🌍 The Kid Explorer Club with Jed

Tag: writing

  • Happy Halloween and Merry Christmas

    We are only a third of the way into the month of October, but I am surprisingly already thinking about the holidays. Because it takes a long time for things to get to Nigeria, we will start ordering presents later this month. I think my mom is already planning! Presents are always fun to receive, and their super special to give, too. Since I do have a blog about travel, I thought I’d share a list of fun travel and exploring related presents.

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    Christmas

    First, shout out to all the friends I have made in Nigeria! For all the kids reading this, this post is mostly for the adults in your life who will be helping Santa out with extra Christmas shopping. But that does not mean that this blog is not kid-friendly. If you see something you want, go and tell your parents to check it out! And make sure to let Santa know you need some cool adventure and travel themed gear this year.

    ItemDescriptionLinkNotes
    History and culture bookFury of the Vikings, Dominic Sandbrook
    https://amzn.to/4pVxgbQ     		I love this author so much! I’ve read most of his kids’ books, and I think you will really enjoy the blend of history, culture, and storytelling!
    History and culture bookCleopatra, Dominic Sandbrook
    https://amzn.to/4oiVcV7     		See above
    History and culture bookThe Six Wives of Henry VIII, Dominic Sandbrook
    https://amzn.to/3ICGcCo
    See above
    Travel and Geography bookMapshttps://amzn.to/48ktvXfThis is one of our family’s most beloved books! We’ve spent so much time looking through the maps. The graphics are awesome and there is so much culture and info on each page.
    Travel and Geography bookSmithsonian History of the World Map by Maphttps://amzn.to/46XiRDhI want this book! Each map has so much history included. I’m look drooling looking at this on Amazon!
    Culture and education bookWhat is a Refugee?https://amzn.to/4nNaBgzThis is a GREAT book! My parents spent over a decade working with refugees and asylum seekers. It’s very important to know what and who is a refugee and how we can show love and support.
    Culture and education bookThis is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the Worldhttps://amzn.to/3KJKHLVAnother awesome book our family loves. It looks at different kids growing up all over the world and what their normal days and lives look like. You’ll learn so much!
    Activity Book on TravelTravel Activity Book: Creative Travel-Themed Activity Book For Kids Ages 6-12 With Maps, Crosswords, And Fill-In Puzzleshttps://amzn.to/48o1RIXThis is a fun activity book to work on while traveling! It will help keep you entertained in the car or during a long layover.
    Travel JournalThe Ultimate Travel Journal for Kids: Awesome Activities for Your Adventures https://amzn.to/4oimhI1This journal is a great way to think about your trip and adventures and keep track of memories and experiences.
    Travel Coloring BookWonders of the World Coloring Bookhttps://amzn.to/48oE1N3Super cool coloring book for big kids. There’s history and full-color drawings that show what the wonders actually looked like. And then there’s color pages so you can add your own special touch.
    Lego ArchitectureParishttps://amzn.to/3KQuZP7Have it and love it! Legos meets travel, my dream!
    Lego ArchitectureLondonhttps://amzn.to/3KQuZP7See above
    Lego ArchitectureThe Great Pyramid of Gizahttps://amzn.to/3J4PMxRSee above (but this one is harder than the others and super, super cool. You might need an adult to help you out).
    DuploDuplo Airport Building Toyshttps://amzn.to/3J1Ib3bA great duplo set for younger kids getting used to travel and a flight.
    Magnetic Travel ToyMagna-Tiles MicroMags Travel Sethttps://amzn.to/4356kfWI’ve played with magna-tiles since I was one year old, and I still love them. My mom says they’re the best toys ever made. So why not grab a small version for the car, plane, or train? I definitely need a set!
    GameGuess in 10 Countries of the Worldhttps://amzn.to/432tpzWThis is one of my family’s favorite games! We play it all the time. We take it traveling with us, and my mom packs it in the suitcase whenever we move and are waiting for our boxes for months and months. We don’t get tired of it.
    GameGuess in 10 Cities Around the Worldhttps://amzn.to/4ni2MytSee above
