image via makingfriends.com
I printed out this Spring Bingo game for one of the centers in my son's kindergarten class. Since it was an Easter party, we used jellybeans for markers; at home, we use pennies, buttons, or Legos.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
1 Hour : Make It : Chick Beanbags
image via Martha Stewart
I would like to give my little seamstress daughter more practice by helping her sew this simple project. She would probably love to give them to her cousins on Easter.
Monday, April 18, 2011
1 Hour : Make It : Easter Chain
image via familycircle.com
I love Christmas chains, so I don't know why I never thought of making chains for other holidays. This one is actually made of ribbon, which makes for an extra-special feel; since Easter is so close and my ambition is so low, we'll probably make our chain out of pretty spring papers.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Link Love : NieNie Dialouges
we are so excited (and flattered!!) that NieNie featured our PlayCrates on her blog; part of her "Nie's Homemade Christmas".
check it out here
If you are looking to add some "homemade" charm to your gift giving this year
or simply want to add to your child's creativity and development
Don't pass up our Play Crates
check it out here
If you are looking to add some "homemade" charm to your gift giving this year
or simply want to add to your child's creativity and development
Don't pass up our Play Crates
1 Hour : Make It : Button Cards
image via marthastewart.comI'm using this craft at my son's kindergarten Christmas party this week. I'm sure we'll make some "practice" cards at home as well. The great thing about this project is that I can just show my kids the above photo, give them some buttons, ribbon, and cardstock, and say, "Go".
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Quick Share : Thanksgiving
In postpartum mode here. So, until I find a minute to post something about Thanksgiving...
Enjoy some of our ideas from last year!
Friday, October 22, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Pin the Face on the Pumpkin
Another one of the center activities for my son's class party: Pin the Face on the Pumpkin. So simple and classic that I wonder why I needed the internet to think of it.
But to be fair, this site reminded me how to play.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
15 Minutes : Make It : Pasta Skeleton
So, despite the fact that I'm going to have a baby any day now, I am supposed to organize--not attend, just organize--the centers for my kindergartener's Halloween party. (Believe me, this year I am definitely the reluctant room mother. But when they lay on the guilt...)
This is one of the activities I have planned for the party: just your basic skeleton made out of assorted pasta. Very easy and self-explanatory, but if you want more details, I found them here.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : Stone Soup
The classic folktale, Stone Soup, is a beloved of mine. I love the lessons of working together, of selflessness, of community--it just never gets old. Here are two versions I particularly like:
Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown. You just can't go wrong with a Caldecott winner. This version is the perfect, traditional intro to this story if you're not already familiar with it. Marcia Brown's simple illustrations and text are masterful no matter what the book.
Stone Soup, by Jon Muth. Same story with a fantastic Asian flair. The villagers add their Chinese ingredients to the pot in this beautiful watercolor version.
images via bn.com
Thursday, October 7, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : Autumn Books
My very favorite picture book to start off the fall season is Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall. Another excellent one is In November, by Cynthia Rylant. But since I've already reviewed both of those, I thought I'd share a couple others that are regulars at our house this time of year...
Pumpkin Moonshine, by Tasha Tudor. It's another name for jack o' lantern, for those (like me) who had never heard this old-fashioned, New England name. And really, does anything bring autumn vividly to mind like old-fashioned, New England illustrations?
Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic, by Steven Schnur. Beautiful, detailed poetry combined with intricate woodcut pictures; and an ABC book as well. Someday I'll help my kids come up with their own acrostics.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
15 Minutes : Make It : Lunches
image via anotherlunch
Have you heard of Bento lunches? I like the ideas at the deliciously beautiful site, AnotherLunch, though I wonder if some of them would be too light a meal for my sprouting sixth-grader.
I like sending my kids with home lunches for so many reasons, but I have made the compromise of allowing them to buy lunch once a week (pizza day, of course). Amazingly, after years of this pattern they are finally tired of pizza day, and are more interested than ever in trying new combinations. My second-grade daughter is especially happy to help out right now.
I haven't fully embraced the Bento ideas just because our lunch boxes aren't the right shape. However, I have added a cold pack plastic box full of vegetables or fruits; I don't know if it's the box or the fact that the food is chilled, but the kiddos are loving it.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
1 Hour : Play It : Activity Centers
image via here
Today I borrowed from the quintessential preschool/kindergarten set-up: activity centers. The truth is, I really needed to work on organizing the laundry room--which is next-door to our playroom--and I wanted my two boys to 1.)stay, 2.)play, and 3.)play happily with minimal supervision on my part.
So during lunch, I asked for center ideas and together we came up with the following:
- Coloring center--not just crayons, but markers with big paper
- Lego center
- Puzzle center
- ABC center--I added two metal baking sheets to make magnet play more of a novelty.
We put each center in a different area of the playroom, and even made "blanket islands" for some of them in order to keep the activities a little more contained. I didn't use timers like they might at school, but I did go in every so often to play, chat, or encourage a change if I sensed the need.
I got a good 1 1/2 hours out of the whole deal.
