Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers

Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers

April 19th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Waking up to a rainy day can really put a damper on your plans, and the thought of the hours ahead stuck in the house with your preschooler might make you want to head back to bed! But with a little creativity, you can turn a rainy day into a fun day and keep your preschooler so busy he won’t even notice he’s stuck inside.

Start the Day Off Right

Since you’re stuck inside, there’s no point in rushing through breakfast. Pull out all the stops for a delicious meal and let your preschooler in on the fun. Make pancakes and create fun faces for him using toppings like fruit, whipped cream and chocolate chips. After breakfast get everyone involved in the clean up.

Classic Rainy Day Games

When breakfast is over, there are still a lot of hours in the day to fill. A few classic games will pass the day away with fun and imagination!

An indoor scavenger hunt will keep any kid occupied and entertained. Make a list of items for him to locate throughout the house and send him off on the hunt. Since preschoolers won’t be able to read the list, you can either send him in search of one thing at a time, or try this trick; make a color coded list. Draw circles of various colors on a sheet of paper and instruct him to find an item that matches each of the colors. You’ll be amazed at the creative items he will find to complete the list!

Rainy days were made for building indoor forts. Raid the linen closet, and help to create a fortress by draping sheets over furniture. Hide inside your living room palace with some good books and a snack. Inspire imagination by dreaming up all the different places your little fort could be; a boat on the ocean, an igloo in the frozen north, or perhaps a tree house in the jungle. Make up stories about who you are and why you are in such a remote location.

Crafty Kid Pleasers

If a surprise rainy day catches you without any craft supplies in the house, never fear. These simple crafts use only common items you likely have in the house anyway.

Gather up all your broken crayons, and heat up the oven to 200 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and press various metal cookie cutters into the foil. Remove all the paper from the crayons, and fill the cookie cutters with bits and pieces of crayon in different colors, then pop them in the oven until melted. Let them cool and then pop them out of the cookie cutters. Your little one won’t be able to wait to try out her new crayons in fun shapes! You can also melt the broken pieces into muffin tins lined with foil cups for chunky new crayons that work great for little hands.

Grab that box of photos you have been meaning to go through, and some construction paper and glue. Let your little one pull out pictures of her favorite people, glue them to a piece of construction paper, and decorate the new frame however she likes (perhaps with her cool new crayons!). You can also add the person’s name and perhaps some words that describe that person – let you preschooler help decide what words she thinks are perfect.

Get creative, and before you know it, your rainy day will be at an end, with an exhausted kid who is ready to crawl into bed for a good night’s sleep!

The Top Toys for Babies from 7 to 12 months

The Top Toys for Babies from 7 to 12 months

April 16th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

After your baby passes the half-year mark, he will really start to show major advances in motor skills and comprehension. During the next six months, he will start sitting on his own, pulling up on furniture, cruising around it and possibly even walking. His cognitive development will move along at a rapid pace as he begins to make more sense of the world around him.

During this stage, your baby will really begin to enjoy simple but educational toys that encourage development of both gross and fine motor skills, and also allow him to expand his growing knowledge of how things work, including cause and effect and object permanence. Towards his first birthday, more complex toys will grab and hold his attention.

Basic Blocks and Beyond

A good places to start, blocks are a toy that will grow with your child through the next six months of development and beyond. In addition to a very basic set of blocks which your child will learn to stack, sort and more, you might also want to pick up a set of nesting boxes. These boxes can be stacked but also nest within one another to encourage learning of sizes and spatial concepts. Towards baby’s first birthday, he will start to enjoy large interlocking blocks such as the Mega Bloks line.

During this time your baby will also benefit from the challenge of a shape sorter, which will help to develop manual dexterity as well as problem solving skills. Babies at this age will also have fun with stacking rings, which encourages hand-eye coordination.

Making Music

As your baby begins to understand the effect he can have on his environment, he will start to really get into making all kinds of noises. Look for simple noisemaking toys such as Leap Frog’s Learn N’ Groove series of electronic musical instruments that includes a piano, drum and more. Basic noisemakers such as rattles and maracas will be a huge hit at this age, and baby will happily make a drum out of just about anything.

Activity Tables

As your baby learns to pull herself up on the furniture, she will want to be on her feet as much as possible, practicing this new and exciting skill. An activity table is a perfect toy for this stage. Look for one that offers a number of interesting activities as well as sounds and lights. It should be stable enough to withstand baby pulling up and leaning on it as well.

Toys in Motion

During this developmental stage, your baby will start to enjoy pushing a toy along as she crawls or cruises along the furniture. Simple vehicles with moving wheels will encourage baby to get moving and follow along. Baby will also love balls that she can roll across the floor and chase after. Toys with pull strings will be a hit as well, following behind your little one as she makes her way around the house.

Watch for Choking Hazards!

At this age, your baby will want to put just about everything into her mouth. Between the natural developmental need to check things out with her mouth and the start of teething, everything will become a chew toy. Be cautious of any toys with small parts, and make sure there is nothing your baby can get fully into her mouth.

This is the perfect time to start building a collection of basic, versatile toys that will last well into the second year of life.

