Does your preschooler come home with tons and tons of art projects? Here’s a simple clever way to get a little more life out of them—turn them into a puzzle.

You’ll need:
a large paper punch
your child’s art work

This is so easy, you don’t even need steps. Basically you take the paper punch (I used a Martha Stewart one I found at Michaels), and punch out a few shapes. Then have your child assemble the puzzle.

Couple notes: How cool is it that your kid’s art becomes a game? Clever, right? Also, a circle may be a bit of a challenge for very young kids since they have to work on orientation as well as placement. But it can be a good challenge. And finally, don’t feel limited to a circle. They sell paper punches in a variety of shapes, which, could make this project even more interesting for your child.

Can you believe that art is from when my oldest was in preschool? I’m such a sentimental fool. I couldn’t bring myself to toss the kids’ art projects, so I keep a bunch in a box in the attic. Do you horde your children’s artwork too? Or am I’m alone in my sappiness…

Loved this interview with Ali Jardine—her honesty, how she’s found something that lets her be creative, they way she’s challenging society’s perception of girls. I just stumbled across the her work today (thanks to this video) but it’s fair to say, I’m pledging life long fan. Check it out…

Ali Jardine – Like Knows Like from Like Knows Like on Vimeo.

ps. When you have time, check out the other interviews on Like Knows Like. Inspiring people, inspiring project.

What is it with kids and forts? Is it the need to carve out a space that’s all their own? Recreating a womb where they feel safe? I don’t know. What I do know is that kids love forts. But my kids rarely build their own anymore. I wondered if they’d outgrown them. So it was a surprise the other day when my kids asked if they could construct a massive fort in our living room.

I said sure, as long as they cleaned it up without arguing. They pulled the sheets off the beds, grabbed every chair in the house and took over the entire room. They even brought down a small fan to cool and circulate the air around the fort. When asked to describe the experience, the kids said “It. Was. Awesome.”

I have to admit, I thought the whole thing was adorable. It reminded me of the forts I loved as a kid. The first was a clearing under some overgrown forsythia in my backyard. I hung out in it until I realized there were critters in there with me. And then there was the time I built a fort out of couch cushions and even snuck in a small tv. I watched reruns of I Dream of Genie until everyone noticed there was no place to sit in the house.

I documented my kids’ fort building with Disney’s new Story app. Have you seen this app yet? It allows you to capture pictures, videos and thoughts to tell your story, or in this case, my kids’ story. The best part for me is that I can share the stories on facebook or email (for friends and family not on facebook).

My kids are obsessed with the app. They’ve created a list of stories they want to send to their grandparents now. Next up, “The time we created a movie theater!” Oh boy…

Download the Disney Story app from iTunes – for FREE – right here!

Disney Story Twitter

Disney Story Facebook

scene from last weekend

What a week. Did you enter the Genie Wishes giveaway? Love that book. Also, while there weren’t a ton of comments here on the blog about this post, I recieved a TON privately. Seems like lots and lots of you want to talk about it in not quite such a public forum. I completely understand.

Okay, so I’m checking out a bit early today. I’m meeting up my friend Ania. She’s in Baltimore for the day. I’m taking her to check out the new modern art wing at the BMA. Should be fun. I’ll see you back here next week.

Now go out there and have some fun this weekend! You deserve it.

Some things that caught my eye this week…

Jennie Runk puts unexpected fame to good use

Ideas for using all those instagram pictures

Art journaling with kids

yes please

also, yes

advice for taking better photos of your kids (from the best ;)

And here are some things I’ve written elsewhere this week…
10 parties to throw this summer
preparing kids for their first sleepover
plant markers
how to hold an art show – more tips

ps. Did you know you can find Classic Play on facebook and instagram (@classic_play)?

“The other day I found out my 7 year old asked his friend’s sister to take off her shirt during a game of “double dog dare.” I don’t know where he found out about the game or why he did such a thing. I tried to do a search to see how I should handle it, but all I found were what to do if my child was the one asked to take off his shirt. Help!”

Oh boy. No one ever said this parenting job would be easy, did they?

I want to tell you not to panic, but I can imagine how you feel. Our minds often leap to ahhh! sexual predator. Probably because of all the news stories we hear. Thanks Dateline.

