Parenting for the Craft Impaired

Toddler Crafts for Easter: Foam Paint Eggs

2011-03-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

I love this craft. So easy, so cheap and tons of fun. You are going to make your own foam paint out of glue and shaving cream and use it to paint Easter Eggs.

Here's how to make the foam paint:

- 1-2 tbsp Water based paint
-Shaving Cream--You want traditional Barbasol, not the gels that foam (unscented if you can find it)
-Glue

Combine equal amounts of glue and shaving cream in a bowl, add paint and use the foam to paint paper cut out in the shape of an egg.

Because of the glue in the foam paint, be sure to wipe up any spills before it dries.

The Perfect Easter Song and Dance: The Bunny Hop

2011-03-09T05:59:00.000-08:00

Hoppy Spring! Hoppy almost Easter.

We've been doing The Bunny Hop all week around here and watching cute bunny videos on Youtube.

The bunny hop is an easy dance and a great gross motor activity for young kids.

For your viewing pleasure....

This is super cute with a real bunny hopping to the music of The Bunny Hop.

And here's the original song and dance from the way back machine on Youtube.

Christmas Shopping Ideas: Preschool Math Toys and Games

2010-11-18T12:59:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice list of toys and puzzles that develop nascent math skills. I spend a lot of time on early math skills with my toddler because the foundation she gets now is what will carry her through later. Also, I work a lot with kids who are struggling with math and I've picked up some good insights for which toys and activities help prevent some of the deficits I see from ever developing.

1. Wooden Shape Sorting Clock. This offers the chance to review shapes, colors, number order and telling time.

2.Tangrams for toddlers. Matching and following patterns is an important early math skill.

3. Number Snail Puzzle. This is a great puzzle. You really should take a look at it. It requires kids to know that 2 comes after 1 and 3 comes after 2. Also it uses more spatial skills than the usual flat puzzles to create a 3d snail sculpture. Spatial skills are important for math.

4. Infantino Matching Colors and Textures puzzle. This puzzle requires sorting and matching skills. Because there are so many pieces, you can easily split this into two separate puzzle kits to keep things fresh and avoid overwhelming younger kids with the sheer number of pieces.

5. Memory game. One of the more serious math skill deficits I see in the kids I work with is the inability to memorize anything. They can't retain information long enough to do simple calculations in their heads. Expanding their mental capacity to not only keep numbers in their head but manipulate them mentally is a big skill I work to develop in my students and in my own kids. Memory may seem like a simple game, but the math skills it develops are critical. This is a MUST have game.

6.I Spy books are a great way to hone sorting skills and visual accuracy. This simple game also engages memory by requiring kids to remember what the object they are looking for looks like and then mentally compare the one they find to the one in their head.

Thanksgiving Song: Little Pilgrims

2010-11-17T13:20:00.000-08:00

Sung to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star:

Little Pilgrim dressing in gray,
On that first Thanksgiving Day.
Little Indian dressed in brown,
Cam to visit Plymouth Town,
They both came to eat and pray,
on that first Thanksgiving Day.

Cooking with Toddlers: Kale Chips

2010-11-15T12:47:00.000-08:00

In an effort to encourage vegetable consumption, I invited my toddler to make Kale Chips with me.

Kale is a 'super' green food. Full of goodness.

Meaning, kids won't touch it with a ten foot pole.

Well, Kale Chips have been a big hit with all the foodie blogs lately and the prep is toddler friendly so I thought we would give it a try.

Here's how you can take it for a spin and see if it gets your kids to eat their veggies.

Ingredients:

1 bunch Kale
1/2 tsp Salt
2 to 3 tbsp Olive Oil

Instructions

1. Wash the kale.

2.Pull green leaves off the stem and rip into bite sized pieces. My toddler was very good at this part.

3. Toss leaves with olive oil and salt. My toddler pronounced this step as 'squishy'.

4.Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 375F for about 10 minutes. (These can burn fast, so keep an eye on them.)

Kale chips are crispy just like real chips but more delicate--they won't work for dipping so be forewarned. My toddler did actually eat a few which is more green vegetation than her system has seen in a while. So this recipe was a win for this mommy.

Toddler Crafts for Thanksgiving: Corny Cornucopia

2010-11-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is not the best executed craft, but the idea is sound. I bought a bunch of food stickers from the craft store. Then, using construction paper, I made an admittedly strange looking cornucopia. The toddler then applied the food stickers and added some color with crayons.

Despite my lack of ability, this was a fun craft. We had a good time. We talked about food. We killed some time. We got the important stuff done.

Thanksgiving Games for Kids: Turkey Treats Gobble

2010-11-08T12:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun and cheap game to keep kids and adults alike busy while waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven. Turkey Treats Gobble is a great math game that can be adapted for either toddlers or older kids.

Supplies

-Turkey clip art. I used the graphic from this site,but you can also use Google Images to find a turkey you like better. I just stuck with black and white as it's easier on the printer ink.
-Paper
-Candy or other food that can be used to mark off turkeys
-Dice

Instructions

1.Copy paste the turkey clip art into a word document. Use narrow margins (0.5") to fit about 6 turkeys per row. Fill the page with turkeys. I was able to fit about 42 on my sheet.

2. Print your game sheets.

3.Gather your food to mark off the turkeys. M&Ms would work. Peas would too for those of us who want to be healthy. You could do a mix of candy and veggies like carrot 'coins' and tell kids they don't win unless the use all their veggies and fill the board completely.

How to Play Turkey Treats Gobble

1. Kids roll the dice and mark off turkeys in one of the following ways:

For toddlers, have them cover turkeys with treats corresponding to the number on the dice. If they rolled a 6, for example, they can mark off 6 turkeys.

Early elementary kids could use a combination of addition and subtraction to play. So if they roll a 4 and a 3, they can either mark off 7 or 1 turkeys depending on the operation they used.

Kids who have started multiplication can choose from addition, subtraction or multiplication to mark off their turkey.

2. The winner is the first person to mark off all turkeys exactly without going over, which is why subtraction is an option because, at the end, that may be the only way to fill the board. The winner gets to keep all their loot, everyone else has to start over again. Also, if you are doing the veggie thing, make sure they follow the veggie rules.

Note, I strongly suggest incorporating foods like veggies and fruits to minimize the sugar high. 42 pieces of candy before dinner = certain disaster.

3.Alternately, you can fill the board with food and kids get to eat so many pieces depending on what the dice say. This would be a sneaky way to get them to eat their veggies. The winner is the first to eat all the food on their board (including ALL the veggies. Party poopers who don't eat the veggies, can't play any subsequent rounds of the game).

4.Another alternative is to supply quarters and the winner gets to keep the money.

I really like this game for younger kids because it is a fun way to practice math facts and early math skills like correspondence counting.

Autumn Fingerplay: 10 Red Apples

2010-11-05T04:12:00.000-07:00

This is a charming Fall fingerplay that really revs kids up with the 'shaking' of the apple tree.

10 red apples grow on a tree (hold up all ten fingers)

5 for you and 5 for me (extend hand for a handshake.)

Let us shake the tree just so (shake the 'tree' which is your toddler)

And 10 red apples will fall below (flutter fingers as if they are apples falling down)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (count your apples)

Toddler Crafts for Thanksgiving: 'Hidden' Thanksgiving Picture

2010-11-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

Just FYI, before we go any further, this toddler Thanksgiving craft requires some basic ability to draw. Amazingly I can kind of draw. Sort of. If you squint at me funny.

Are you squinting?

Okay, good.

This Thanksgiving craft is a lot of fun for kids because the picture is hidden until they cover the paper with watercolor paint.

This does require some preparation and planning so don't try to do this on the fly (this is why I'm posting at the beginning of November, so you have some time to prep). And you probably don't want to do this for more than one or two kids--the drawing is a lot of work. (I did 4 drawings for 3 kids and my hand was cramping by the time I was done.)

Oh, and I am sad to say my camera was acting up and the flash was only sporadically working, which greatly affected the photos of this craft. Sorry!

Materials:

-White crayons (Some people have used white candles)
-White paper (thicker construction or sketch paper is better)
-Watercolor paints

Instructions:

1.With the white crayon, draw your design. Keep it simple because it's really hard to keep track of where you are and what the whole pic looks like. Don't get too complex. You are free to copy my designs but Google images works well. I looked for coloring book type images with simple lines as inspiration.

2.Have your toddler paint the paper with watercolor to reveal the picture. The white crayon 'resists' the paint.

This would also be fun to adapt for Christmas as a secret letter from Santa.

Cooking with Toddlers: Popcorn on the Cob

2010-10-25T04:09:00.000-07:00

One of the cool things we brought home with us from the pumpkin patch was popcorn on the cob. This is popcorn, dried on the cob. You pop it in a paper bag and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes just like store bought microwave popcorn.

