Buzzing with Happiness – An Interview with April’s Doll of the Month Cassidy!

Who’s sweet as honey and buzzing around with fun, adventure, and determination? It’s April’s Doll of the Month Cassidy, the Beekeeper Doll from Our Generation!

Cassidy is excited to tell you all about the joys of being an apiarist*, and about why bees are so important to our world….and so cool, too!

(PS – Look for definitions of words with a * at the end of the interview!)

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us, Cassidy!

It’s my pleasure! I love meeting new people and making new friends!

So, you’re a beekeeper! What inspired you to choose this as your profession?

Well, all my life I have loved honey! It’s so delicious, and you can use it in cooking and for lots of other things, too. For a school science project, I chose bees and honey as my subject. I learned a lot about where honey comes from, and about bees and their societies. Once, my school went on a field trip to an apiary* where we met a beekeeper (also called an apiarist) and got a tour of all the beehives. It was SO COOL! After that, I got more and more interested in bees, and becoming a beekeeper just seemed like the right fit!

What are some of the most interesting things you have learned about bees?

Wow, there is so much to know about bees that it’s hard to choose what I find the most interesting! I could probably talk about bees all day long!

First of all, not all bees are alike. There are honey bees who live in beehives and produce honey and beeswax, but there are also many species* of wild bees – around 20,000 species all over the world! Every species of bee is unique, and they live on every continent* except for Antarctica.

Second, I think it’s really interesting how bees communicate! For example, when a honey bee finds a great patch of flowers, it will return to its beehive and perform a little dance known as a “waggle” (isn’t that a cute word?) The way the bee waggles* can tell its friends the exact directions to the flower patch – even if it’s miles away! So cool!

The third thing that I find really interesting about bees is that humans have been keeping beehives and helping to take care of bee colonies for a really long time, like thousands of years! The first beehives were from Ancient Egypt and Greece, some of the world’s oldest societies. But what I find cool is that even though people have been caring for bees for thousands of years, the tools we use as beekeepers haven’t changed very much.

You really know a lot about bees! Can you tell us about the tools you use as a beekeeper?

Sure! The very first thing you need is a protective suit. Bees are very curious, and also very protective of their beehive. Most of the time bees will not sting you, but sometimes if you startle them or if they think their beehive is in danger, they might get nervous and attack. So a protective outfit is very important. I usually wear a jumpsuit over top of my regular clothes. It’s all one piece without any small holes where bees might be tempted to sneak in and say hello. I also wear long gloves to protect my hands, and a wide-brimmed hat with a net over it. This lets me see what I’m doing, but it’s all tucked in so none of my curious bee friends can sneak in for a visit without me knowing about it.

A good, solid, and cozy beehive is also very important. To make sure your bees are healthy and happy, they need a safe and clean home to live in where they will want to build their honeycombs* and start making honey. I use a really cute pink beehive, but they can be any color. The main thing is to make sure that they are clean and dry, and that water won’t get in when it rains. It’s also nice to be able to lift the lid so you can take out the honeycombs and start harvesting* your honey!

Another important tool that I use is the beehive smoker. The smoker is almost like a small metal watering can attached to an accordion shape (the bellows*). Inside the beehive smoker I put a little bit of wood and set it on fire. The bellows draw some air into the smoker, and then help puff out the smoke into the beehive.

We are very curious about the beehive smoker. Why do you need one, and what does it do?

Well, as I said, bees are very curious and protective of their beehives. Bees can’t talk the same way people do, but they communicate with each other through their movements and through smells. Even if you and your bees are good friends, you might scare them when you come to check out their hive. If a bee gets nervous or scared, it produces a certain kind of smell called an alarm pheromone* that tells other bees nearby that there is a problem. And because bees are social, once one bee becomes afraid and sends out an alarm, the rest of them will follow and send out their own alarms in a chain reaction. Uh oh! The last think you want is a whole bunch of scared bees!

The beehive smoker lets a very small amount of woodsmoke into the beehive, which helps to calm the bees down and also stops them from spreading the alarm. It also makes them decide to return to the beehive and start eating honey, and just like us, bees are a little less active when they have a full tummy!

Wow, that’s so fascinating! Can you tell us a little about why bees need our help?

I’m sad to say, but there have been a lot of environmental* issues lately that are causing bee populations* to become smaller and smaller. Some kinds of pesticides and other chemicals that humans use are very poisonous to bees, and the more we use these chemicals, the more trouble the bees are in. Also, there are less wild places where bees can live in their hives, so they are running out of space and are getting farther away from the plants they need to survive.

This is a big deal for us people, because bee pollination* is responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat!! That’s a lot!

Also, even the bees that don’t make honey, like the many kinds of wild bees, are really important for pollination. So taking good care of bees is pretty important!