    GameTicket to Ride First Journey (Europe)https://amzn.to/4ni2MytA great game! This is the kids’ version of Ticket to Ride. It’s a great way to learn where cities and countries in Europe are.
    GameTicket to Ride (adult version)https://amzn.to/4mZYWd1This adult version is fun in and of itself, but you can also use it with many different expansion kits (Iberia! Netherlands! Japan!) 
    Travel Water BottleKINTO Water Bottle, 10.1 fl oz (300 ml)https://amzn.to/471kik2My mom loves these bottles for travel. They are small and light so they aren’t too heavy to carry.
    Fidget ToysTransformable Fidget Spinners https://amzn.to/4ha91D0Fun little toy to pack for any trip.
    Fidget ToysFidget Spinner and Popperhttps://amzn.to/4h4f387Mom said these would be a great stocking stuffer! 
    Travel ToyWikki Stix! The best travel toy for all kids. https://amzn.to/4h8EWUeApparently these sticks are how my parents survived traveling with four toddlers and a baby. But they look pretty cool for almost-11-year-olds, too!
    Map for Young KidsWorld Map for Kids Age 2+https://amzn.to/42C9VCaThis is a great world map for little kids to learn their continents and get a starting idea of locations around the world.
    Map Laminated World Maphttps://amzn.to/4h51mWfThis is a standard world map. I want one for my room! You can always put thumbtacks in the places you’ve visited, lived, or want to go to!
    Interactive GlobeLeapFrog Magic Adventures Globehttps://amzn.to/470ewznMy grandparents got this for me when I was very young, and I still use it all the time! 
    GlobeWorld Globe https://amzn.to/4nMbMwJA standard glove that every home should have. It’s a great decoration and also educational and practical.
    Language Flash CardsPhotographic Learning Flash Cards — can be used in any language!https://amzn.to/47j7O8PMy family has used these cards to help us with Arabic, Dutch, French, and other languages because they’re just pictures. You can use them with any language to test and practice your vocab.
    World Flags Flash CardsZastic! 245 World Flags Flashcards https://amzn.to/46USJdLMy siblings and I love playing flag games, drawing flags, and everything related to flags. This is a great set to help you learn what flags from all over the world look like.
    CookbookCooking Class Global Feast!: 44 Recipes That Celebrate the World’s Cultures https://amzn.to/3IHwuyCI think you don’t get a good sense of a culture unless you have a chance to taste it! This book will introduce you to so many cool foods and teach you how to make them at home. Great for all the travelers and little chefs out there!
    CameraInstant Print Digital Camerahttps://amzn.to/3KO4A4pThis camera is super fun because it prints pictures immediately. It’s like a polaroid but more for kids.
    CameraDigital Camerahttps://amzn.to/4nU32ofHere’s a great digital camera that isn’t too expensive. Travel and adventures are a great time to learn how to take pictures and keep your memories.
    Magnifying GlassMagnifying Glasshttps://amzn.to/4nU32ofEvery explorer needs magnifying glasses. Bugs, rocks, sand, leaves. And you can take them on the plane or train.
    CompassCompass on a string https://amzn.to/3IEnla5Compasses are really fun! My mom Says this is another great stocking stuffer!
    Figurine ToysAround the World Figurines (like the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and Giza Pyramids!)https://amzn.to/42vBEV1I have these awesome figurines. I highly recommend.
    Figurine ToysWorld Landmarks Figurines (like the Great Wall of China, Easter Island heads, and the Sphinx!)https://amzn.to/46KKQHzAnother fun figurine set with landmarks I haven’t seen in other sets.
    BooksRefugee, by Alan Gratzhttps://amzn.to/4pYMJI9My parents got me this book and I love it. It is a great read for elementary and middle school students.
    BooksRefugee, by Alan Gratz Graphic Novelhttps://amzn.to/4nKZxR7I just saw this graphic novel version of the book I listed above and I immediately want it! I’m adding it to my Christmas list!
    Fidget ToysRechargeable Game cubehttps://amzn.to/473daUvThis is a fun fidget game and toy that’s a little more high tech than normal fidget toys.
    Game BookMad Libshttps://amzn.to/47jMkbWThese are the best things ever! The world’s greatest word game. My family loves MadLibs and we have many different versions. You can do them while traveling, at the hotel room, waiting in line to go into a museum. They’re so fun and make you laugh really hard!