The really cool thing is the popped kernels that stay on the cob which your toddler can pick off and marvel at.

We had a lot of fun with this simple 'recipe'.

Cooking with Toddlers: Cajun Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

2010-10-20T03:57:00.000-07:00

We recently came back from the pumpkin patch with our own Great Pumpkin and I decided to let our toddler try her hand at roasting pumpkin seeds.

This recipe also sparked a good conversation about what seeds are.

Here's the super simple super easy recipe for about 1 - 1 1/2 cups of pumpkin seeds.

Ingredients

1 - 1 1/2 cup fresh pumpkin seeds
1tsp salt
1 tbsp Cajun Seasoning (we used McCormick brand)
2tsp brown sugar

Instructions

1. Separate seeds from pulp together. Some toddlers will LOVE this, others will not like it. My toddler did not care for the slime, but did eventually help me pick out the slime free seeds.

This is the most tedious part of the recipe and takes some time, so think about watching Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin while you dig out the seeds. So long as you're using a large mixing bowl, this is not very messy and pumpkin guts don't really stain anything.

2. Parents should preheat oven to 300F.

3.Have your toddler rinse the seeds in a colander.

4.Parent melts 1.5 tbsp butter in microwave.

5.Toddler pours seeds into a mixing bowl.

6.Toddler pours in butter.

7. Toddler adds in spices: 1tsp salt, 1tbsp cajun season, 2 tsp brown sugar

8. Mix thoroughly and spread thinly on a baking sheet

9. Bake for 10-20 minutes (check frequently as these burn fast).

Let cool and enjoy! These taste great on salads or you can eat them like potato chips.

Toddler Crafts for Fall: Fall Candle Holder

2010-10-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

I read about this craft years and years ago. I thought it was soooooo cool, I actually have a large collection of empty sauerkraut jars in my closet.

The hubby is starting to think I'm a hoarder.

I'm not. I just really really really wanted to do this craft, but my toddler was not old enough until now. Every time I emptied a jar, I thought of this craft and kept it. So now I have a collection.

Anyway, this is another easy peasy craft with lots of opportunity for toddlers to play with different textures.

Here's how we did it.

Materials
1. Empty jar
2.Tissue paper cut up into squares
3.Mod Podge (we used what we had which was Mod Podge for fabric, but imagine you should technically use Mod Podge for glass--I never did say we were professionals around here.)
4. Applicator for the mod podge. Sponge, brush whatever you got.
5.Glitter (optional)
6.Jack'o'lantern face cut outs (optional)

Instructions
1.Paint the jar with mod podge

2.Apply tissue paper and jack'o'lantern face if you are doing that.

3.Cover the tissue paper with mod podge

4.Decorate with glitter and let dry.

5.Put a candle inside or flashlight and see how it looks.

Toddler Crafts for Halloween: Easy Pumpkins and Ghosts with Glue and Tissue Paper

2010-10-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

This craft is super simple and lots of fun. Use construction paper, glue and tissue paper (cut up in squares) to make ghosts and pumpkins.

Mom lays out the trail of glue to make the picture. The toddler covers the glue with tissue paper. We did a lot of experimenting with scrunching and crinkling the tissue paper.

This was very very easy and entertained the toddler for a decent amount of time.

Toddler Activities for Halloween: Foam Puppets on Popsicle Sticks

2010-10-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

You can find packs of seasonal foam shapes for about $5 at local craft stores. Save your popsicle sticks or buy some (they're cheap!). Add in glitter, glue, googly eyes, feathers, paint etc... for a simple, fun Halloween craft.

We called these puppets (our toddler ran around for hours playing with them), but they would also make fun cupcake decorations.

Web Wednesdays: Free Websites for Kids

2010-10-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Got a kid that is ready to read, but needs some help? Want to use Hooked on Phonics, but don't have the money to invest?

Check out Starfall, today's selection for Free Websites for Kids.

Starfall is AMAZING. We've been using it since our toddler was 16 months old. She has learned all her letters and phonics from Starfall..for FREE.

There are a ton of activities for kids from preschool age up to early elementary. This is the perfect website to support early reading and for teaching phonics. Unless your child is computer literate, parental supervision is recommended and encouraged as kids don't really learn to read alone.

This website is my top pick because it is not only fun, but profoundly educational. Ten to fifteen minutes a couple times a week is all you need to cultivate an avid reader.

Toddler Activities: Easy Cooking with Toddlers

2010-10-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Toddlers aren't really ready to be sous chefs, even though they desperately want to be allowed full run of the kitchen. Sometimes, I can manage to include my toddler in cooking, but most of the time, I need her out of the way and happy so I can get something made and in the oven.

How do I avoid whining and meltdowns? Simple.

I save all my old spice bottles and have purged my cookie decorating supplies (you really don't want me to use 5 year old sprinkles on your cookies, right?). When I need to cook, the toddler gets spice jars filled with flour and sugar along with all the cookie sprinkles.

She also gets a spoon, some water, a measuring cup and a mixing bowl.

She can make whatever she wants (and she does, with gusto) while I get dinner together. It is a win-win for everyone.

Except, the floor gets kind of trashed in the process (sugar always ends up on the floor) so you'll probably have to mop when you're done.

Toddler Activities for Fall: Window Clings

2010-10-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

This is what we are doing today, putting up seasonal window clings on our front screen door. These cost about $1 at the local craft store and keeps us busy for 30 to 45 minutes.

This is a good vocabulary builder for younger toddlers too.

Cheap Toddler Crafts: Halloween Masks

2010-10-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

We are so fortunate that the older neighbor girls like spending time with the tots on our street. These girls sing songs, play pretend, are workhorses for wagon rides, and come up with crafts for my toddler and the toddlers next door.

My house has suddenly become craft central as the weather cools and we have Friday Fun night every week now. I provide snacks, some financial support, and the girls organize the craft and supervise the kids.

I don't hear a peep from anyone for almost 2 hours. It is really nice and allows my husband and I some much needed downtime.

So last week, the girls showed up with these foam masks. I supplied the feathers, googly eyes and glitter.

This was a very simple craft and perfect for toddlers. Once everyone finished their masks, they went outside and had a pre-Halloween parade through the neighborhood. Super cute. Super fun.

The cost? $5 at your local craft store.

Web Wednesdays: Free Websites for Kids

2010-10-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Got bored kids looking for something new to do? Then ActivityTV is the webiste for you and your family.

This fun website presents all sorts of how tos and instructions to do everything from magic tricks to origami. This is a great website for curious kids who are pretty self-directed in their learning. Kids can follow their interests or easily expand their skills--this is a really comprehensive website.

Age range is upper elementary to tween, although some of the activities could be done by younger children with parental involvement.

Toddler Crafts:Coloring Wooden Pumpkins

2010-10-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

Go to any craft store and you can find these wood crafts for between $1 to $2. There are four pumpkins in the package pictured on the left. Cheap and easy, the perfect combination for any busy parent.

These are also a great activity for birthday parties and other events where children will outnumber the adults. Each kit comes with paint markers, so easy peasy.

They often come in holiday themes so it's a nice, easy craft to keep on hand for slow days, or the day after you just scrubbed paint off the ceiling only to turn around and find your toddler taking crayons to the wall. Even the craftiest parent needs a low key insta-craft every once in a while, right?

Which is why painting these wooden pumpkins made it onto our list of Fall crafts.

Oh and if you can't find them in your local craft store, Amazon.com sells packs of 36 for like $13 but they don't include the paints.

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Toddler Crafts for Halloween: Candy Corn Wreath

2010-10-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

The inspiration for these came from a magazine cover. I am always on the lookout for crafts that my toddler can actually do vs. watching mom put everything together. This one does require some parental involvement, but after a certain point, this craft is all toddler.

Here's what you need:

1.Ribbon, any color you like. Some versions of this craft use duct tape, which is an option, but not very attractive.

2.Candy corn
3. Small wreath (about $2 at craft stores)
4. Elmer's glue
5.Glue gun

Instructions:

1. Mom should use the glue gun to anchor the ribbon to the back of the wreath.

2.Mom then wraps ribbon around the the wreath, creates a hanging loop and uses the glue gun to secure in place.

3.Lay a generous track of glue. Generous is important otherwise the candy corn won't adhere well.

4. Give toddler a big bowl of candy corn. Coach them on not eating the ones with glue on them and turn 'em loose.

My toddler did all the gluing on the wreath pictured above by herself. She had a great time and has been begging for more candy corn ever since.

Toddler Activities: Mixing Phonics

2010-10-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a new twist on magnetic letters that my toddler loved. Take your Leapfrog Fridge Phonics set and make it 'brand new' again with a mixing bowl.

My toddler's been taking them out and putting them back in while singing '1 little, 2 little, 3 little letters.'

