Friday, July 30, 2010

Friday Fun!

Let's Play Camp
Your child will have fun "camping" with this dramatic-play activity
- Create a campsite at home for your child to play in.
- Set up a tent with a sleeping bag inside and put out several camp stools or chairs.
- Move a small table to a spot near the tent and place camping cookware and eating utensils on it.
- Help your child arrange rocks in a circle for a pretend fire pit.
- Let your child play in the campsite, doing such things as cooking pretend meals, exploring the "woods" with a flashlight and pretend sleeping in the tent.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Friday Finger Fun!!

Finger Paints

Finger paints are like a loud, life-affirming "Yes!" in a toddler's world of "Don't touch." And they're so easy and inexpensive to make from scratch -- a good thing, since those little store-bought tubs seem to disappear in the blink of an eye.

Materials
1 cup of cold water
1/4 cup of cornstarch
1 tablespoon of light corn syrup
Washable, nontoxic tempera paint
Bowls
Finger-paint paper or freezer paper
Masking tape

Instructions
Before you begin: Spread out a plastic tablecloth, keep wipes handy, and wear a smock or old clothes.
In a small saucepan, stir together the cold water and cornstarch. Whisk the mixture over low heat for about 5 minutes until it thickens and clears -- this will happen all at once. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup, then divide the mixture into bowls and stir a squirt of tempera paint into each one.
After the paint has cooled, scoop blobs of it onto finger-paint paper (taped to your table) or let your kids scoop it out themselves -- whichever they prefer -- and commence smearing. Leftover paint can be stored in sealed containers in the fridge for a day or two.

Tips:
Getting Started with Creative Projects for Little Hands
1. Keep it safe. Make sure supplies are labeled nontoxic and are not choking hazards. Discourage kids from putting supplies in their mouths.
2. Set it up. Designate an art area in your home with an easel or a low table where young artists can stand to work (this is usually easier for them).
3. Don't rush. Make sure you allow plenty of time for setup, exploration, and cleanup.
4. Don't stress over mess. Set things up so cleanup is easier for you, then try to relax and let your child have fun.
5. Write it down. Before you forget, write the date on your child's creation and, if she's talking, what she said about it.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Parent Tip

Kids and Choice

Adulthood consists of one choice after another. Making good decisions is linked directly to the development of responsibility. Therefore, a child who is told what to do all the time never has the chance to test her/his ability to make informed choices... Here is one "choice building" idea... Instead of always having to assign chores to kids, make a list of everything that needs to be done, call a family meeting and decide who will be responsible for each task. Involving kids in the process, making them part of the team, creates a sense of personal value and gives them practical experience at problem solving.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friday Fun!

Your kids will be amazed when you tell them they can make their own crystals!

Materials
- charcoal briquettes
- vinegar
- salt
- warm water
- food color(optional)
- small enamel or glass bowl

Directions
Add three tablespoons of salt to half a bowl of warm water and stir until it dissolves. Keep adding salt until no more will dissolve. Add a tablespoon of vinegar. For colored crystals, add a dash of food coloring. Fill up the bowl with charcoal. Leave in a safe place without moving for a couple days. Take it out and notice that crystals have begun to form. As the water continues to evaporate, the bowl will be filled with rock crystals.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Quote

The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. Dr. Seuss

Friday, July 9, 2010

Fridays are for FUN!

Outdoor activities are on the decline these days, but that’s no reason to follow the trend. Organizing family games and sports will help keep your family fit and close-knit.
One of our favorite outdoor games is tossing the Frisbee – it’s cheap, portable, and of course, fun. Make your Frisbee play family-oriented with this game:

Team Frisbee
First, divide family members into two teams. If possible ask your kids’ friends and/or neighbor’s kids to join you. Ideally, you’’ll have four players on each side (but you can always play with less).

Next, raw a court in the backyard of your house (you can use chalk, draw a line in the dirt, or just use objects as boundaries). Your court should be similar in size to a badminton court.

Line up each team inside of their own respective end zones. Flip a coin to see which team starts on offense. The goal is to throw the Frisbee into the other team’s goal without going out-of-bounds, or letting the Frisbee touch the ground. First team to reach eleven points wins.
Have Fun!