What are some of the things we can do to help save the bees?

I’m so glad you asked!! There are lots of little things you can do to provide a safe and healthy spot for bees, right in your own backyard!

For some great ideas, check out our guide to helping bees from the Our Generation Glowing Hearts Blog!

In a nutshell – plant bee-friendly flowers (with no chemicals on or in them) and you can even make a bee hotel –  a small structure that you put in your garden, so bees will have a home away from hive! You can also do some easy research on the internet and find out lots more ways to make a difference!

That’s great advice! When you’re not busy beekeeping, what are some of your other hobbies?

Well, one thing that my bees and I have in common is that we all love flowers! When I’m not caring for my beehives and collecting honey, I do a lot of gardening. It’s peaceful to be outside in the sunshine watching my flowers bloom.

I also really like kayaking! I go any time I have a chance, and there are a lot of really fun rivers and lakes near me that I enjoy exploring. You can see a lot of animals from the water, like ducks and even sometimes deer on the shore!

Thanks Cassidy, you’ve given us so much great information!  We’re so happy to have had the chance to talk to our April Doll of the Month!

Definitions:

Words can sometimes mean different things. Within this interview, these words mean the following:

*apiarist: “a person who cares for bees, usually in a colony of beehives (another name for beekeeper)”

*apiary: “a place where bees are kept; a collection of beehives”

*species: “a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals ”

*continent: “any of the world’s main continuous expanses of land”

*waggle: “a particular figure-eight dance of the honey bee, used to communicate with other bees”

*honeycomb: “a structure of hexagonal cells of wax, made by bees to store honey and eggs”

*pheromone: “a chemical produced by an animal or insect that affects the behavior of others ”

*environmental: “relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity”

*population:  “a particular group of animals living in a specific area”

*pollination: “the transfer of pollen from one plant to the flower or another plant, allowing the plants to reproduce”

 

Gift Guide: Garden-Themed Our Generation Dolls and Accessories!

 

Spring is in the air, the sun is shining, and Our Generation is getting excited to start watching lovely things grow! In this Gift Guide, we highlight some of the dolls, outfits, and accessories that are part of the Our Generation Garden Theme Collection.

There’s so much fun and adventure to have with your Our Generation dolls, and learning how to garden is just the beginning!

Pretend-play with dolls is a great way to encourage kids to get outside and explore the beautiful, natural world around them – while having a ton of fun, too!

Did you know that there are as many kinds of gardens in the world as there are people?

 

The word “garden” can mean different things to different folks, and can be anything from a tiny third-floor windowsill with a few potted plants to a huge, acres-wide plot of land with its very own professional gardener. Some gardens have only flowers, and some grow food.

The OG Garden Theme Collection covers every way that we can play in our gardens and beyond! From dolls who love being outdoors to accessory sets with miniature garden tools for dolls, and playsets that help you imagine all the steps from the garden patch to the market to the table, the Our Generation Garden Theme Collection has it all!

 

Plant a Garden where friendship can grow!

Nahla wearing garden accessories
Nahla – Deluxe Doll with Storybook

Meet Nahla, a thoughtful and curious 18-inch doll with long, natural curly brown hair and lovely hazel eyes. As an Our Generation Deluxe Doll, Nahla is posable! She can turn her head, rotate her shoulders and hips, and also bend at the knees and elbows. Being a posable 18-inch doll makes it much easier for Nahla to garden. It’s easy for her to kneel on the ground with her knee pads so she can get up close to her plants and check in! Read all about Nahla’s adventures starting a school community garden in her storybook, “A Garden Where Friendship Grows!” You can also purchase her book and outfit separately with the Nahla Read & Play Set (which can be used with any Our Generation doll.)

 

 

 

 

 

Catch the Beekeeping Buzz!

 

Cassidy using beehive smoker
Cassidy – Beekeeping Doll
Melina holding beehive smoker
Melina – Beekeeper Doll

 

 

 

 

Meet Cassidy and Melina, two dolls who are having a blast and living their career dreams as professional Beekeepers!

 

 

 

 

Cassidy has long, curly blonde hair and unique aqua-blue eyes. Melina has long, curly brown hair and lovely brown eyes. Both of these   Our Generation Professional Dolls have a scattering of freckles across their noses…we think it’s from spending so much time outdoors in the sunshine while they take care of their beehives!

Safety first! The Beekeeper doll outfits helps them avoid any surprise visits from their bee friends. Learn more about bees and how you can help them with the OG Guide to Helping Bees on the Our Generation Glowing Hearts Blog!

Melina and Cassidy are part of the Our Generation Professional Dolls Collection, a group of dolls who are living their dreams, following their hearts, and exploring all kinds of amazing careers. Join the Professional Dolls and discover a world of play as a scientist, inventor, marine biologist, woodworker, doctor, veterinarian, and more!