It is truly amazing how a new set-up of the old toys can change everything. Since the laundry room isn't quite done (it's also sewing/craft/general dumping area), I think we'll try more centers tomorrow.
Monday, September 20, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Memory
image via here
After spending five whole minutes tracking down the whereabouts of my very mischievous three-year-old, I decided we needed to have a little sit-down-and-focus time this morning. We played Memory--twice. We have the sweet, teeny Mini-Memo by Haba, but I also have visions of creating my own set like this one I saw at homemade by jill (though, technically the tutorial is on Or So She Says).
P.S. Little boy was out in the garage, hiding with various keys to various locks that were specifically placed to keep him out of trouble. Yes, we have child locks on our doors; no, that doesn't stop him; no, he doesn't respond when I call him; yes, I was doing something very quick and responsible--making my bed--when he sneaked away.
Monday, September 13, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Listening
image via hereStill working on listening skills...
One day as we sat on the back porch, I asked my two youngest to close their eyes very tightly and just listen. My kindergartener knew instinctively what to do and described what he could hear: helicopter, birds, kids playing, a bumblebee flying past his face. The three-year-old had more trouble focusing (and keeping his eyes closed), so I told him to listen for specific sounds. "Can you hear the car going by? Where do you think that bird is chirping?"
We also tried to be completely silent for one minute. Ha--way harder than it sounds. Did you ever play "The Quiet Game" when you were little? I think it's easier to be still when no one is telling you to be still. Once there's a goal or a requirement, the temptation to talk is just too much. Our silent minute looked more like giggles about to erupt.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : Nonsense Books
Sometimes we just need some of those books that are so ridiculous and silly that my kids actually hoot out loud when we're reading them. I know any mention of underwear sends even my three-year-old into giggles, but I try to steer clear of those. (There's plenty of that without bringing it home from the library too--*sigh*) Here are a few of our favorite (non-potty-humor) nonsensical picture books...
The Runaway Dinner, by Allan Ahlberg. I love the rambling, conversational style of this one. It's told just the way a kid would tell a story.
The Monster at the End of this Book, by Jon Stone. This oldie from my childhood continues to pack a good, silly punch.
The Cow Loves Cookies, by Karma Wilson. The expressions on the characters' faces make me smile too.
Silly Sally, by Audrey Wood. Sing-song, predictable words make this one stick in their heads for days.
images via bn.com
What books guarantee a laugh from your kids?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Quick Share : PERC
If you live in my area, I hope you know about the PERC, located at the Orem Public Library. The Parent Education Resource Center loans out educational games, activities, puzzles, developmental toys, non-fiction DVDs, parenting books, etc., at no charge. It's a smallish room in the basement of the library, has tricky hours, and is only semi-organized, but don't let those details deter you. Many of the items are in new or very good condition, and some are more worn, but we always find several great things to take home. We go nearly every week to borrow items--there's really nothing like a new game to fill a couple hours.
If you can't go to our very useful PERC, check your own library or school to see what educational supplies they are willing to loan.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
15 Minutes : Read It : School Books
We like to give the teachers a new book on the first day of school. These are the ones we picked this year:
One Smart Cookie, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Each page uses a part of the cookie-making process to demonstrate qualities such as prompt, curious, prepared. Love the illustrations, love the concept. 
This School Year Will Be the Best! by Kay Winters. A classroom full of hopes and wishes for the new year. My son likes the page that wishes for great field trips...and is illustrated with children floating around inside a space shuttle.
Ranger's Apprentice, by John Flanagan. When my sixth-grader saw that his teacher didn't have this, the first in his favorite series, he knew he wanted to give her a copy. We've enjoyed the series together this past year. He loves the action/adventure; I'm glad to see a book with good, loyal, smart, hardworking characters. Plus, the mentor-apprentice relationship is so beautifully played out. I highly recommend this one for the 10-15 year-old male crowd. 
images via bn.com
Monday, August 30, 2010
15 Minutes : Play It : Listening Lotto
Am I the only mom who repeats myself dozens of times a day? I'm especially working with my two youngest children on their listening skills. We've been playing Outside Listening Skills Lotto together almost every day in the past week. I don't know if they're paying better attention to my voice yet, but I feel good knowing we're working on it.
We picked up this game from our library, but it's also available at Amazon. You might even check to see if your school loans out games like this.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Explanation...
It turns out that the RedRoko women are not at all ambitious when they are 1. pregnant, or 2. caring for new babies. Thus the long pause between posts.
We hope you'll continue to browse the activities we have posted, and we hope you'll check back in for the occasional update! Because despite the life changes going on around here, we do still play with our kids sometimes.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Quick Share : Traveling with Kids
image via here
We're now officially planning a summer vacation. While I do consider our family to be seasoned travelers--two cross-country roadtrips, several 8-10 hour trips, and a couple flights with teeny ones--it is always good to review some info and tips for traveling with children.
I want to hear your favorite travel tips--for car or airplane or any other vehicle. I could always use a new website for printing off travel games.
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