Childhood Beckons

Memorial Day Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

2013-05-23T00:12:00.000-05:00

In honor of Memorial Day, Safari Ltd. and I will be hosting another Twitter party. We know that many of you will be spending the day with family and we respect that. We don't want anyone to miss out, so we'll be gathering to share ideas (and prizes) the following day.

How does your family celebrate Memorial Day? Do you have any patriotic and educational activity ideas? Pictures and links are welcome, so feel free to have some ready to share in the party. This is not a must though, and we'd be happy just to have you there!

The Party Details:

The Safari Ltd. Memorial Day Twitter Party will be 9-10pm EST on Tuesday, May 28th
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon
Prizes are limited to residents of the US and Canada.
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Please RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending!

RSVP:

We look forward to chatting and hope to see you there!

Discover the Seasons: Color Hunt

2013-05-20T08:29:00.001-05:00

A great way to learn more about the seasons is to get out and into nature. We recently investigated spring with a colors of nature color hunt and I'm thrilled to be sharing it over on the Melissa & Doug blog.

This activity is a fantastic way to encourage your kids to pay attention to the details. R was noticing far more than just colors on this nature walk, and observing nature closely was a fun way to learn. We plan to do this each season and compare his findings.

To find out more about our colors of nature hunt and get the free printable record sheet, please visit the Colors of Nature Color Hunt post.

Happy hunting!

Earth Day Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

2013-04-20T03:42:00.000-05:00

Come celebrate Earth Day with good conversation and prizes at another fun Twitter party sponsored by Safari Ltd.!

Safari Ltd. was originally inspired by an endangered species card game discovered by the founders Bernard and Rosemarie Ruble while visiting the Munich Zoo in Germany. Today, their daughter Ramona Pariente is the owner and CEO and her son, Alexander Pariente is the president.

This family owned company's mission is to teach the importance of nature and it's conservation through the joy of play.

You can read more about the organizations Safari Ltd. supports here and the ways they support ecologically sound business practices here.

I can't wait to celebrate Earth Day with such an earth-conscious company!

The Party Details:

The Safari Ltd. Earth Day Twitter Party will be 9-10pm EST on Monday, April 22nd
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon
Prizes are limited to residents of the US and Canada.
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Please RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending

RSVP:

More Ways to Connect:

You can also connect with Safari Ltd. on Facebook for fun pictures and promotions. Their current contest is in honor of Earth Day. You could win a Toob of your choice just by sending Safari Ltd. a picture of your family going green or doing something to help the planet! Click here for more details.

You can also connect with Safari Ltd. on Pinterest!

We hope to see you all on Earth Day!

Homemade Bird Nester Learning Activity

2013-04-17T08:07:00.000-05:00

Each season has it's own learning opportunities and we're taking advantage of those unique to spring. Recently, we learned a bit about birds and how they make their nests. We created these bird nesters as a fun follow up activity to reinforce the things we learned while making our backyard birds happy.

What is a bird nester? A bird nester is a collection of nesting materials that you can set out just like you would a bird feeder. We actually used a suet bird feeder as our box and filled it with bits of yarn. We found our suet cage at Walmart for less than three dollars, and we plan to use it as a feeder later in the year.

Nesting Materials-

Yarn
Twine
Scraps of fabric
Dried grasses
Small twigs
Dead leaves
Pine needles
Hair
Pet fur

Dryer lint is not recommended because it's dense and doesn't dry quickly, keeping the nest cold and wet. You should also stay away from plastics and things like fishing line. When offering yarn, twine, etc. the recommended length is around 3-8 inches.

I wanted this activity to really focus on the things we've been learning, so I used this time to discuss camouflage. I brought out my collection of yarn scraps in various colors and I let R decide which colors he thought would be best to help the birds hide their nests. We decided on earth tones and used various colors of brown, green, and tan.

This activity also helped me sneak in some math and scissor practice. R happily measured and snipped until we had more than enough to fill our nester. In fact, we even created one as a gift for his nana. This would be a great gift for anyone that loves bird watching.

The learning and fun doesn't stop there! We hung ours in a low traffic area that was still visible. It's really interesting to watch the birds come and go. Record the types of birds that visit by drawing them in a nature journal and use a field guide for your area to identify them.

Want to learn a little more about birds and their nesting habits? We loved this video!

What are your favorite springtime learning activities?

Ultimate Birthday Bash-Dinosaur Party

2013-04-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

I am so thrilled to be joining a few of my favorite bloggers as a part of the Ultimate Birthday Bash from Melissa & Doug. The Ultimate Birthday Bash is delivering fun ideas for themes, party games, food, and so much more! Melissa & Doug is sponsoring my posts on how I plan my son's birthday parties, and you can read more about them below!

I'm pleased to share R's dino birthday party. I kept the party pretty simple, but everyone had so much fun. You can visit these posts to learn more about the decorations, the favor bags, and my stress-free way to handle the birthday party activities!

How to Throw a Dinosaur Birthday Party (Part 1)

DIY Dinosaur Birthday Party Favor Bags (Part 2)

Want more Birthday Bash fun? Click here to see ALL our Birthday resources and tips, AND to enter our special Birthday Bash Giveaway, where you could win $500 to throw the Ultimate Birthday Bash from Melissa & Doug! For even more fun, be sure to check out our Birthday Wishes Pinterest Board!

What are some of your best birthday party tips?