 

 

Doll Garden Accessories from Seeds to Market

 

Way to Grow Garden Accessories for 18-inch Dolls
Way to Grow Accessory Set

Set up an adorable garden patch for your Our Generation dolls with the Way to Grow accessory set!

The planter, wheelbarrow, and garden tools will help your dolls plant seed. Don’t forget your garden gnome!

He’s a great friend to help keep an eye on your doll’s garden and help it grow!

 

 

 

Happy Harvest Accessory Set
Happy Harvest Accessory Set

 

 

Gardening is easier when your dolls can get up close to the soil and plants.

A good pair of garden knee pads will help your dolls spend lots of time digging and planting comfortably.

Check out the Happy Harvest Accessory Set for cute, miniature garden accessories for your 18-inch dolls!

Your doll garden will appreciate a little extra TLC…and fertilizer!

 

Growing My Way Katelyn kneeling
Growing My Way Accessory Set with Katelyn (Dolls sold separately)

 

 

 

Green and yellow really make us think of springtime in the garden, and the Growing My Way accessory set is the perfect collection of doll garden tools to brighten up your day!

How many garden gnomes do you have in your garden?

The yellow striped rain boots are great for keeping your doll’s feet dry as she tends her garden with care.

 

 

 

 

 

Nest-Door Neighbors Doll Birdhouse set
Nest-Door Neighbors Doll Birdhouse set
Gnome Sweet Home - Magical Fairy Garden Accessories
Gnome Sweet Home – Magical Fairy Garden Accessories

 

Use the Nest-Door Neighbors Accessory Set to invite some fine feathered friends into your garden, and enjoy the beautiful birdsong!

 

The Gnome Sweet Home Accessory Set is the perfect way to add a little bit of sparkle and magic to your garden…complete with a tiny jar of fairy dust and a lady gnome to keep watch over your plants!

 

 

Farmers Market Set with Everly and Rowan
Farmer’s Market Set with Everly and Rowan (Dolls sold separately)

 

Your dolls are such great gardeners, they’re sure to have a LOT of extra fruits and vegetables left over!

Use the Farmer’s Market Set to create a market stall for your dolls where they can sell all of the delicious produce they’ve grown!

A day in the market is a great way to make lots of new friends…and find some really yummy treats!

 

 

 

 

 

Garden Party BBQ June and Nahla playing01
Garden Party – BBQ Accessory Set with June and Nahla (Dolls sold separately)

 

 

 

Once your garden is planted, pruned, and as beautiful as can be, it’s time to enjoy it!

Host a BBQ with your friends using the Garden Party – BBQ and play fun games like ring toss!

 

 

 

Garden Party - Banner Accessory Set
Garden Party – Banner Accessory Set with Jamie (Dolls sold separately)

 

 

 

 

Celebrate a birthday in the garden with the Garden Party – Banner set, featuring a cute pennant banner, delightful snacks, and gifts!

 

 

 

Noa and Coral having a picnic
Packed for a Picnic Accessory Set with Noa and Coral (Dolls sold separately)

 

 

Or set up a picnic in your garden and snack on some

of your doll’s delicious, home-grown delicacies using

the Packed for a Picnic accessory set.

The miniature doll picnic basket is full of everything they need

for the perfect picnic!

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many ways to enjoy gardening with your Our Generation dolls and all of the other exciting accessories in the Our Generation Garden Theme Collection! How will your dolls set up their garden? Share your fun playtime stories with us on Facebook and Instagram (@ogdolls)!

For more inspiration, check out the fun science experiment inspired by Sia, where you can grow your own pea plant!

 

Catch the Buzz and Help Your Local Bees with Our Generation!

 

 

Bees are some of the most important insects in nature! They are responsible for pollinating flowers, which means that they carry pollen (the powdery yellow stuff inside flowers)from one plant to the next, allowing the plant to transform the flowers into fruits, nuts, vegetables, and all kinds of things that people and animals eat!

Around the world, bees are facing some big challenges, and they need our help! After all, Our Generation kids know that caring, kindness, and a good helping of determination allow us to do almost anything we put our minds to! Sure, we might tumble, but bouncing back up again can be fun, too!

 

Save the Bees with Melina!

 

 

 

Are you looking for an easy way to encourage your children and family to support local bees, as well as nature and wildlife?

Here are some really great ways to encourage your kids to help their local bees!

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Plant bee-friendly flowers and plants (like lilac and mint)
Bees love purple, yellow, white, and blue flowers the most!
(Do you have any favorite colors that are the same?)
They also adore the following types of flowers: Lilacs, Mint, Sunflowers, Honeysuckle and Lavender

 

 

2. Stick to single petal flowers (like daisies)
Single petal flowers, like daisies, make it easy for the bees to access pollen, whereas double flowered varieties are more difficult for bees to get into, like peonies.