Free Toddler Crafts: Fun with Glue

2010-10-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here's what we've been doing with glue.

Gluing feathers onto paper.

The feathers get delightfully soggy with glue which is a texture revelation for the 3 and under set.

Also? Very low key, low prep toddler craft, which is a win for Mommy.

Unless, you happen to be Martha Stewart, in which case, why are you here?

Then I took some pinking shears and cut up a bunch of construction paper. As a bonus I made shapes; triangles, rectangles, squares, and irregular shapes that I just now invented (and should receive a Nobel Prize for aaaaany second now).

Then I left a trail of glue on some paper and had the toddler cover the glue with paper. If your little one can manage the glue, let them make their own paper trail.

Other cool things to do, spell out words and names in glue. Make a smiley face or other picture.

Web Wednesdays: Free Websites for Kids

2010-09-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

Today's website is The Toymaker. This website has several downloadable paper crafts for parents to print and kids to enjoy.

There are cards, games, paper boxes, paper mice and all sorts of neat paper projects. You will probably want to invest in some card stock so the end product is sturdy enough for play. I love the fact that there are options to print a black and white template or a color template so kids can color or not.

This is a really neat website that kids ages 5 and up will love. This would be a perfect place to go for slumber party activities or birthday party crafts. It's simple, unique and cheap--the perfect trifecta!

Oh! And don't forget to check out the holiday section--fantabulous. I LOVE this site. (Can you tell?) Here's a short video showing an example of a Halloween paper craft.

Toddler Toys: Best Toy Ever Critter Clinic

2010-09-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

Our toddler's aunt arrived for a visit with this gem of a toy. It's a vet clinic with animal cages and color coded keys. The top holds all the medical equipment and various animals can be housed in the 'hospital'. Toddlers will LOVE the keys which are color coded and are great manipulatives that give budding fine motor skills a work out.

Really really cute set and our toddler has been playing vet ever since. Not sure what stores carry it, I know I haven't seen it in our area. Thankfully Amazon does have it, although a slightly different version for $19.99-- our version pictured here is selling for $77! Wowza!

Also the manufacturer seems to be somewhat eco-conscious using soy based inks and recycled paper. (Although the toy is still plastic so, you know, take that for what it's worth.)

Raspberries!

2010-09-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

I know everyone is in Fall mode---it seems like all the craft, mommy etc... blogs are talking about apples.

But we haven't even bothered with apple picking here.

Not when raspberry season goes until Halloween.

Picking your own raspberries is the most cost effective way to buy raspberries and it doesn't take too long to pick 3 quarts. I can do it in about an hour.

Our toddler eats her weight in raspberries and is covered in red smears by the end. So it's a perfect way to spend a morning--her cramming the berries into her mouth as fast as she can and me picking. We also get to see bees (who don't care about us, they are drunk on raspberries), butterflies and spiders.

Check out the u-pick websites to see if anyone is growing raspberries in your area. We use ours in banana raspberry muffins and raspberry freezer jam. They can be frozen whole as well.

I always tell my toddler that when it is very cold outside and it seems like the snow will never end, we can remember summer by eating raspberries.

Web Wednesdays: Free Websites for Kids

2010-09-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

Web Wednesdays is a new feature that will post weekly on Craft Impaired. I know we love kid websites around here and I'm always looking for something new and fun to do online.

If you have a website you want to recommend, I'm all ears, please do share.

So, on to our inaugural website...

Todays Free Websites for Kids is....

Kideos.

Kideos is Youtube for kids. Videos are arranged by age, from infants up to the age of 10. On Kideos, you know your kids won't see anything inappropriate. The only downside? No embed option for sharing videos which made it hard to complete this blog post. However, I was able to source one of the videos on Youtube to give you an example of what you can find on Kideos.

Check out these too cute baby pandas. Roly poly balls of adorable. This is what Kideos is all about.

How to Make A Play Kitchen: Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

2010-09-21T05:45:00.000-07:00

We recently made a play kitchen for our little girl and what an experience! We wanted to do something that would look nice without the $200 price tag of other wood play kitchens and without the plastic of the $99 made-in-China play kitchens. Here's how we did it along with some tips and ideas on designing your own play kitchen based on our experience.

Note this is not a step-by-step tutorial. We assume that, if you're interested in making a play kitchen, you or someone you know has basic carpentry skills. This is more of an overview for the planning stages that will help you design a play kitchen and be happy with the end result.

Use found materials whenever possible. Visit second hand stores, garage sales or local junkyards to find items for the play kitchen. The hardest thing to find is usually the cabinet that will form the main structure. Old kitchen cabinets or desks work well for this. If you can't find anything suitable, some crafty people have used inexpensive Ikea furniture, but a sturdy piece of plywood will work too so long as you have power tools and know how to use them. (Our kitchen used scrap wood from a painting facility that would have been put in the landfill if we hadn't taken it.)
Make stove burners out of paint can lids or stain wood circles (from a home improvement store) and use those.You can also paint burners on the stove top. Some DIY play kitchen instructions suggest using CDs, which, while attractive, could pose a shattering hazard.
Use a small stainless steel mixing bowl for the sink and a second hand or new (cheap) faucet. Glue both in place with a product called Liquid Nails.
Design the oven door to swing open to the side instead of folding down. Play kitchen oven doors that fold down end up being climbed on and they aren't designed to hold a child's weight. (Ask me how I know!)
Incorporate real kitchen elements such as an egg timer. Glue in place with Liquid Nails glue. (Before gluing anything, lay all the accessories out to be sure they'll fit.)
Obtain handles and knobs from places such as Target, Home Depot or Lowes. You can buy wooden wheels at craft stores to make oven knobs. Don't attach the wheels too tightly, keep them loose so they'll spin.
Be sure to add enough storage space for pots,pans,play food and other accessories. No one likes a small kitchen, even if it's a play kitchen.

Mistakes we made building our play kitchen.

1. The depth was not big enough. We went with 12" when we really should've gone with "16 or "18. With just 12" there's not enough counter space for pretend food prep. In our experience, the best dimensions for a play kitchen are: 26" high (not including back splash) x 30" wide x 16" or 18" deep. The height should be adjusted for your child's height.

Alternatively, look at the dimensions of your dream play kitchen and use those.

2.The oven door fell off due to kids climbing on it. Definitely do a door that swings open to the side. I know I already mentioned this, but it is a huge safety hazard which exposes nails. I don't want anyone to make the same mistake.

3.We used small nails to attach the back and the back fell off as a result. To fix it, we drilled in screws, which is what we recommend using in the first place.

4.Not enough food storage. I would add a shelf over the top of the kitchen for extra storage. While we did an okay job building in enough storage, we're a hair short on space.

Overall, though, our play kitchen has held up and still looks as good as the day Daddy made it.

Have you ever made a play kitchen? Did I miss anything?

Toddler Activities: Fall Round Up

2010-09-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick recap of previous activities, crafts, and fingerplays for Fall.

I know! I can't believe summer is over either!

1. Autumn fingerplay

2.Falling Leaves fingerplay

3.Halloween Fingerplays: Five Little Pumpkins (also in Spanish as Cinco Calabicitas)

4. Halloween Fingerplays: Jack'o'lantern

5. Toddler Crafts with "Where is Baby's Pumpkin" book by Karen Katz.

6.Cheap Family Activities: A List of Fall Harvest Fun

Better Picture of Dragonfly Craft

2010-09-08T12:02:00.001-07:00

Here's a better pic of our dragonflies, cavorting with some hand print butterflies. You can check out how to do this dragonfly craft here.

How to Select Dance Classes for Children

2010-09-05T05:53:00.000-07:00

Since we are in the thick of signing up for children dance classes, I thought I'd throw together what we've learned so far.

1.Decide what kind of experience you what for your child. Exposure to movement, a fancy recital, no recital, or hardcore ballerina training.

Knowing what you want will help you find the right dance class for your child.

2.For introductory classes with no recitals and a low-key environment, check out local rec center schedules. These classes tend to be less expensive, less uptight and more about having fun. They introduce kids to the basics so if they want to pursue dance more seriously, they will have some basic skills under their belts.

3.If you want a recital, sign up at a dance studio. Recitals can get expensive, but can also be fun, especially if you have a natural performer on your hands. Be sure to ask the school about their recital policies and procedures, some dance schools get kind of wound up about recitals and issue handbooks bigger than a phone book packed with rules and regulations.

Also screen the dance school's approach to recitals. Do they think 'Bootylicious' is a good song for 3 year olds to perform to, while wearing a barely there tankini? Or do they keep it age appropriate?

4.If the goal is to develop a future ballerina, look at local universities, art centers, and theaters. Some dance studios also specialize in more intense dance instruction, but you'll have to ask around to find them. These dance classes for children will be much more traditional and are for kids who can follow directions well. They will also have a strict dress code (i.e. hair in bun, leotard, ballet shoes etc...). Which is fine, but I know my toddler would never do a bun, so we would totally be expelled from these type of children dance classes.

