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image via bn.comI bought This is the Stable last year because it was half-price after Christmas. Last week we read it for the first time this season, and I was impressed again with the beautiful, vivid, even whimsical illustrations. The words are calm and lovely and simple. We like it very much.
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
image via familyfun.comThis Christmas craft caught my eye because two of my kids spent an hour yesterday punching hundreds of holes in a piece of paper. (Maybe I should post that as an activity by itself!) The layering of several pieces of paper makes the "lights" shine through. And if we don't like that effect, we can always glue on some of those bits they already punched out.
image via hereThe Picnic Game is a favorite at our house. Besides the sturdy box, besides the pretty illustrations, besides inspiring nutrition...this game is absolutely perfect for every age. Spin the spinner, choose a food from that group (or lose an item to the ants), and collect a full meal. We made one change to the rules: instead of spinning to get a plate, we always start with one. (The rules indicate that players can't collect food until the spinner lands on plate--talk about frustration and tears.) Honestly, even two-year-old gets it, yet 10-year-old still deigns to play with us.
Find it cheapest at Land of Nod.
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I forgot all about Tinkertoys until we visited my brother's house. Maybe it was because this was the only toy there that my son spent all of his time playing and building creations. If Santa brings a set to our house, I think we will all (re-)discover our inner tinkers.
This project from Martha Stewart is a fun way to have your kids help wrap gifts and practice the alphabet and spelling at the same time. Use scrapbook paper or recycle old christmas cards and have your child trace a letter on to the paper. Cut the letter out, punch a hole and tie with ribbon.
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I've never known a child that hasn't loved their hand being traced. There is just something so cool about seeing the shape of your hand transferred onto paper and being able to create it into something like a turkey.
I love this activity because with a little creativity anything can be created. You can use crayons, colored pencils, paint, or even use different materials to create different textures (features, glitter, pasta, rice).
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Came across this cute kid friendly Halloween craft from three wheels turning, a paper and design company. Now these were the types of projects I was making when I was in elementary school. Maybe that's why I love them so much.
Click here for the directions.
image via hereWe have several ways to do chores on Saturdays (our big day for cleaning). One way that has been a hit since my oldest was just a little tyke is this: With the kids we write a list of the chores to be done, then cut them into strips, and place in a plain paper bag. Taking turns, we pull out the jobs and do each one as a team. We also include some fun chores to keep things on the light side.
Here's a peek at some chores we often have in our bag:Make beds (again, as part of the game, we do each one as a team.)Wash three windowsUnload dishwasherPick up playroomPick up back yardRead a bookVacuum (I do this one, while the kids try to beat me on finishing the next job.)Have a snackOrganize mudroomWipe doorknobs
Congratulations to the winner of this month's giveaway...Kim Johnson.
I have a small collection of Martha Stewart: Kids magazines (no longer in print).
There is a lot of stuff in these magazines that is not available online...like these wolf masks.
For that reason I have scanned them in for your convenience. Just print and cut...and tape (a craft stick).
I know I know....you're welcome :)
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After a two month, unintentional hiatus, we are going to post again. Thanks for your patience.
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Little Big Minds, by Marietta McCarty is a wonderful book on getting kids into Philosophy; it has a world of ideas for summer reading, listening, doing, creating, experimenting and getting kids talking about their "big" ideas. Each chapter highlights a philosophical idea to be shared with children and includes background on the philosophers who explored the idea, music and literature that explore it, and even a craft or experiment or creative expression of the idea, all with ideas for discussion and exploration specifically for kids.
I am really excited about sharing the ideas with all of my kids-from the 6-year-old, to the 18-year-old.
Here is a sampling of some of the chapters:
Chaper 1: Idea-Philosophy. Philosophers-Socrates and Plato. Music-Haydn's Symphony #22. Literature-Saint Exupery's "Little Prince", Emily Dickenson and William Carlos Williams (of "The Red Wheelbarrow"). Experiment-Taste Testing (exploring how each child describes the taste in a way that is as unique as they are).
Chapter 2: Idea-Friendship, Philosophers-Karl Jaspers, the apostle Paul, existential ideas. Music-Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" and "Friend of Mine" by Kate Wolf. Literature-"The Centaur" by May Swenson from the collection Cage of Spies, Joyful Noise, Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman and Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss. Topics for discussion include the art of listening and an exploration of bullying.
Other ideas (chapters) that children and parents can explore together include: Responsibility, Happiness, Justice, Time, Courage, Death, Prejudice, God, Humanity, Nature, Compassion, Freedom, Love and Thanksgiving.
Check out Ms. McCarty's site at http://www.littlebigminds.com/.
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image via hereHere's a fun way to have healthier snacks available for my family. I know some munchkins who would be happy to both prepare and munch on their culinary creation.
Ruby collecting rocks in Hawaii
image by redrokoA couple days ago I filled a bucket with water, collected a few objects--funnel, scoop, toy boat, paintbrush, cup--and took the kids outside. I watched as they played in the water, "washed" bikes and patio furniture, and filled and emptied a dozen containers. It was a great way to cool off on a hot July afternoon.
**Be sure to practice water safety by keeping young children in your view at all times.