    🌍 The Kids Explorer Club With Jed

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    Tell me something about your travel style or adventures!

  • Papa Power!

    A Kid Explorer’s Guide to Father’s Day Around the World

    (Spoiler: Hope Your Dad Packed His Running Shoes for Mexico)

    Paris, France

    Hi, it’s Jed again! I’m writing to you from Spokane, Washington: the birthplace of Father’s Day (and the city where my mom grew up)! Father’s Day is awesome—but not everyone celebrates it the same way! It is so fun to learn about what other kids around the world do for their dads. Let’s just say some dads really earn their special breakfast… with a 21K run!

    World Tour: 4 Father’s Day Traditions

    Let’s take a trip to 4 very different countries to see how they do Father’s Day.

    GERMANY

    • Father’s Day, also called Männertag or Vaterdag, is always celebrated on a Thursday in May or June. It is the same day as Ascension Day, celebrated by many Christians.
    • Fathers dress up in colorful clothes and haul wagons of alcohol into the woods. I’m not quite sure what they do once they get there…
    • (That’s cooler than a pancake stack with whipped cream!)

    JAPAN

    • Father’s Day is called Chichi no Hi (“Day of the Father”) and is celebrated on the third Sunday of June (just like the States).
    • Families give their fathers a traditional Japanese meal, seafood, or gifts of cologne, flowers, or sake (a Japanese alcohol made from fermented rice).  They might eat grilled fish and receive yellow roses.
    • (I think my dad would love this tradition! He loves fish and trying fun drinks from around the world.)

    NEPAL

    • Father’s Day is called Gokarna Aunsi and follows the Nepali lunar calendar, so the date changes every year. It usually shows up in August or September—just depends on what the moon feels like doing!
    • It is similar to American Father’s Day, but they also pray to and worship fathers who have passed away and are no longer with them.
    • (That tradition is cooler than ice cream for breakfast… and that’s saying something.)

    MEXICO

    • Father’s Day also called Dia del Padre and celebrated on the third Sunday in June every year.
    • Fathers can run a 21-kilometer race in Mexico City called Carrera Dia del Padre 21k Bosque de Tlalpan.
    • (Note to self: Do not challenge a dad from Mexico to a race. My feet hurt just thinking about it.)

    Bonus Round: Fun Father’s Day Facts

    Washington D.C.

    Did you know…? Dad edition!

    • Father’s Day started way back in 1910 in Spokane, Washington. A girl named Sonora Smart Dodd thought dads deserved a special day, so she planned the very first one on June 19, 1910. That makes Spokane the official hometown of Father’s Day! Pretty cool, right?
    • 50% of all Father’s Day cards are bought for fathers, while 20% are bought for husbands. I like to make a card for my dad every year, but you can also go to a store to pick one out (there are so many funny ones!) or order one like this online!
    • There is a fun online Father’s Day game where you can make your own Father’s Day Card. Click right here  (click the link, then click on the Google image at the top of the page. It will open the game).
    • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the necktie is the most popular of all Father’s Day gifts. Look at this one !
    • Father’s Day is celebrated in 111 countries. 111 countries?! That’s a lot of ties and pancake breakfasts!
    Bethlehem, Palestine

    No matter where you live, your dad probably just wants to hear that you love him. Or maybe a nap. Or a giant burrito. Depends on the dad. I like to make my dad breakfast in bed, give him a special gift I picked out and paid for with my own money, and spend lots of time playing with him.

    Jim Gaffigan, a funny dad comedian, once said that there should be a children’s song that says, “If you’re happy and you know it, keep it to yourself and let dad sleep.” Ha!

    Amman, Jordan

    Thank you for reading! Have a great Father’s Day and remember to celebrate your dad in a way that’s special to your family or cultural traditions! And leave a comment down below with any fun traditions you do on Father’s Day!

    🌍 The Kids Explorer Club With Jed

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Tell me something about your travel style or adventures!

  • Suitcases, Sandwiches, and See-You-Laters!