So how did you find dance classes for your children? What was your experience? We are starting with a rec center community class and we'll see from there. Having studied dance quite a bit myself, I hope our toddler is interested, but knowing her genetics, she probably won't have the body type for classical dance. I ended up performing folk dance myself.

Oh, and don't forget to take a second to check out my review of Brontorina a lovely book about a dinosaur who wants to be a ballerina.

Toddler Video: Tinkerbell Youtube Preview

2010-09-04T17:11:00.000-07:00

Just in case you didn't know, the Tinkerbell movies are perfect first movies for young toddlers. They are gentle and not scary and kids (girls at least) love Tink.

Disney has figured this out and there's a new Tink movie coming out later this month on DVD. You can treat your tot to an 8 minute preview on of Tinkerbell on Youtube.

Check it out.

FYI there are 3 Tinkerbell movies, which I'm going to list here simply because I've been trying to figure this out for myself (we have a birthday coming up and someone is going to be Tinked out of her mind).

Toddler Activities for Fall

2010-09-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here are our plans for Fall fun this year.

1. Pick apples and make homemade apple sauce. Mmmm can't wait for this one!

2. Rent a pontoon boat at our nearby national park and see the Fall foliage on water.

3. Decorate our dining room table for Fall using pumpkins and other seasonal goodies. (We didn't have a real dining room for the last few years and just finished a big home remodeling project to create one, so this is a Big Deal for us.)

4. Take the dogs to the same park as #2 for a walk and a swim.

5. Visit our favorite pumpkin farm and binge on pumpkin donuts.

6. Our toddler is starting preschool!

7.And dance class!

What are you doing with your family as the seasons change? I would love some more ideas!

Preschool Math Games: Numbers Game

2010-08-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

Our daughter has been showing some ability to count objects lately. To support her learning curve, I made a simple preschool math game that also works fine motor skills.

She really loved it and played with it as intended as well as performing a complicated pretend piano concerto on the clothes pins.

Here's how to make this great preschool math game.

Materials:

Index cards
A stamp* or Dot paints
Clothespins
Sharpie marker

*It might be fun to use a seasonal stamp such as apples for Fall.

Instructions:

1.Use the stamp or Dot paints to create quantities 1 through 10 on the index cards. Try to keep the formations for 1-6 the same as used on dice.

2.With the Sharpie, write the numeral on the clothespins.

3.Write the numeral on the back of the index cards so kids can check themselves.

How to Play:

The child should count the dots (or stamps) on each index card, find the corresponding numeral and attach the clothespin.

Believe it or not, this game kept our toddler busy for almost an hour. I know, as an adult, I look at activities and stuff-to-do-with-kids and go meh, how uninteresting. I forget I'm pushing 40, the toddler is pushing 3 so it's all new to her and new is fascinating. So if you are kind of skeptical about this game or any other activity, just remember if your kid has never seen anything like it before, odds are it will be a huge hit.

Brontorina: A Book About Dance Classes for Children

2010-08-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

We recently ordered the book Brontorina for our toddler who is just dying to start a dance class. She's a dancer without a dance floor. Unfortunately, children dance classes don't start until age three, which the toddler didn't hit until this year. She is going to be soooo happy later this year when she starts her dance class.

In the interim, I bought the Brontorina book in the hopes of not only entertaining our toddler but to open up the topic of dance classes for children. We talked about how dance classes operate, what dancers wear etc...

The book is utterly charming and all about letting people be the dancer they were born to be. It also covers some basic dance terms like plie and releve.

This is a definite must read for any young dancer. Plus, it's not too girlie girl and could easily be adapted for boys who will be taking children dance classes. And it doesn't take too long to read either, which is always a plus.

Cheap Toddler Crafts: Shiny Dragonflies

2010-08-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we attempted this lovely dragonfly craft , but being unable to locate my glue gun, it became more of an adventure than I bargained for.

But the kids had fun once I figured out what the heck maple keys are (helicopters). I didn't glue my fingers together like I usually do when using a glue gun and it only took me a week of patient attention to attach everything with Elmer's glue.

So, basically, what I'm saying is, you really need a glue gun for this craft.

Below is how we did it, but definitely check out the link above to see how they made their dragonflies.

Materials

1.Glue gun. If you can't find the glue gun, just give up now.
2. Maple keys a.k.a 'helicopters' those tree seeds that churn in the air like a helicopter.
3.Short twigs.
4.Teeny tiny baby acorns or beads
5.Glitter or paints. We used glitter glue.

Instructions

1.With glue gun attach the maple keys to the twigs to make wings. Glue on the acorns or beads to make eyes.

2.Let kids decorate as they wish.

3.Make a dragonfly mobile or tape them to the wall.

P.S. Sorry for the poor quality pic, I am working on taking a better picture.

The Stool Goes to the Playroom

2010-08-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a pic of the stools we made in the playroom. I am happy with the results. What do you think?

See how we made it here.

Crafts Gone Horribly Wrong:Making Stools for the Playroom

2010-08-18T08:18:00.001-07:00

I am not much of a crafter. Yeah, I have a glue gun, but do I know where it is? No. Which is unfortunate since we are trying to make dragonflies with sticks, leaves and glitter today.

Anyway, I caught sight of these lovely bar stools over on The Crafting Chicks and thought, 'Huh, I have old bar stools and a playroom with a distinct lack of pint-sized seating. Also, this looks pretty easy.'

Anyone ever notice that easy is a four letter word?

So I gave my hubby orders to chop the stools down to size, bought some paint and fabric and fully channeled my inner Amelia Bedelia.

The first major hurdle, I didn't have a large craft paint brush or sponge applicator. I used the BBQ basting brush from the kitchen instead. So what if the finished product smells a little bit like liquid smoke?

Application of the Mod Podge was a bit more challenging than I had anticipated as well. It's much thicker than I thought it would be. Also, I realized, after the fact, I bought the wrong kind. I'm not much of a Mod Podge connesieur, they all looked the same to me. Mod Podge is Mod Podge, right?

Well, time will tell as the stools are still drying. While we're waiting, if you want to attempt this craft yourself, here's my take on the instructions.

Supplies & Tools

Paint --We used Rustoleum spray paint from Walmart.
Brush or Sponge applicator (FYI the BBQ basting brush actually worked okay.)
Scissors--We used pinking shears.
Fabric--1/2 a yard if you're good at cutting fabric out, 1 yard if you plan on making mistakes.
Large plate to use as template for the fabric
Thin tipped Sharpie or marker
1 jar Mod Podge--We used Fabric Mod Podge, but Glossy Mod Podge is recommended.

Tip: When selecting fabric, try to find fabric that has the same background color as the paint for a seamless look. Or you could do what I did, which was pick fabric in a contrasting color for a not-so-seamless look.

Instructions

1.Paint the stools at least twice, thrice if necessary.

2. Fold your fabric in half and on the wrong side (e.g. inside out) and place half the plate on the fabric. Trace half the plate (e.g. you're tracing a half of a circle) on the fabric and cut along the line to create a circle.

Trust me, it is much easier to cut the fabric like this. I cut one full circle out and it was much harder to control the fabric and scissors. The folded fabric, half circle method is much easier.

3. Apply Mod Podge. There are two ways to do this, each has its pitfalls for the impaired crafter.

Method 1. Apply a circle of Mod Podge on the stool and place fabric on top. Pro of this method: Allows for easier movement of the fabric to center it on the stool. Cons of this method: Hard to thin out thick lumps of Mod Podge trapped underneath the fabric and can lead to a bumpy lumpy finish.

Method 2. Apply a thin smear of Mod Podge to the back of the fabric and flip onto stool. Pro of this method: Avoids the bumpy lumpy accumulation of Mod Podge. Cons of this method: You better hit the center on your first try or this could get messy.

I had two stools and used each method. Personally, I think method 2 looked better in the end.

4.Smooth the fabric with hands or a ruler to eliminate air bubbles and excess Mod Podge. Note: It's really easy to pull the fabric off center or create wrinkles so be careful--this is a real hazard of Method 1 in step 3 above.

5.Let dry for 10-15 minutes.

6.Cover the top of the fabric and stool with a thin coat of Mod Podge. Don't panic, it should dry clear.

7.Let cure for several hours or overnight.

8.Apply a clear coat or polyurethane top coat to seal the stool and add a glossy luster.

9.Let the stools cure again. The hubby is an experienced painter and we both work/worked (he's still there) for a Big Name paint company so we know something about paint and sealants. Curing can take time, especially if the weather is humid. Put the stools somewhere safe and just leave them for a couple days after step 8.

If you use the stool before it properly cures, the finish will be soft and even peel. So just set it aside and let it be. If you can put it in direct sun to cure, all the better.