Create a Valentine’s Day Tissue Paper Flower Bouquet

Create a Valentine’s Day Tissue Paper Flower Bouquet

April 12th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Celebrate Valentine’s Day and spread the love with a colorful bouquet made of tissue paper flowers in a pretty vase. This easy craft results in a cute gift any child would be happy to present to a loved one on Valentine’s Day.

What you will need:

  • Tissue paper in Valentine’s Day colors such as red, pink and white
  • Green pipe cleaners
  • Construction paper in red, pink and white
  • Scissors and glue

Making the Flowers

You can create a varied bouquet with several different types of flowers, or stick to just one style, it’s up to you! Here are three different options for beautiful tissue paper flowers.

Flower #1. Cut different colors of tissue paper into the shape of a dog bone. Stack about ten of the bone shapes one on top of the other, and fan them out so that they don’t all line up. Next, pass a green pipe cleaner through the center of your stack of bone shapes and twist it down at the top to make sure the petals don’t fall off. Pinch the bottom of the petals to push them up into a bloom. The petals will look like little hearts! Finally, wind the pipe cleaner around the pinched paper a few times to make sure the petals don’t slide down the stem and the petals stand up in a bloom shape rather than lying flat.

Flower #2. Stack four 5″ x 11″ pieces of tissue paper in alternating colors one on top of the other. Fold the stack of paper accordion style, creating approximately ¾” folds. With scissors, round off the end of the tissue paper accordion. Pinch the center of the folded paper and wrap the end of a pipe cleaner around it. Carefully fan out the pieces of tissue paper and adjust them to create the bloom.

Flower #3. Make a stack of tissue paper in either varying colors, or all the same color if you prefer. Cut out a star shape, with approximately 8-10 points to each star. Twist the stars around so that the points are spaced out and not all on top of each other. Push a pipe cleaner through the center and secure it as in flower number one, bending it at the top and pinching the center underneath the petals, then winding the pipe cleaner around the pinched off paper.

Making the Vase

Check the length of your pipe cleaner stems against a piece of construction paper, and trim it as needed so that the stems are longer. Glue the ends of your trimmed paper together to make a cylinder that will stand on its own. If it doesn’t seem stiff or stable enough, double up the paper with another sheet. Cut out construction paper hearts in various shapes and sizes, and glue them to the cylinder.

Then simply slip your flowers into the vase, and arrange them however you like! You can stand them up straight, or bend the pipe cleaners a little so that they peek over the edge of the vase. Mix different types of flowers in one vase, or make one vase for each type of paper bloom.

With this simple and pretty Valentine craft, you will create colorful flowers that will continue to bloom for as long as you want to display them!

Getting Physical: Guidelines for Children

Getting Physical: Guidelines for Children

April 10th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

We all know physical activity is important for good health, but often we forget that our children need to be physically active just as much as adults. With childhood obesity reaching near-epidemic proportions and juvenile diabetes on the rise, a warning sign is being sent to parents about the effects of lack of exercise on our children. By making physical activity a regular part of your child’s life early on, you will set her up for a lifetime of healthy habits.

How Much Exercise Should My Child Get?

The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents over the age of two should participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day, while older children and adolescents should aim for 60 minutes. This activity should be moderate to vigorous; this means that it should get your child’s heart rate up. If necessary, it’s ok to split the activity into more than one session; fifteen minutes in the morning and fifteen minutes in the afternoon will add up to 30 minutes just the same as doing it straight.

What Activities are Best for y Child?

The right type of physical activity depends on your child’s age, developmental stage and physical abilities. Your 3 year old probably isn’t coordinated enough to jump rope, but for a six year old it is a great choice. Most young children will get enough exercise just by spending an hour at a playground. Running around and climbing on play structures will increase heart rate as well as improve strength.

Older children will benefit from organized sports in more ways than one. In addition to improving their health, sports teach teamwork and increase self-confidence. Soccer is a great first sport for young children, as it is an easy sport to learn and carries less chance of injury than some other options. It’s always a good idea to choose a sport that your child is interested in playing. If they aren’t into it, they won’t have a good time and are likely to want to quit. Remember that fun is the name of the game! Children who learn that physical activity is enjoyable are more likely to stick with it through adulthood.

Your kids aren’t the only ones who should get in the habit of regular exercise. Remember that your children are much more likely to develop healthy habits if they see you engaging in the same practices; if they see you getting physical and enjoying it, they’ll want to do the same. Get involved in activities as a family; try bike riding, hiking, or throwing a ball around at the park. Good health isn’t the only benefit of exercising together; you will also get to spend quality time with your family.

General Precautions

With any physical activity, there are always a few precautions to keep in mind. Prevent injuries by making sure your child always has the proper equipment for the activity at hand. Especially on hot days, be sure there is plenty of water available and that your child consumes it. And don’t forget the sunscreen if you are playing outside; even on a cloudy day, damage can be done to the skin, so get in the habit of using it every time. Make sure your kids know to stop if something is hurting, and never keep playing on an injury.

Making physical activity a regular part of your everyday life will help your children to grow up healthy and strong. It may be the most important thing you can do to ensure your little one’s current and future health.

