Watermelon Lemonade

Hi Chicks! My name is Dianna and I’m a food blogger over at The Kitchen Prep. I’m so thrilled to be over here today sharing a summertime activity {and recipe!} that I think you and your kiddos are going to love.

The “lazy days of summer” are a thing of the past for so many families. I’m sure many of you have a house full of energized little people who want to go, go, go all the time from the moment that last school bell rings. Swim lessons, summer camps, backyard play, sleep overs, sports and dance and music lessons… It’s enough to drive a chick chirpy, for sure!

When I was coming up with an activity for this post, I had a bit of an “AHA! moment.” These days, kids don’t need any help staying busy… what they need is help learning how to take a moment to be still!

Now, I say this and I know what some of you might be thinking. “Still? You’ve never met my children. We don’t do still.” And believe me, I understand. I’m a work-from-home toddler mom and a former elementary school teacher, so I know what I’m asking you to consider. But think about the possibilities! Peace… quiet… calm… and maybe even harmony among siblings.

A house full of siblings with different personalities and work/play styles is very similar to a classroom of kids. Some are constantly in motion while others need time to recharge. This activity will speak to both types of kids and might even give YOU a break, mama!

Read: First, get your hands on the book The Lemonade Hurricane by Licia Morelli and read it together. This story is about Emma and her little brother, Henry. Henry is a bit of a “hurricane”, while Emma enjoys quiet, reflective time to unwind. In an effort to help Henry learn how to be calm, Emma decides to teach him how to breathe, sit and meditate. The book is a wonderful introduction to mindfulness for young children, and also a great example of how we can be patient with family members who have different personalities than we do!

Reflect: This is a great time to open up conversation about how every member in the family is unique. If your children prefer, use a chalk board or allow each child to make their own list on a sheet of paper. Here are a few topics that reflect on the lessons learned in the book:
– How are each of us alike and different in our family? {i.e. Daddy wakes up whistling, while Mommy needs quiet time and coffee before she is fully awake.}
– How can we be respectful of one another’s preferences?
– How might we be able to teach something new to a family member like Emma taught Henry?
– Are you more like Emma or like Henry? Do you have an easy time being quiet and still? What do you think about that helps you relax? How do you feel when you sit quietly for a minute? {And 2 minutes, and 3 minutes and so on. Adjust according to age-appropriate time for your children.}

React: Try Meditating! Let each child pick a comfortable spot. It can be outside on a blanket, in a special chair or simply on the floor. Have each child close their eyes and think about something that makes them feel calm. See how many minutes each child can sit quietly. {And enjoy the silence!} Have each child create a meditation journal and see if they can sit quietly every day, adding a minute each day until they have reached the number of their age {or another number they choose.}

Refresh! After all that learning, you might be thirsty! Make your own watermelon lemonade to sip on while you relax together as a family.

You will need:

About 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice {5-6 large lemons}
2 cups seedless watermelon, diced
1 1/2 cups water
3 tablespoons honey*
A pitcher
A long handled spoon for stirring

1. In a blender, puree lemon juice and watermelon until smooth. Strain liquid into a pitcher one small batch at a time making sure to press down on pulp to release all the juice. Discard pulp.

2. Add 3 tablespoons of honey and water to pitcher, and stir to combine.

3. Pour over ice and enjoy with your family!

*Use more or less honey depending on how sweet your watermelon is and how tart you like your lemonade! If you prefer to use sugar, you can do that instead. The easiest way to add sugar to a liquid is to first create a simple syrup by dissolving one part water to one part sugar and then using the syrup to sweeten.