Now, drumroll please...here's a picture of our stools so far. All we need to do is seal them. What do you think?

Toddler Art Activities:Six Easy Crafts for Toddlers

2010-08-02T01:01:00.000-07:00

Today, some link love for this short 'n' sweet article on easy crafts for toddlers. Six great ideas, using stuff you probably already have, and if you don't, it's cheap enough to buy.

Check it out!

Six Easy Crafts for Toddlers

Music for Kids that Even Adults Will Enjoy: Dan Zanes of Sesame Street Fame

2010-08-01T01:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of saccharine overly oomphed music for children. I need something earthier, something with soul.

And I'm not alone. There are several artists out there producing authentic music for children. Music that doesn't make me cringe.

My favorite, hands down, is Dan Zanes. You may have seen his music video Jump Up on Sesame Street. It's a catchy tune that never failed to grab our attention and, one day, I started googling to find there were entire albums filled with his lovely music.

Here's the video for Jump Up. (Be sure to have the kids watch with you, they'll love it.)

And one for All Around the Kitchen Cockadoodle-doodle-doo, which is a fun, active song.

Albums can be purchased at Amazon.

Not Just for Laid Off Parents: Kids Activities Ideas

2010-07-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

This article is geared toward parents who've gone through a lay off and are suddenly home with the kids all day, but I thought it had some good ideas for all parents. In fact, thanks to this article, I found a splash pad in my area. Never heard of 'me before, nor would I have without reading this article.

From Lay Off to Stay-at-Home-Parent: Keeping the Kids Busy

Hot Toys for Summer

2010-07-20T09:10:00.001-07:00

The Today show had a segment this morning about summer toys for kids. There were some interesting ideas in there, although they all require purchasing something. Still, it's worth a look.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Baby Beluga Song By Raffi Becomes Book

2010-07-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

At the bookstore the other day, I chanced upon a new board book called Baby Beluga. I have a life long love of the ocean and its animals, so I was delighted with the book and, with what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico, it seems especially bittersweet now.

Little did I know that Baby Beluga the book is based on a popular children's song performed by Raffi.

What a great pairing; a book and a song in one!

Our toddler loves this book and the song. Yours will too. Order the book here.

Here are some 'music videos' of the song to share with your tot.

Free Activities for Kids: 5 Things to Do Today with Your Kids

2010-07-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

Here are five simple and fun activities for kids that take minimal preparation and set up--perfect for summer's slower pace.

1.Watch the clouds while laying on a blanket and eating a popcicle.

2. Do the Hokey Pokey. Seriously. Just do it. Here's a video with music to get you started.

Now do it again!

3.Balance a ping pong ball on a spoon. Put a ping pong (or similar) ball on a spoon and see who can carry it the longest without dropping the ball. Create an obstacle course if you're feeling really ambitious.

4. Play 'What am I?' This is a fun guessing game that works critical thinking skills. Adjust the clues accordingly for age. Here's an example.

I am small.
I have wings.
I'm red and black.
I'm a real lady.
What am I?

5.Play I Spy with flashlights in the dark. This is best done at night, but a dim room would work too. Use flashlights as pointers. Kids love to play with flashlights! We do this a lot at bedtime and there's no more complaining about having to got to bed--they can't wait to turn on their flashlights.

Great Free Preschool Curriculum

2010-07-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

Check out this simple and wonderful preschool curriculum at Letter of the Week.com. Lots of great ideas and things to do that will keep busy toddlers busy.

Did I mention it appears to be a free preschool curriculum?

Can't beat that!

Note: This is not my preschool curriculum that I was working on in March. That has been shelved temporarily since I was seriously ill shortly after that last post.

Free Summer Preschool Curriculum Coming & How You Can Be a Part of It

2010-03-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

I'm working on an exciting project, an ebook full of toddler activities for the summer. It's about 1/3 of the way done and I'm actively looking for crafts to add to the ebook. If you have an activity on your blog, drop me a line at netwriterm AT gmail DOT com with the link. This is a great opportunity to promote your blog or website and help out parents facing a looooooong summer at home with active toddlers.

The ebook will be free BUT I reserve the right to charge a fee at a future date. If you contribute a craft, there will be a link back to your specific blog post in the text. I won't reproduce your content at all. It will simply be a straight link back to your blog. It would be helpful if you would send me a picture of the completed craft to use, however, in the ebook.

Again, if you're interested email me at netwriterm AT gmail DOT com.

Unit themes in need of craft ideas include:
Ants
Caterpillars
Butterflies
Kites
Wind
Seeds
Flowers
Bees & Honey
Bubbles
Birds
Rain
Seashells

Here's some information on how the ebook is formatted...

Each lesson has the following components:

1. Finger play
2. Song
3. Book recommendations
4. Art activity
5. Investigation Activity
6. Cooking Activity
7. Bonus Activity

Traditional preschool is usually 2 to 3 days a week so don’t do everything in one day. Instead, spread it out throughout the week. The intent is that the fingerplay, song, and books will be repeated and reread several times during the curriculum week. This repetition gives your toddler time to absorb all the facets of the lesson. Add in one big art, investigation or cooking activity per day. Also, don’t think you have to do everything—there are no preschool police coming to give you a ticket for failure to complete the lesson!

The Finger Plays and Songs
With the finger plays and songs, encourage your toddler to learn the words. Say all but one keyword of a phrase and ask them to fill in the blank—this shows you they are retaining what they hear which is an important skill for life long learning.

The Books
When reading, ask open ended questions such as ‘Why do you think they did that?’ ‘How do you think this made them feel?’ ‘Would you do that?’ ‘What do you think happens next’ to engage nascent critical thinking and reading comprehension skills.

Typically, the first time the book is introduced, it is read straight through to familiarize the child with the story. Subsequent readings should challenge your child to remember what’s next or infer a character’s feelings.

It’s okay if your questions are met with silence or confusion! That’s normal. Just answer the question yourself so your child can learn from you. If you are consistent with this, your child will soon surprise you with their opinions and imagination.

A note on the books used in this preschool curriculum… Books can be found at the library or purchased. I’ve taken the time to select books that mostly meet two criteria:

1. They must cost less than $10 to purchase.

2. They are part of the Amazon.com’s 4 for 3 promotion so for every 3 books you purchase, you get 1 free.

The Art Activity

Art activities are meant for toddlers to do with the idea that the experience is more important than the process or creating something ‘nice’. I’ve either created my own art activities or found the best ones for the theme from various blogs on the internet --in which case you will find a link that will take you to that site for craft instructions.

Toddler art projects were selected on the basis of whether or not a toddler could complete them from start to finish and were limited to activities that used common art supplies. These art projects are not fancy and require minimal parental involvement because the point is to have the toddler do it.

The Investigation Activity

These activities are designed to allow your toddler to explore science or ‘how stuff works’ aspect of the curriculum theme. Some of them are surprisingly scientific. Others are extension activities that build on concepts introduced in the books. Be sure to ask open ended questions and have toddlers try to predict results. The investigations are intended to be thought provoking and develop critical thinking skills. They should also be a lot of fun too!

In researching activities for the book, I have to say I think this free ebook is going to be one of the nicest early science resources out there.

Cooking with Kids

This section uses recipes specifically created for young children. Most recipes, with some exceptions, tie in directly with the unit theme. I made every attempt to use whole, healthy foods, but strict adherence to that ideal was not possible.

This was, by far, the most difficult part of the curriculum to develop because toddlers have limited skills and parents don’t want to (or need to) spend three hours in the kitchen. Nutritional concessions were made in the interests of time and in order to accommodate the skills of budding chefs. If a recipe violates the food ethics of your household, please feel free to cook something else.

Bonus Activities

Some units lent themselves to games or imaginative play prompts. Those are included as well whenever possible. Additional products are sometimes suggested as well that compliment the unit.

Friday Fingerplays: Winter Clean Up

2010-01-08T02:56:00.000-08:00

This is a great fingerplay for teaching children what needs to be done when they come inside after playing in the snow. Pantomime each action and then recite this little sequential fingerplay when they really do come inside after building a snowman.

When I come inside

When I come in from outdoor play.

I take my boots off right away.

I set them by the door just so.

Then off my cap and mittens go.

Zip down my coat and snowpants too.

And hang them up when I am through.

I'm a helper, keeping my things clean.

Yay!

Friday Fingerplays: Snowman Fingerplay and a Christmas Song

2009-12-04T03:22:00.000-08:00

Chubby Little Snowman

A chubby little snow man, had a carrot nose (Touch child's nose)

A long came a bunny and what do you suppose? (Make hand into a bunny shape)

That hungry little bunny, looking for his lunch (Have the bunny hop)

Ate that snowman's carrot nose ('Eat' child's nose)

Nibble, nibble crunch

Christmas Time (sung to the tune of Row Your Boat)

Note: If you have a bell to ring, all the more fun

Ring, ring, ring the bells

Ring them loud and clear

To tell the children everywhere

That Christmas time is here!

