highest levels of prenatal pesticide exposure scored 7 points lower on intelligence tests compared with children with the lowest levels of exposure. In that study, every 10-fold increase in organophosphate exposure detected during pregnancy corresponded to a 5.5 point drop in overall I.Q. scores.  (Note: Whereas a drop in IQ of 5-10 points does not significantly alter the functioning of individuals at the top end of the IQ distribution, it can have a devastating effect on those individuals who are at the low end of the distribution. Source: UCLA.edu.)

What Does This Matter?   “I think these are shocking findings,” said Dr. Philip Landrigan, a professor of pediatrics and director of the Children’s Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai. 

“Babies exposed to the highest levels had the most severe effects. It means these children are going to have problems as they go through life.”  

Dr. Landrigan compared the findings with research in the 1980s that linked childhood lead exposure to lower intelligence, dyslexia, higher risk for dropping out of school and a range of behavioral and developmental problems. 

As a result of that research, lead was removed from gasoline to prevent exposure from car exhaust, and it was also removed from paints and other consumer products. 

Dr. Landrigan plainly says,  "The drop in I.Q. scores shown in the pesticide studies is similar to the drops shown in the earlier lead research."

“When we took lead out of gasoline, we reduced lead poisoning by 90 percent, and we raised the I.Q. of a whole generation of children by four or five points.  I think these findings about pesticides should generate similar controversy, but I’m cautiously optimistic that they will have the effect of having the E.P.A. sharply reduce the use of organophosphate pesticides.”

The pesticides, organophosphates, are commonly sprayed on food crops and are often used to control cockroaches and other pests in city apartments. 

Even little changes are better than no changes. For a review of quick, easy and affordable ways to find and reduce toxins in your home please ask for help. One way is to simply request information here.

Another way is to call me. It's what I do . . . and I am good at it.

Sources: 

1) NYTimes - "Pesticide Exposure in Womb Affects I.Q." by Tara Parker-Pope  

2) well.blogs.nytimes.com 

3)  http://www.environment.ucla.edu/reportcard/article.asp?parentid=3772 

4)  Healthy Living

5) Dr. Philip Landrigan, a professor of pediatrics and director of the Children’s Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai

6) Children's Environmental Health Centers - Children's Exposure to Pesticides and Related Health Outcomes

7) UCSLA.edu

 

 

Smoking in Your Car Could Cost You $500.00

At least in Oregon . . . if you have a child in the car and if . . . . well, here is (as Paul Harvey would say) the rest of the story.

As of the first of the year, it is against the law to smoke in a car with children present in the state of Oregon. It is considered borderline child abuse.
 
I am a wellness advocate. My whole career is focused on helping families create a healthier environment. I teach awareness and simple solutions to problems like:

"Of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities." 1

My work does not involve the legal system and so this legislation was news to me.  I found this article quite compelling.

As recounted by The Oregonian's Christian Gaston, Jim Thompson (R-Dallas) compared smoking with little kids in the car to a parent who would "strap your kids in the back of a car and smoke them like bacon."
 
The smoker faces a fine of $250 for a first offense and $500 for subsequent ones.

The police will not be able to pull over a vehicle simply because someone is smoking in a car with children present. They will first have to cite another violation, such as speeding, running a stop sign or changing a lane without proper notice.

Although some lawmakers objected to Oregon going too far to police personal conduct,Thompson, said the state is right to protect chlldren from second-hand smoke in such closed quarters.

The Oregon House passed Senate Bill 444  in a 43-15 vote, against the objections of some lawmakers who groused about it as a “nanny state” provision, or questioned its effectiveness.

What do you think?





sources:
http://www.evhealthyliving.com/peggy
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/oregon_legislature_passes_ban.html
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/smokers_beware_smoking_in_a_ca.htmlhttp://www.evhealthyliving.com/peggy

Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Houston Area (2013)

1.   Children’s Museum of Houston:  Oh, the wonders of a Children’s Museum! Their Thursday Free Family Nights, Family Adventures, and special educator membership make it affordable for all. Special events allow everyone to participate, including: MLK Kids Peace Rally, Sensory-Friendly Events, Young Inventors Showcase and Family Literacy Program. 

2.    Houston Zoo: One of Texas’ best zoos is right here in Houston.& Get your animal groove on

3.    7-Acre Wood: Come play in a 7 1/2 acre old-fashioned Family Fun Park! Visit the petting zoo, mini golf course, western play town, play fort, huge playground, gigantic sandbox, zip line, sand volleyball, horseshoes and much more. Healthy family fun that kids love!

4.    Oil Ranch: 56 Acres of fun and education. Petting zoo, Train, Hayride, Miniature Golf, Pony Rides, 5 Playgrounds, Sports Fields, Basketball Court, and Paintball. 30 miles Northwest of Houston. Open Thursday-Friday 10am-3PM & Saturday 10am-5pm Spend the whole day petting animals, playing at the pool, or mining for gemstones with your family and friends. .