Great Games for the Youngest Babies

Great Games for the Youngest Babies

March 11th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Even in the earliest months, there are games you can play with your baby to engage, stimulate, and encourage development. While baby isn’t really ready yet for much in the way of toys, she is taking everything in and will soon start responding to your efforts to communicate. Simple games, although they start out one sided, are a great way to motivate those responses.

Remember when you are talking to and playing with your new baby, especially in the first three months, that her eyesight is still developing. She sees best from a distance of about a foot, and is best able to make out high contrast colors, especially black and white. So keep games up close and personal to allow baby to see what’s going on.

Making Faces

Young babies respond best to human faces. There is nothing they would rather look at, so using your face to play games with baby is a great way to get started. Start with the most basic baby game – peek-a-boo. First hide your whole face in your hands, then try hiding just half, covering one eye and then the other, or just your mouth or eyes. Next, drop down out of baby’s sight and then reappear.

Make different faces for baby by changing your expression, sticking out your tongue, and raising your eyebrows. You can combine this game with peek-a-boo by varying the expression on your face every time it reappears. Eventually, you will notice that she starts smiling or trying to imitate your expressions, but for the first few months she is just taking it all in. Don’t be disappointed if there isn’t as much reaction as you had hoped for; your baby is just too young yet to respond, but she is definitely paying attention.

A Little Anatomy Lesson

In the first months of life, your baby is just learning that he even has a body, never mind what to do with it. Discovering body parts like hands and feet are great fun for baby, and games that point out body parts are a great way to help baby locate and learn all about his own body.

A classic game like “This Little Piggy” is a great one for young babies. It’s best done with baby lying on his back, so his feet can be up in the air and within his range of sight. Kneel over him and grab each toe as you play the game. Stick with the traditional tale of the piggy that went to market and the one who stayed home, or make up your own words. Just make sure to include the grand finale, tickling your fingers up baby’s body!

Another simple anatomy game is to lay your baby on the floor and kiss each body part in turn, naming them as you go. Start at the feet and work your way up so you can finish by kissing his soft little cheeks and lips! This is a wonderful post-bath game when you can get at all those little parts before putting clothes on again!

Remember that your baby is learning even when he is very young and doesn’t appear to be involved in what’s going on. His developing mind is working overtime absorbing information and trying to make sense of it. Before long, baby will start playing his part in the games as well, and you will realize he was paying attention all along.

Fall for Fun: Great Autumn Activities!

Fall for Fun: Great Autumn Activities!

March 9th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Fall is a great season for family fun; the temperatures may be cooling off, but the great outdoors still has a lot to offer before winter sends us in to hide!

Gathering Fall Treasures

The cooler weather is great for getting out there and doing some hiking and exploring. Walk a nature path and examine the changes that the fall season is bringing. Gather fallen leaves and make a game of finding leaves from as many different trees as possible. Don’t lose them! You can bring them home for some fun autumn crafts. It’s also a great time to gather pine cones, also perfect for crafts.

Fall is pumpkin season, so find a pumpkin patch to explore! Let your kids choose their own pumpkin to turn into a jack-o-lantern. Look for a pumpkin patch that offers lots of fun family activities. Some have hayrides, farm animals for petting, corn mazes and more. It’s a perfect way to spend a fall day.

Pumpkins aren’t the only produce to go in search of in the fall. If you live in the right part of the country, you can go apple picking as well. Find a local orchard and pick your own apples. Take them home to bake an apple pie, dip them in caramel for a real fall treat, or just enjoy them as they are, fresh and delicious.

Fabulous Fall Crafts

Those treasures you gathered on your walk in the woods can be put to good use in some fun fall crafts. Leaves can be glued into a scrapbook, or used to make a colorful centerpiece for your table. Fill a clear vase with leaves to display them beautifully as a fall alternative to flowers.

Turn your pine cones into little animals; pull pipe cleaners through at the top and bottom, and twist them underneath to make two sets of legs. Then glue on craft eyes, and add various finishing touches to make different types of animals. A pig might have a curly pipe cleaner tail and perky felt ears. Add wings for a bird, or a cotton ball tail for a rabbit. The possibilities are endless.

Your kids will have fun making their very own scarecrow to watch over the yard. Bring it down to kid size by using outgrown baby clothes or old doll clothes. Put sticks through the arms and legs of the clothes, and stuff with leaves. A larger piece of wood will form a backbone to help your little scarecrow stand. Top it off with a miniature pumpkin for a head, and draw on a face with markers.

Get in the Game

Autumn is football season, and kids will really enjoy the fun of attending a game. Skip the expensive tickets for the pro teams and go support your local high school team instead. The smaller venue will give you a better view of the game, and the community camaraderie will warm the atmosphere even on a cool fall evening. Snacks and hot chocolate in a thermos complete a fun family night out.

You don’t have to be spectators all the time! Spend a fall afternoon in the back yard or at the park playing a friendly game as a family. Keep it safe for young kids by skipping the tackles and playing touch football instead. You’ll get some exercise and have a lot of fun at the same time.

Fall offers endless opportunities for fun with your children. Enjoy the outdoors before it gets too cold, and share the beauty and wonder of the changing natural world.