Fingerplay Friday: More Thanksgiving Fingerplays

2009-11-27T03:18:00.000-08:00

This is a good one to do for those of you who serve turducken!

Mr. Duck and Mr. Turkey

Mr. Duck went out to walk, (Hold up a thumb)

One day in pleasant weather.

He met Mr. Turkey on the way (Hold up other thumb)

And there they walked together (Move thumbs together and simulate walking)

Gobble, gobble, gobble (Wiggle one thumb)

Quack, quack, quack (Wiggle the other)

Goodbye, goodbye (Wiggle both thumbs)

And then they both walked back (Move thumbs apart)

Friday Fingerplays: Thanksgiving Fingerplays (and a song!)

2009-11-20T03:05:00.000-08:00

A smorgasboard of Thanksgiving fingerplays today...

Funny Bird

A turkey is a funny bird
His head goes bobble, bobble (Bob head)
And all he knows is just one word (Hold up 1 finger. You can also pause and ask kids if they know what the word is)
Gobble, gobble, gobble!

I'm a Turkey -- Can be sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle

I'm a turkey, big and fat. (Spread arms out.)
I spread my tail. I walk like that. (Fan fingers like a turkey's tail; Waddle.)
Each day's corn I will not miss, (Rub stomach.)
And when I talk, I sound like this: (Point to lips; Cup hand next to ear.)
GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE! (Shout.)

If You're ~~Happy~~ Thankful and You Know It--Sing to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you're thankful and you know it, shout "I am!"
If you're thankful and you know it, shout "I am!"
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, shout "I am!"

If you're thankful and you know it, do all three.
If you're thankful and you know it, do all three.
If you're thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, do all three.

Friday Fingerplays: Autumn

2009-11-13T02:51:00.000-08:00

When the Leaves Are on the Ground

When the leaves are on the ground (point to floor)

Instead of on the trees (Lift arms overhead like a tree)

I rake a pile of them (Pretend to rake)

Way up to my knees (Put hands on knees)

I like to run and jump in them (Jump)

And kick the leaves all around (Kick)

Then I fall, down on the ground (Sit down)

Friday Fingerplays: Autumn

2009-11-06T02:08:00.000-08:00

Here's a fingerplay that talks about the Fall season.

Leaves are floating gently down (Arms go up and down to simulate floating)

They make a carpet on the ground (Sweep arms down to point to feet)

They swish, the wind comes whooshing by (Make whooshing sound and continue to wave arms)

And sends them dancing to the sky (Flutter fingers up above head)

Friday Fingerplays: Halloween Fingerplays (An English and Spanish Fingerplay!)

2009-10-30T02:11:00.000-07:00

We've been doing this week's finger play all month and really enjoying it. I've included the Spanish version as well for those who are looking for bilingual fingerplays.

There is also a book based on this fingerplay that might be fun to read as well.

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a fence (Hold up all five fingers over opposite forearm to mimic sitting on a fence)

The first one says "Oh my it's getting late" (Pantomime looking at watch or point to clock in the room)

The second one says: "There are witches in the air" (Point to the sky)

The third one says: "But we don't care" (Shrug)

The fourth one says: "Let's run and run and run" (turn in a circle)

The fifth one says: "I'm ready for some fun!"

Whooooosh! Goes the wind. (Wave hands like the wind)

Out goes the light (Give a loud clap)

Five little pumpkins rolling out of sight (roll hands and hide behind back)

The Spanish finger play version is below and the actions are the same as outlined above. (Desculpa la falta de acentos.)

Cinco Calabacitas

Cinco calabacitas sentadas en un porton.

La primera dijo: Se esta haciendo tarde"

La segunda dijo: "Hay brujas en el aire"

La tercera dijo: "No le hace"

La cuarta dijo:"Corramos, corramos"

La quinta dijo: "Es una noche de espanto"

Uuuuuuuu hizo el viento.

Y se apagaron las luces.

Las cinco calabacitas, corrieron a esconderse!

Friday Fingerplays: What Am I?

2009-10-23T02:02:00.000-07:00

Here is a Halloween themed fingerplay for your little ones.

What Am I?

A face so round (Hands in a circle)

And eyes so bright (Point to eyes)

A nose that glows (Point to nose)

My, what a sight!

A fiery mouth (Point to mouth)

With a jolly grin (Grin)

No arms, no legs (shake legs and arms)

Just head to chin (touch forehead and chin)

What am I?

A Jack-O-Lantern!

CHEAP TODDLER ACTIVITIES: TODDLER HALLOWEEN CRAFT & A BOOK

2009-10-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

We have been reading Where is Baby's Pumpkin by Kar e n Katz on a daily basis over here. The constant exposure triggered some primordial craft genes to express themselves and, if I do say so myself, this is a decent craft/book tie-in for the younger toddler. Also, it doesn't tax my quite limited crafting skills. Another plus is you can s-t-r-e-t-c-h this one out over the course of several days.

All you need are:

1. Construction paper in a variety of autumn/halloween colors
2. Halloween stickers
3. Crayons
4. Watercolor paints or other paints
5. Scissors (for mommy)
6.Glue (for mommy)

The modus operandi here is mommy cuts out the basic shape of items featured in the book (pumpkin, ghost, witch hat, bats etc... Although just do one at a time!) and allows the toddler to color or paint them followed by liberal application of holiday stickers.

Then mommy glues whatever needs to be glued (if she hasn't done it already) and sticks the art work on the wall.

The next time you read 'Where is Baby's Pumpkin' you refer back to the craft project 'Hey, look, there's the pumpkin we made' etc...

Here are some pics of the creative process...

CHEAP TODDLER ACTIVITIES: FUN FELT GAME

2009-10-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Chasing Cheerios has a great pumpkin decorating felt 'game' over on her blog. It is too cute and would be perfect for little and older toddlers.

It's based on a scarecrow decorating game from Let's Explore.

Way cute and super fun. I hope to try this with my little pumpkins. :)

CHEAP FAMILY ACTIVITIES: FALL HARVEST

2009-10-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to head out to the pumpkin patch and pick some apples. Check out pickyourown.org for locations near you.

And a quick checklist of seasonal activities--You haven't done Fall until you done all of the below--:

1. Leaf rubbing.

2. Drinking hot cider with donuts.

3. Eating apple cobbler over ice cream.

4.Carving or otherwise decorating pumpkins.

5.Roasting pumpkin seeds.

6. Jumping in to a pile of leaves.

7.Reading books about Halloween and the Fall season.

8. Collecting pretty leaves and acorns for a collage.

9. Dance to the 'Monster Mash' or 'Thriller'.

10. Watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

What makes Fall for your family?

Animal Addiction: 5 Steps for a Spectacular Safari

2009-09-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of some fun animal inspired games and websites that will be sure to provide several hours of fun.

1. The ABCs with animals. This game is perfect for waiting rooms or while running errands. Take turns naming animals that start with each letter of the alphabet. Anteater, Bumblebee, Cat etc... This will get kids thinking and eat time with discussions of the difference between an anteater and aunteater (Shel Silverstein has a cute poem on this very topic).

2. Walk this way. Avoid parking lot meltdowns by asking kids to hop like a bunny, waddle like a duck, march like an ant etc... on their way into the store. How many different animals can you come up with? Do a bit of role reversal too and have your kids t

3. Visit www.switchzoo.com where kids can design their own wild kingdom for free. Every wonder what a praying mantis crossed with a buffalo might look like? You can find out on this website!

4. Check out the San Diego Zoo webcams to see what animals are doing in real time. Just click on the Live cams tab at the top of the page and select which animal you would like to watch.

5. Bussongs.com has the lyrics and, in some cases, music to a whole menagerie of animal songs.

6.Don't forget to set up a jungle hunt or safari. For older kids, hide some stuffed animals around the house/yard and give them a list of what they need to find. Younger kids will enjoy following a string of yarn to the animal's hidden location.

Happy hunting!

Cheap or Free Toddler Activities: 8 More Ideas

2009-09-08T18:12:00.001-07:00

Here's another list of things to do when your toddler doesn't know what to do with themselves anymore.

1.Peruse the spice cabinet and smell away. Be sure to note what smells are sweet and savory to expose your toddler to those concepts.

2.Put finger paint in a gallon size ziploc bag (quarts are too small) and seal for a homemade 'sensory mat.' It's squishy, it's cold, it allows for mess free finger painting. Provide a bag for each color. Older kids can use this to play endless games of tic-tac-toe.