5.    P-6 Farms - Montgomery: P-6 Farms is an actual working farm in Montgomery, Texas, specializing in cattle, hay, farm fresh produce, and our annual fall festival. Come "get lost" in 30 acres of Texas Sized Family Fun!

6.    Brazos Bend State Park: 5,000-acre gem 40 miles from downtown Houston, offers a variety of activities for every age: biking, fishing, hiking, birding, camping, star-gazing, and opportunities to learn about Texas’ bountiful natural history via free programs and guided hikes.

7.   Great Play:  Great Play of Sugarland and Great Play of Cypress make it fun for kids ages 6 months to 12 years old to develop motor skills, sports skills, fitness and coordination in their Interactive Arena. Award winning birthday parties too!

8.    Crocodile Encounter: Follow the activities of Houston's largest wildlife show and find out what it's really like to live and work with the nations largest group of Nile crocodiles.


9.    Houston Museum of Natural Science: Explore the far reaches of outer space, roam with the dinosaurs, wander through Africa's Serengeti, and marvel at the world's rarest and most beautiful minerals. Discover all this and much more at one of the nation's most heavily attended museums.

10.    My Gym:  My Gym has two local locations in the Houston Area: My Gym of Katy and My Gym of The Woodlands. Their program and facility were devised to help children 6 weeks thru 13 years of age develop physically, cognitively and emotionally.

11.    Madam Newton Einstein Science Academy for Kids: Madam Newton Einstein Science Academy for Kids is a 3000 sq ft. hands-on science facility. Our goal is to bring hands-on, fun, creative and out of the box experiences to children between the ages of 4 -14 in an effort to create a lifelong curiosity.

12.    The Little Gym: The Little Gym is the worldʼs premier experiential learning and physical development center for kids ages four months through 12 years. The Little Gym of Katy and The Little Gym of Houston - Bellaire provide classes, camps, parents nights out, and birthday parties for the Houston area.

13.    UpStage Theatre: UpStage Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and group of talented volunteers dedicated to providing the highest quality, yet affordable and family friendly theatrical experience for both the young and the young at heart.

14.    The Woodlands Children's Museum: Creating opportunities that educate, empower, and

excite children and families through play while inspiring a lifelong sense of wonder and discovery. It is a cooperative learning environment that provides children with multicultural and multi-ethnic experiences.

15.    Houston Center for Contemporary Craft: HCCC advances education about the process, product and history of craft. Visitors view innovative exhibitions, talk with artists-in-residence, create their own craft objects in workshops, and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts in the Asher Gallery.

16.    Downtown Aquarium: That big Ferris wheel enticing you from I-45 and I-10 invites you to experience all the Downtown Aquarium has to offer.   Amusement rides and carnival games thrill alongside aquarium adventures and hands-on encounters with stingrays, crabs, and other invertebrates. Sharing much more than an underwater voyage, the Aquarium boasts incredible rare white tigers which you can experience on your own or during a Sea Safari Camp, a Wild Dreams Overnight, or an Aquarium Birthday Party.

17.    Sugar Land Skeeters Baseball: The Sugar Land Skeeters, led by Manager and former Major League All-Star Gary Gaetti, play at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. They are the biggest little minor league professional baseball club in America!

18.    Kemah Boardwalk: Getting an all-day pass for the rides and amusements is your best bet at Kemah. There is so much to do and see,  your kids will beg to keep going.  Between the shops, restaurants, aquarium, boat rides, train rides, and roller coasters you'll be wildly entertained.  Add to that special events like the Crawfish & Zydeco Festival, Rock the Dock summer concerts, Miss Kemah Pageant, car shows, Fireworks Fridays, Boo on the Boardwalk and Kid Krazy Mondays, and you'll want to return again and again.

19.    Moody Gardens: The iconic three pyramids are just the tip of the iceberg at Moody Gardens.  The Rainforest Pyramid®, the Aquarium Pyramid®, and the hands-on discovery museum are treasures.  Add to that the 3D and 4D Theaters, Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, Palm Beach and the annual Festival of Lights, you’ve got a multi-day destination that kids of all ages will enjoy.

20.    Discovery Green: Variety is the best word to describe Discovery Green.  From fountains, gardens, and play areas, to classes, workshops, art, and reading places the versatility of the space is phenomenal.  Not to mention the festivals, signature events, and ice skating.  Much of the activities are FREE, and many more are very reasonably priced.  They even welcome your dog!
exploring animal habitats, 4D Experiences, giraffe feedings, Naturally Wild Swap Shop (where you can bring in your found treasures), and Meet the Keeper talks/encounters/feedings every half hour. Their Water Play Park, Sneak Peek tours, Zoo Crew experiences, and Vet for a Day programs provide fun for toddlers to teens.