    What it feels like to say goodbye (again) when you’re a kid who moves a lot!

    1. The Top Slice: Saying Goodbye

    Hey, Jed here again! And guess what? I’m writing to you from an empty house! I’ve lived in the kingdom by the sea, The Netherlands, for two years now, and I am going to leave at the end of this month. I move a lot, so moving is used to me and I have to get used to it. I am going to miss a lot of things though, including my friends, teacher (Mrs. Mattson), my favorite Dutch snacks like stroopwafels or hagelslag, and my favorite places that make the Netherlands “home,” including my school, house, park and Luciano’s ice cream shop. But when you’re a Diplo-kid, you know that moving is just part of life even when it’s hard and sad. From my experience, it’s helpful to have a goodbye party so you get a chance to hug and play with the people you love, and to do fun and special activities like a final bike ride to school or a climb up your favorite backyard tree. When you’re doing it for the final time, remember to tell yourself that’s the last time you’ll do it so you can really remember it and keep it in your heart.

    2. The Filling: The In-Between Days

    Before you pack your house up, it’s a good idea to imagine what it will look like when it’s empty. Let me tell you, it’s going to look very weird and unfamiliar! During the pack-out, or my fun nickname for it “The Great Pack,” you might feel a lot of emotions. You will probably feel smushed together like a sandwich.  A very emotional sandwich that feels big things like: excitement, sadness, nervousness, boredom, happiness, etc. Like my mom says, “You can feel more than one thing at the same time.” And that’s definitely true when you are saying goodbye to your home and friends. To make you feel not so nervous and emotional you can start a family tradition. For example, my family asks our friends to write notes to us at our goodbye party and then we pack the notes deep into our suitcases without reading them. Once we get to our next destination, we read the kind, heartfelt notes. Some of our friends write down funny memories, too. That’s great for a laugh at a time when you might be feeling a little scared or unsure or your new home. By the way, my new home is going to be Abuja, Nigeria. I think it’s going to be very different from the Netherlands!

    So what do all those feelings add up to? A moving sandwich, of course! Here’s a recipe to guide our way!

    Jed’s Famous Moving Sandwich Recipe

    Warning: may cause feelings. Best served with hugs and snacks (like the ones we talked about in my first blog post).

    Ingredients:

    • 2 slices of “See-You-Later” bread (preferably toasted with love)
    • 3 tablespoons of excitement for new adventures
    • 1 overflowing scoop of goodbye tears (I hate to say it, but it’s bound to happen)
    • A pinch of nervous butterflies
    • 4 memories you don’t want to forget (folded gently)
    • 1 crumpled packing list you lost but found again
    • A sprinkle of “I’ll miss you” messages
    • Optional: melted chocolate to remind you that sweet things still happen

    Instructions:

    1. Start with a slice of goodbye—this part might feel heavy.
    2. Layer in the feelings: stack your excitement, nerves, and memories any way you want.
    3. Add a generous helping of hugs, favorite songs, and one inside joke from your old home.
    4. Top with your second slice—hello, new place! Press down gently. Wrap in kindness, pack with courage, and take a big bite.

    Serving tip: Best eaten with your favorite people (even if it’s over video call).

    3. The Bottom Slice: What’s Next

    You always need to look forward to what is coming next. I am going to spend my summer in the USA before we move to Nigeria. Of course, I am looking forward to things like the Maple Bacon Duck Donut or the famous Cosco hotdog. Not only that, but I’m also excited about seeing my cousins and making new friends at Summer Camp. Also, of course a shopping spree at Target and Trader Joe’s. Other than summer in the States, I’m really excited about Nigeria. My new school, teacher, friends, community, house, etc. But there is a lot that I don’t know yet, like what my neighborhood will look like, when our shipping container will arrive, and who my new best friend will be. Lots of mysteries to be revealed. I guess you could say, “The sandwich of goodbye is messy, but it’s also full of flavor.” I don’t know exactly what’s in the next sandwich… but I’m hungry for it (just hold the pickles)! Yummmm.

    Thank you for reading! I’ll have more content up soon. Please come back!  And check out the new coloring pages on the Badges and Games page!

    🌍 The Kids Explorer Club With Jed