So before we proceed, I think it’s important for us to untangle our adult concept of sex/sexuality from a kid’s. They are not the same.

In order to answer your plea for help best I could, I did a little research. I consulted Darkness to Light, the national non-profit dedicated to the prevention of child sexual abuse, to see what it had to say about healthy sexual development. Here’s what it said…

Middle Childhood (5-8 Years Old)
Healthy Behavior

-Gender identity solidifies and stabilizes (understand physical, behavioral, and emotional distinctions between males and females)
-Should have basic understanding of puberty (some children, especially girls, will show early signs of puberty)
-Should have basic understanding of human reproduction
-May understand differences in sexual orientation
-May masturbate in private
-Will develop more stable friendships
-May engage in consensual genital exploration with same age (and often, same sex) peers
-Will begin to be modest about nudity

Now that we understand that what your son did falls into the healthy range, let’s talk about how to deal with it.

If you’re feeling shocked, take a moment to calm down after the initial news. Contact the girl’s parents if they are unaware of the situation. Be open and honest and see if there’s a course of action you can both agree on.

It’s important to not shame either child involved.

Ask your child for his account of what happened. Do not be surprised if he fibs. He may know that he did something that wasn’t right, especially if you appear emotional. If so, he’ll want to avoid getting into trouble. This is developmentally normal. Do what you can to stay calm and get the story. You may find out that your son didn’t consider a girl’s chest to be part of her “privates” because for many children, privates = what gets covered by underpants.

Next, talk your child about setting ground rules. It can include things like: no playing with doors closed and leaving your clothes on at all times. Don’t be surprised if he needs reminders.

I know I’m beating a dead horse at this point, but remember to stay calm. Just because he double dog dared his friend’s sister to take off her shirt doesn’t mean he’ll grow up to be on Dateline.

Here are more tips from Darkness to Light:

Tips for Facilitating Healthy Sexual Development

-Respecting child’s need for privacy
-Being clear with child about respect for people’s boundaries and need for privacy
-Talking with child about bodily responses, especially those that are precursors to sexual response (e.g., “it feels good to touch one’s body), and about what is and is not appropriate during peer interaction
-Modeling healthy, intimate adult relationships characterized by effective communication
-Teaching child about male and female puberty (by 7-8 years old)
-Using everyday opportunities to teach child about sexuality, even the mechanics of reproduction (children should know the “birds and the bees” by no later than 9 years old—It’s important to know that research shows that children whose parents talk with them about sexuality are less likely to become sexually active at an early age)

ps. This book looks like a great one to help you talk to your child about sexuality. I’m ordering a copy for ourselves.

Last week, we held a small party to celebrate the launch of my friend Elisabeth Dahl’s first book, Genie Wishes. Genie Wishes follows the ups and downs of fifth grader Genie Kunkle. There’s friendship trouble, body changes, and on top of it all, Genie is selected to be the class blogger. Her challenge? Write about her and her classmate’s wishes, hopes and dreams.

Elisabeth beautifully captured the transition from childhood to adolescence in the book. As a parent, I sincerely appreciated how Elisabeth wrote Genie. She isn’t bold, brash, or boy crazy. Instead, she unfolds with maturity and finds her voice.

It’s a rite of passage read for the next generation of girls.

Here are more photos and giveaway details…

“There was a very old radio on a shelf in our kitchen. It no longer worked, but we still liked it. Gran’s own grandmother had once written down a recipe for brownies while listening to this radio. We called them Static Brownies, since my great-great-grandmother had had to listen through the static to get the recipe right.” -Genie Kunkle

[click here for the Static Brownies recipe and real life story behind them]

And now the big news…

Elisabeth is offering signed copies of Genie Wishes to two lucky Classic Play readers. All you have to do to enter is comment below. I’ll randomly select two winners from the comment section on Monday, May 20th. Good Luck!

ps. Many thanks to Goldfish for supplying the incredible party favors. Did you know you can now get personalized boxes of Goldfish delivered right to your door? They’ll print photos and messages right on the box. You have to check it out. Very, very cool.

pps. Also, many thanks to Dave for the gorgeous photos!