Monday, February 9, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
RedRoko's Etsy Store
We're still working out some of the bugs (e.g. the banner), but want to invite all our friends to our new Etsy store.
Available for purchase is the Valentine's Day kit from our recent giveaway. And keep checking...we have big plans for more products you can enjoy with your children.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
15 Minute : Know It : Necco Sweathearts
Valentine's Day is right around the corner which means the consumption of little NECCO Sweethearts is rising quickly. Did you know every year NECCO introduces 10 new Sweethearts phrases that relate to current American trends and culture?
Check out NECCO's website for all kinds of fun facts and activities to do with your kids. There's everything from virtual plant tours, recipes, fun trivia and even games.
Perhaps knowing a little more about these popular candies will making the experience of eating them just a little bit sweeter.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Valentine's Giveaway Winner
Congratulations to the winner of this month's giveaway...Caroline Andersen.
Be sure to check RedRoko daily to try for other giveaways, and for great activities you can do with your kids.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
First RedRoko Giveaway!
RedRoko is having its first ever Valentine Giveaway!
Up for grabs is this adorable valentine card kit that you and your kids can make together.Everything you need for 30 valentines is included in the box.
Interested in winning? Please leave us a comment.
*Leave your name and comment on this post anytime until Midnight PST, Sunday, Feburary 1st.
*Duplicate comments and comments without a name will be ignored.
*Winner will be picked at random and announced Monday morning.
*Winners should email redroko{at}gmail{dot}com within one week of the giveaway closing or a new winner will be chosen.
Monday, January 26, 2009
15 Minutes : Read It : Dragon Dance
image via bn.comWe love this book for its simple overview of Chinese New Year traditions. It also has instructions in the back for a darling dragon hand puppet. We'll be making some tonight.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! I hope your Chinese New Year Celebrations were a success!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
15 Minutes : Know It : Red Envelope
image via http://www.hchq.biz/My kids' favorite part of our Chinese New Year celebration certainly includes receiving Red Envelopes from Mom and Dad, aunts and uncles and grandparents too. According to wikipedia the red envelope is a symbol of good luck and good fortune and usually contains money in even numbers (except the number "4" which tone is similar to that of "death").
Our family traditions include giving red envelopes (or Lai See) only to younger children or siblings who are not married. We also ask the children to tell the adult who is giving them the envelope "Gung Hay Fat Choy" (Happy New Year in Cantonese) and accept the gift with both hands. It's almost like our second Christmas.
Friday, January 23, 2009
1 Hour : Make It : Igloo
image via familyfunMaking igloos from sugar cubes: an oldie, but a goodie. This activity not only helps building skills, but also counting and small motor coordination. I'm going to try to include all three of my oldest children in the construction, so we'll be working on teamwork as well.
Instructions:
Start by laying a base row of sugar cubes around a 7-inch-diameter cardboard circle, leaving space for the entrance. Using a mortar of 2 egg whites mixed with 3 cups confectioners' sugar, add subsequent layers of cubes, one row at a time, decreasing the circumference gradually as you go. Apply the mortar to the top cubes, not to those already in place. Be sure to work alternately left and right from the entrance toward the back of the igloo and stagger the cubes the way a builder lays bricks. Build a total of 10 layers, stopping halfway through the construction to let the igloo dry. Make the arch and roof separately, working on a flat surface. When they are dry, glue them in place. Allow the igloo to dry completely, then sprinkle with a blizzard of sugar.
from FamilyFun.com
Instructions:
Start by laying a base row of sugar cubes around a 7-inch-diameter cardboard circle, leaving space for the entrance. Using a mortar of 2 egg whites mixed with 3 cups confectioners' sugar, add subsequent layers of cubes, one row at a time, decreasing the circumference gradually as you go. Apply the mortar to the top cubes, not to those already in place. Be sure to work alternately left and right from the entrance toward the back of the igloo and stagger the cubes the way a builder lays bricks. Build a total of 10 layers, stopping halfway through the construction to let the igloo dry. Make the arch and roof separately, working on a flat surface. When they are dry, glue them in place. Allow the igloo to dry completely, then sprinkle with a blizzard of sugar.