3.Gather a variety of different sized balls and an empty laundry basket. Take turns trying to throw a ball into the basket thereby introducing the concept of turns and sharing. Now, we did this one at home and it was not a hit, but I can see an active, kinetic toddler really getting into this. This can be adapted for multiple ages; i.e. older kids throw from further away.

4. Make a 'wave' bottle with some baby oil, food coloring and glitter. This is a variation on the I Spy bottle mentioned in the previous post. Take a used water or pop bottle and fill it with water about 1/3 of the way. Add food coloring and glitter. Top off with baby oil and seal. Put on some Beach Boy surfer music and make some waves!

5.Go for a magic carpet ride. Take an old sheet or use an area rug. Have toddler sit down on it and pick up the other end and drag them around the house. Kids love this one!

6. Thread some rigatoni on yarn or old shoelaces. This allows toddlers to practice fine motor skills. If you are feeling especially crafty, paint the rigatoni first. Bonus points to the mom who forgets to take off her necklace before leaving the house.

7. Find the alphabet. You will need a bin, some letters such as the magnetic ones on your fridge and some rice, bird seed, or dried beans. Fill the bin with the letters and cover with the rice, bird seed, or dried beans. See if your toddler can find them all before they put a bean up their nose! This activity provides a great opportunity to reinforce letter recognition.

8. Go on a Bear Hunt. While your toddler is napping, take a teddy bear and tie yarn around it's ankle. Hide the bear and leave a 'yarn trail' for your toddler to follow. Couple this activity with the book We're Going on a Bear Hunt. Really nice moms hide a special treat with the bear such as chocolate or a favorite snack.

P.S. Just a friendly reminder that stores are putting all their summer merchandise on clearance. Now is the time to scope out sprinklers and other summer toys for next year.

Free or Cheap: A Menu of Toddler Activities for the Younger Toddler

2009-09-04T19:42:00.000-07:00

As any momma knows, it's hard to entertain the littlest of the littles. Three-year-olds have pre-school and their imaginations. Four-year-olds are almost ready to move out of the house and get married. Okay, maybe not, but when compared to a 1-year-old or 2-year-old, 4 seems ancient and wise. So I have a special place in my heart for activities that will keep the babies busy. Also, I have one of those babies.

And we've committed to turning off the TV and going TV free.

I think I might be clinically insane. Life without Sesame Street? May not be worth living. I actually like Elmo and Bert and Ernie. I will miss them. If you see them, say hello for me, okay?

Anyway, as I was creating my meal menu plan this week (which is still undone) I had a flash of insight; why not make a Toddler Activities Menu and, oh I don't know, PLAN AHEAD? Am I the only one who has noticed that it's the simplest things that are the hardest?

So I started brainstorming and googling and thinking really hard to come up with the menu below. Sample at will. If you do try something, let me know. Or if you have some ideas, please share, I beg you, because I got bupkus for next week.

1. Fly a 'kite' which will actually be a mylar balloon from the grocery store with a long lead made of yarn. Helium eliminates any wind worries and the 2 and under set have no idea it's not a kite. I think it's brilliant. Cost? Like $3.

2.Visit the paint store and get color samples for all the major color. Cut the chips out and make a graph with one color at the top and blank spaces below for toddlers to match tones. Okay, that's worded a bit awkwardly, but basically we're making a color chart and identifying tones as belonging to the same color family. The top of the chart should have a sample color for toddlers to go by. I'll try to post picks when we do this.

3. Color matching with M&Ms. I'm not sure what I'm going to use as the color match for the toddler to match her M&Ms to. Maybe cut some shapes from construction paper? Print out some fun animals in color (i.e. brown bear, red crab etc...). Use a selection of dirty socks? Something! Plus we get to eat chocolate. HFCS laden chocolate, but still chocolate! Cost? $1? Depends on whether or not you have paper/printer ink on hand.

If/When I find a place to print the animals for free, I'll update with a link. I haven't yet found anything I like though. Dirty socks, here we come!

4. Make an I Spy bottle--this one requires a trip to the craft store. Fill 1/2 a plastic pop bottle (a small one) with corn syrup, then top off with water. With your toddler's help add small alphabet and number beads along with shapes and glitter. Glue on the cap and shake. Cost? $10 for all supplies.

5. Bubbles. Just because my daughter is a bubble nut and we've been out of solution. So I will restock this weekend and we will spend hours blowing bubbles. Cost? $3 The tantrums though will be priceless; my daughter has, shall we say, control issues about blowing bubbles.

6.Water paint. I like water paints over finger paints for young toddlers. Less mess. Cost?$3

7.Stamping. Our craft store is having a blow out sale on stamps so I picked up a dozen or so costing just $1.00 or $0.50. Very cheap. We already have the stamping pad and are all set to stamp ourselves silly--last week we actually stamped our dog's head. He's very white and looked dashing with some purple butterflies on his forehead.

Cost? Stamp pads can be pricey, around $9. Stamps vary from $0.50 up to $10. Our craft store carries foam cubes for fifty cents with a stamp on each side, which is cheap, perfectly sized for little hands, and offers lots of variety in one package.

Note that stamping will result in hands covered with ink--it fades over the course of the day but if you have something special planned, like hand modeling, you might want to forgo the stamps for another time.

FREE OR CHEAP: SOME BACK TO SCHOOL READING

2009-08-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

It's back-to-school time and I wanted to point you in the direction of some articles that will help your kids get in gear for the new school year.

How to Develop Math Literacy in Preschool Kids

How to Help Kids Understand Fractions

How to Get Kids' Minds Ready to Go Back to School

How to Help Learning Disabled Kids with Math

FREE OR CHEAP: 16 IDEAS FOR SUMMER FUN

2009-08-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over. Now is the time to squeeze all the extra juice you can of the last few weeks of warm weather. So if you haven't done any of the following yet this summer, what are you waiting for?

1. Slip 'n' slide/sprinkler party followed by popcicles for everyone. Slip'n'slides are inexpensive, around $20 to $30. Be sure to supervise to ensure safety--I've seen some bad spills when kids got a little too rambunctious.

2.Make homemade ice cream in ziploc bags.

3. Fly a kite.

4.Letterboxing. Haven't heard of this? Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of treasure hunting, art, navigation, and exploring interesting, scenic, and sometimes remote places. It takes the ancient custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of a mountain to an artform.

Here's the basic idea: Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.

Check out the official website to find letterboxing locations near you (or start one!).

5.Have a water balloon fight. If you have a little extra money, buy soaker balls which are cloth balls that soak up water to make a reusable 'water balloon'. They are relatively inexpensive (around $5 to $6 for a package of 4 or 6).

6.Have a water pistol fight.

7. Go kart racing.

8. Make aFoamboard doll house/ superhero set. This is a great rainy day activity that can be adapted for boys or girls. You need one sheet of foamboard for kid (which costs like $2) and a bunch of catalogs/magazines for them to cut out pictures of furniture etc... in order to decorate the space.

9.Have a weinie roast and make campfire s'mores.

10. Go for a walk in the dark with a flashlight. Try to pick a night with a full moon and let 'em loose. Add walkie talkies, if you've got them, to turn your midnight jaunt into a secret mission.

11. Make your own pizzas...repeatedly. Older kids should be charge with making homemade dough and everyone should top their own pie.

12. Make sidewalk paint.
Ingredients:
·1/4 cup cornstarch
·1/4 cup cold water
·6-8 drops food coloring
·Paint Brush

Procedure:
1.Mix cornstarch and cold water together in a small plastic bowl.
2.Add food coloring and stir.
3.Repeat the process to create different colors.

Tips:
Use Super Sidewalk Paint for painting hopscotch grids, cakewalks, even make-believe roads and highways for toy cars.

13. Make goop.

14. Find a drive-in theater and go to the movies. Here's a list of drive-in locations around the US.

15. Go somewhere new close to where you live. I live by Lake Erie and we haven't been there once--oversights like that should be rectified. City and national parks with water often have rowboat or kayak rentals at reasonable prices. Go fishing.

Or go to a museum.

Look for Renaissance Fairs in your area (although they can be on the expensive side).

Go to a classic car night at a local restaurant or pub--this is free unless you order food and kids will enjoy people and car watching. Stop for ice cream on the way home and talk about which cars you liked best.

16. Fill a pinata with candy and whack away. Who says you need to wait for a birthday or special occasion? Any time is pinata time. Have kids make a cheap pinata with a brown bag. Let them fill it with candy. Tape it shut. Decorate and whack away.

Low Cost Activity: Strawberries!

2009-05-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that it is strawberry season. This is a great time to locate U-pick farms in your area and take the kids strawberry picking.

Depending on age, there are all sorts of yummy things you can do with strawberries. Make smoothies. Top ice cream. Add 'em to yogurt. Or make strawberry freezer jam which is a great way to save the taste of Spring for the depths of Winter. Kids of most ages will love helping to smash the strawberries for jam--just be sure to wear old clothes.