 

 

3. Give them water! (Bees get dehydrated too!)
Who knew?! Bees love clean fresh water, just make sure it’s shallow enough.
You can try adding rocks so they have a place to land and sip to their heart’s content.

 

 

 

4.Avoid pesticides (go natural instead)

Any chemical used on your plants and in your garden can harm or kill bees.
Try some safer alternatives to avoid pesky pests from invading, like planting lemongrass, lavender and rosemary. You can also try making safe solutions like neem or citrus oil sprays, which have been known to get rid of garden-destroying bugs – and are safer for people and pets, too!

 

And for a bonus tip…..

 

5. Plant native flower varieties (and in clumps)
Your local bees will be more familiar with and may prefer flowers that are native to their habitat.
They also love big patches of the same flower, so feel free to plant these beauties in big sections.

 

Did you know?

 

  • Bees can be found on every single continent except for Antarctica! Anywhere there is (insect-pollinated) flowering plants, you can find bees and other pollinators as part of the ecosystem.

 

  • For many decades, since around the 30s, many scientists claimed that it was aerodynamically impossible for bees to fly. They claimed that bees’ bodies were too large, and their wings too small to carry their weight.

 

  • Later on, through advanced technology, it was revealed that bees can fly, due to the structure of their wings, how fast they’re able to move, and the ways they move. Cool right!?

There is so much to learn about bees, honey, and “apiculture” (the science of caring for bees)!

For a fun way to discover why beekeeping is as sweet as honey, check out Melina and Cassidy, the Our Generation Beekeeper Dolls!

Discover all of the ways for your dolls to play in the garden and beyond with the Our Generation Garden Theme Collection!

Grow Your Own Pea Plant: A fun science experiment inspired by Sia the Scientist

 

 

It’s no surprise that most of the wild and wonderful plants on our beautiful planet come from seeds.

 

We plant seeds in gardens and flower pots, and watch cool, tiny plant shoots spring up.

 

But how does a seed transform into a plant?

Join Sia, the Deluxe Our Generation Doll, for a cool experiment that will help you find out!

 

 

 

Sia the Scientist Pea Plant Experiment!

 

Sia is passionate about science and she LOVES discovering new facts about the world around her. She likes reading about science, researching her ideas, and conducting experiments to help her find out firsthand how things work.

This awesome experiment teaches children lots of great skills, like learning how things grow, measuring the growth, and how to nurture a living thing!

 

 

 

 

Children love to see their plants transform before their very eyes.

Look how quickly our plants grew over a period of 12 days!

 

Here’s everything you’ll need to grow your very own…

Supplies:

 

  • Clear mason jars (or regular drinking glasses)
  • Cotton balls (or paper towels)
  • Dry peas (or dry beans)
  • Plain tap water

 

Directions:

1. Place your cotton balls in the mason jars.

2. Add a dry pea to the outer side of the jar (so you can clearly see how it transforms over time!)

3. Add water to the jar, enough so that the cotton balls are completely wet without having excess water sitting in the jar (you can tip the jar and drain any excess water easily).

4. Keep adding fresh water every few days so the cotton balls never dry out.

 

 

Just like Sia, you can document how fast your pea transforms!

Measure the bean’s progress every day, and document it in a diary.

You’ll start seeing the changes as quickly as a day or two.

After about 4 days, you can see little sprouts forming!

 

 

How about trying different environments?

An environment is made up of the conditions inside it, like the amount of light, the amount of water, and the amount of air circulation, to name just a few of the characteristics.

You could try putting one jar in a dark room all day, and another in a window where it will get lots of sunlight. Then you can measure the difference in growth between the plants!

Which one will grow the best??!?

 

How about adding music? You could place one plant in a room with a radio next to it all day, and another one in a very quiet and peaceful room.

Which one do you think would grow faster? Will it make a difference?

 

Once your pea plant experiment is done, you can help your peas keep growing into a plant! In your outdoor garden or in a small plant pot full of soil, carefully transfer the small pea shoot so that its roots are lightly covered in soil and the green, leafy part is pointing upwards. Water your pea plant every day (unless it is getting watered by rain!) and watch as it grows into a full-sized pea plant…and maybe even makes a few delicious peas for you to snack on! For more gardening fun with your dolls, check out the Our Generation Garden Theme Collection!

There are so many different experiments and tests you can do… all you need is your imagination to come up with some great ideas!

Even simple things like planting bee friendly plants in your garden can become an experiment! Follow the guide in our blog post, observe which flowers attract the most bees, and see how many bees you can count each day!

Just like you, your dolls can be VERY curious! Find more inspiration for discovering science with your dolls using the OG Schoolroom Science Lab!