from FamilyFun.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
15 Minute : Know It : Chinese New Year Foods
image via eatingchina.comAs with most holidays, food is a huge part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Although I'm still learning some basic Chinese cooking, a chicken that's completely intact (head, feet and all) will probably never be on my dinner list. We do, however, make a special effort every Chinese New Year's Eve to serve some of our favorite Chinese dishes and we always include some sort of noodle. (We all want long lives don't we?) This year will be feasting on our favorite hot pot dish with family and friends and sharing with our kids some of the fun facts and superstitions that accompany traditional Chinese New Year cuisine.
Some superstitious food:
- lotus seeds: signifying having many male offspring
- black moss seaweed: homonym for exceeding wealth
- dried bean curd: homonym for fulfillment in wealth and happiness
- whole fish: togetherness and abundance
- WHOLE chicken: completeness and prosperity
- Noodles (uncut): long life
- No fresh bean curd or tofu is used. Their color is white and unlucky because it signifies death and misfortune.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
15 Minute : Know It : Chinese New Year Basics
Chinese New Year falls on January 26th this year and is always a great time of year for my family. Since my children are half-Chinese my husband and I feel it's extremely important to pass on this part of their heritage.
Have you ever wondered why the Chinese celebrate the new year in January or even February?
15 Minutes : Play It : Music Time
My little boy really responds to music so I have tried to set aside more time for a "mommy & me" singing time. It's not much longer than 15 minutes but he sure does love the songs and pictures/objects we play with.
For example, for our first singing time one of the songs we sang was "Five Little Speckled Frogs", I let him hold some fake bugs I had while we sang "eating the most delicious bugs" and when the frogs "jumped into the pool" I had him jump onto a blue blanket . I hope to build on ideas, props and activities but for now they have been simple and with things I have around the house.
You may be surprised how well your child responds to music and a little bit of structure.
Monday, January 19, 2009
15 Minutes : Read It : A Winter Concert
image via education-worldA Winter Concert, by Yuko Takao, is a short, sweet, imaginative story of a mouse who attends a piano concert. As she walks home the music she heard gradually changes her surroundings from black and white to full-blown color. This simple book absolutely delights my four-year-old.
(This book is available used at several sites, such as alibris.com and half.com. I found a copy at the local library as well.)
Friday, January 16, 2009
15 Minutes : Play It : Favorites
We often play "Favorites" at our dinner table. One person asks a question such as: "What's your favorite color?" Each person (including parents) around the table answers the question, and then the next person asks another question. It's been a great way to learn more about each other in a way that even my four-year-old can participate and understand.
Some questions to get you started...
Favorite movie?
Favorite animal?
Favorite book?
Favorite sport?
Favorite season?
Favorite food for breakfast/lunch/dinner?
Occasionally, we make our game more challenging by asking: "What's Dad's favorite sport?" or "What is Matthew's favorite book?" I'm impressed at how often the kids know the facts about each other.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
15 Minutes : Play It : Alphabet Game
image via flickrI like to use the alphabet to help relax my little girl when she is falling asleep for a nap or bedtime. It's the perfect activity when I can't think of anymore stories to tell or want to have the lights off so we can't read books. She is just learning how to talk so I use different versions depending on how tired she is (or how tired I am!).
Option 1: Go through the alphabet and list all the words that your child is learning that start with a letter. For example, A is for apple, animal, aunt....
Option 2: Say goodnight to something that starts with every letter. For example, good night apple, good night baby, good night cow, good night dog....
Option 3: Now that she is starting to copy what I say, I will also pick specific words and go over them and let her repeat the word and then try and remember what that words was the next time around. With this option, I usually just pick 3 or 4 letters to repeat. For example, A is for apple (let child repeat word), B is for baby, C is for cow, D is for dog...then repeat A is for (let child guess word).
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
15 Minutes : Make It : Icicle Painting
Draw a thick line of glue across the top of a black piece of construction paper (with the paper turned landscape style). Pick the paper up and let the glue run down the page. Sprinkle with irredescent glitter. Let dry
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