Photo Credit:jeltovski

Low Cost Activities For Kids: Making Memories For Memorial Day

2009-05-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Juice up your Memorial Day weekend and your parenting with fun and easy crafts for kids from pre-school age up to late elementary from Better Homes & Gardens. If you can get past the annoying subscription pop up ads, you'll find a wealth of simple, fun crafts that will get everyone's creative juices flowing.

Suite 101 has some Memorial Day craft ideas for the holiday as well.

This is a touching and sweet idea, use face paint to make military tattoos to either honor loved ones in service or explore the art of military tattoos. Here is a great write up on the artistic themes and motifs found in military tattoos. Once, you've had a little tattoo art history lesson, have kids draw their tattoo design first on paper and then help them recreate it on their body with face paint.

If you are tight on cash and time, make macaroni necklaces, but paint the macaroni with patriotic colors.

The Parent Juice family is going to be out of town the rest of the week, so posting will be light, however, we are developing a great biological science activity for you and your kids. Check back next week and learn how you can have a blast with the ants in your driveway.

Photo Credit: Click

Free Activity For Almost Any Age: Use Toilet Paper Like An Egyptian

2009-05-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

It's a dreary day of thunderstorms and pounding rain here at the Juice household, meaning there's no way to go outside and burn off energy. We've colored, built towers, watched Elmo, and been to Gymboree and we still have four hours until bed time.

What to do?

Why, break out ancient Eypgtian arcehology and toilet paper, of course. Isn't it obvious? This activity is messy and a bit wasteful, but if you do it right, toilet paper will buy you an hour of free time. Here's how...

1. For older kids, make like an Egyptian and TP your offspring. Yes, I'm serious. First, visit National Geographic's mummy page or Discovery Kids Mummy Maker to learn about mummies. Then, hand kids a roll of toilet paper and instruct them to make themselves into mummies. Supply stickers and markers for children to decorate their bandages with. This is a great activity for sibling groups because they will help wrap each other up.

Then play Walk Like An Egyptian by the Bangles and encourage a mummy dance party. (Discussion of the 80s pop culture movement is optional and perhaps better left unexplained.)

2.For older preschool age kids or younger elementary age kids, use toilet paper as a measuring tape and have kids number the squares sequentially in marker. For example, how many toilet paper squares tall is your child? How big around?

Wrap them up in toilet paper or let them wrap and unwrap you. Play TP catch or roll TP on the floor to see who can unravel the most toilet paper in one push.

3.Toddlers will marvel at how the toilet paper unravels as it rolls. Put on some upbeat music and let them run wild. If they have the coordination to kick, play TP soccer, which for toddlers means kicking TP around the room, missing often, and occassionally wiping out.

4.For infants, substitute tissue paper for toilet paper and use a pacifier to avoid unwanted snacking. Tissue paper works better for infants because it's more durable, comes in a variety of colors and designs, and crinkles delightfully in little fists. It provides sight, sound, and tactile stimulation to get baby's brain buzzing.

5.Most kids would enjoy toilet paper streamers in a door way for an impromptu, sensory stimulating curtain that will take peek-a-boo to a whole new level. Secure streamers with painter's tape to minimize potential damage to wall finishes.

Mess Control

You will have toilet paper every where if you don't confine kids to one room. Shut doors, lock the baby gates, and set some ground rules.

Provide a trash bin and suggest kids dispose of toilet paper they are finished with.

If you want parenting time-out, though, let the kids run wild in limited space and deal with the mess later.

Engage kids in the clean up by making it a race to see who can clean up the most toilet paper first.

Photo Credit:jeltovski

Entertain Toddlers & Infants With Hidden Surprises

2009-05-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

Today's shot of parent juice is a link to an ehow article about hidden surprises. Basically, while your little one is napping, you are going to set up a bunch of cool surprises using toys and household items you already own.

Which, in case you didn't notice, makes this a free toddler activity. More importantly, this activity should keep toddlers busy for 20-30 minutes.

If you rotate toys, this would be a great activity to bring in a few items your child hasn't seen in a while.

The key is to set this up in secret so when they wake up it's like Santa had a party in your living room with the Easter Bunny and left all their cool toys behind just for your toddler.

So hop to it!

Photo Credit: Charmaine Swart

Cheap Toddler Games: Bubbles And Rhymes

2009-05-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

Here’s a quick, easy,mostly free toddler game anyone can do. All you need are some bubbles and bubble wands. If you can, try to buy Gymboree bubbles as those last longer allowing for toddlers to pounce on the bubbles and pop the bubbles with glee. The Gymboree bubble solution costs between $3-$6 and can be found at their clothing stores or activity centers. However, the drugstore brand Magic Bubble works almost as well as the Gymboree bubbles for half the cost. If you are really itching to spend some money, invest in a bubble machine which run around $20 to $30.

As for bubble wands, this time of year most drugstores sell assortments of wands for around $5. The only reason I suggest making the investment is they have mini bubble wands that yield a ton of small bubbles.

However, before you break out the bubbles, first do the following rhyme with your toddler, but omit the bubble lines at the end. Run through the rhyme a few times so they start to learn the movements. This rhyme also teaches the concepts of high and low and body awareness in relation to height. Plus, it gets little bodies moving and burns energy.

Each word in the rhyme gets a clap. The rhyme’s movements are pretty self explanatory. When it’s time to go fast, clap fast, when the rhyme says to go slow, clap slow etc...

Once you add the bubbles into the mix, encourage your toddler to chase them down. Depending on your toddler’s energy and interest level you can stretch this activity out for 20 minutes or more (although, fair warning, it may involve repeating the rhyme several times).

Clap, clap, clap

Clap your hands high

Clap your hands low

Clap your hands fast

Clap ‘em real slow

Clap ‘em by your ear

Clap ‘em by your toes

Clap your hands quiet

Clap your hands loud

Now let’s clap some bubbles

Pop,pop,pop

Clap, clap, clap

Note 1: I am fearless and blow bubbles in the living room. I have not had any permanent stains, but sometimes the bubble solution leaves soap skid marks in the rug that come out once we steam clean the carpet. If you don’t own a steam cleaner, this may be an activity to do in the basement or outside on a calm day.

Note 2: This toddler activity is great for mixed age groups. Babies will enjoy clapping and watching the bubbles even if the finer points of the rhyme pass them by.

Photo Credit: Tinah via Morgue File

Parenting for the Craft Impaired Contributor Guidelines

2009-05-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

About Parenting for the Craft Impaired

Parent for the Craft Impaired is a resource that is meant to recharge parental energy and channel it into fun, educational activities for kids. Our core audience is the harried parent who is still waiting for the instruction manual or the parent who wants a moment to pee and gulp down some coffee, but can’t because the natives are restless.

Contributing to Parenting for the Craft Impaired

We are looking for contributions that outline, in detail, a fun and inexpensive activity for kids. The age range for the activity can be any age between birth and ten years of age. Suggestions on ways to tweak an activity for a variety of age ranges is appreciated and encouraged.

Content must be original and at least 500 words with a soft upper limit of 1200 words (soft means we might make exceptions).

Use section breaks and subtitles, if possible, to break content into easily digestible junks.

We require at least one picture for all articles. They should be either pictures you’ve taken yourself or free images available from sites such as Morgue File.

As for writing style, first person or third person is fine, second person is not our favorite,but we do use it. Personal experience is okay, but the primary focus should be telling parents how they can do the activity in their home.

Articles should be formatted for the internet; single spaced text with double spaces between paragraphs.

Specific product recommendations and pricing is helpful and should be added to content whenever possible.We reserve the right to add such information to your content.

Compensation

Compensation is $6 per article, a byline, link to your blog or website, and a bio at the end of your article.

Payment will be made either via Paypal or by check, whichever you specify.

Rights

Parenting for the Craft Impaired buys first electronic rights and requests a 90 day exclusive on your article, after which time you may repost or resell your work elsewhere.

By submitting your work to Parenting for the Craft Impaired, you agree to give us the right to post your article and accompanying pictures in perpetuity.

How to submit work to Parenting for the Craft Impaired

Send content along with a bio of around 50 words in an email to parentjuice@gmail.com.

Copy and paste text into the email, do not send an attachment. Attachments will not be opened.

Do not send photos until you’ve received an acceptance from us.

Acceptance & Timeline

If your article is accepted, we will email you a contract along with a request for pictures and additional information such as your paypal account.

Please print out the contract and sign it. Either scan the signed contract and email it, or send it to us via snail mail (the address will be on the contract).

Payment will be made once we have received the contract and other information necessary to post your article.

If a signed contract as well as other requested information is not received within two weeks, we will assume you do not wish to publish with us and we will move on.

It may take up to 4 weeks for us to review material, after 4 weeks feel free to send an inquiry on your submission.

Privacy Policy

2009-05-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

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