Kid-Made Plant Markers

2013-04-08T04:00:00.001-05:00

We look forward to having a garden each year, and now that spring is here we are beginning to prepare! To get started, we've been crafting up these super easy kid-made plant markers.

My son really enjoyed the process of creating these, and I can't get over how cute and cheery they are. I can't wait to see lots of these colorful plant markers staking out our fruits and veggies!

I'm excited to be sharing these over on the Melissa & Doug blog, so if you'd like to find out how your family can make their own, please visit that post for more details.

Do you garden with your kids? What will you be planting?

Dino Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

2013-04-05T12:52:00.000-05:00

Do you and your kids love dinos? If so, you won't want to miss out on this super fun dino-themed Twitter party with Safari Ltd.! We'll be chatting, sharing some amazing activity ideas, and giving out prizes! But don't worry if you can't attend this time around. You will also have an opportunity to win in a giveaway at the bottom of this post!

And Safari Ltd. knows a thing or two about dinosaurs! They have had a license agreement with Carnegie Museum of Natural History to produce scale-model dinosaurs for over 25 years! All of their replicas are intricately hand-painted and some of the Carnegie dinos take up to 20 different steps.

The Party Details:

The Safari Ltd. Dino Twitter Party will be from 9-10pm EST on Tuesday, April 9
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Prizes are limited to the residents of the US and Canada.
RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending.

RSVP:

The Giveaway:

Increase your chances of winning a prize whether you can attend or not! This giveaway is for your choice of one Safari Ltd. Dino TOOB or replica. To enter, just fill out the easy form below.

The only mandatory entry is to pick the prize you'd choose if you win and tell me in a comment on this blog post. You can see some of the many options you have to choose from by taking a look at the Safari Ltd. Dinosaurs Collection.

This giveaway is open to the residents of the US and Canada only. By entering to win you are agreeing to my giveaway rules. Thank you so much for entering and good luck to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Coloring Book Puppets

2013-02-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

Don't let the coloring book fun end when the picture is completed! Extend the fun and add a healthy dose of creativity by turning finished coloring book pages into puppets. This craft and pretend play combo would make a wonderful boredom busting activity.

Items Needed:

coloring books
crayons
scissors
glue stick
craft sticks
construction paper (optional)
laminator and laminating pouches (optional)

The Craft:

I began by showing R a few coloring page puppets I had created for him the night before. He was very excited about his surprise and couldn't wait to make a few of his own. I did this to show him what the finished outcome would be, and to prepare him for cutting apart his masterpiece.

Then I supplied him with a selection of coloring books and crayons and let him go wild. After he had a few pages completed, we carefully cut out the main characters. This actually kept his attention far longer than coloring usually does.

You can keep it incredibly simple and just glue the craft sticks to the back of the cut out. This way works just fine, but the puppets are a little floppy. You could also attach the cut outs onto a piece of construction paper or card stock and cut it out again before attaching the craft sticks. This makes the puppets a bit stiffer.

Or you could do it my favorite way. Laminate them. I love my laminator and it really is perfect for this. It makes the puppets stiff and durable so they are long lasting, and it doesn't add much extra time to the craft. Even with the lamination, we just used an ordinary glue stick to attach the craft sticks.

The Play:

Once the puppets were completed the creativity carried on. He really enjoyed putting on lots of little shows for me, and I really enjoyed listening to his stories evolve. Later that night, we all took turns performing for the family.

Do you want to encourage storytelling and pretend play with puppets? This activity is fantastic because you can really customize it to your child's interests. If you've recently walked down the coloring book aisle, I'm sure you've seen that the options are many. My son loves animals and dinosaurs, so that's what we created. But if your child loves sea creatures, Batman, or My Little Pony, you can easily create an activity especially for them.

What kind of puppets would your children love?

President's Day Coin Bingo

2013-02-18T13:03:00.000-06:00

Today I want to share a fun activity for Presidents' Day, but this would also be great any other day of the year! Coin bingo! Typically, R isn't a huge fan of learning about money, but he really loved this and benefited from the hands on learning. I'm sharing several ways to play and a printable over on the Melissa & Doug blog. Visit the Presidents' Day Bingo post for more details!

How are your kids learning about the presidents?

Safari Ltd. Valentine's Day Twitter Party

2013-02-11T01:16:00.001-06:00

Great news!! Another Safari Ltd. Twitter party has been planned and this one promises to be a ton of fun! We will be chatting about Valentine's Day and giving out some fantastic prizes!

Would you like a peek at the prizes up for grabs? Safari Ltd wants to make sure you get something you love! So visit the Safari Ltd website and take a look around at the TOOBS and replicas, because the prizes will be winner's choice!

The Details:

The Safari Ltd Valentine's Day Twitter party will be from 9-10pm EST on Tuesday, Feb. 12th.
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @ChildhoodBeckon and @SafariLtd
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Prizes are limited to residents of the US and Canada.
RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending.

RSVP:

DIY Penguin Board Game

2013-02-04T18:52:00.000-06:00

I have had the pleasure of guest posting again over at the Safari Ltd. blog and this time I'm sharing this super simple (and very fun!) DIY Penguin Board Game. You can really adapt this to focus on learning a variety of things, or you can play just for fun!

Just click the link for more details and ways to play!

The Benefits of Scooters

2013-02-01T08:28:00.000-06:00

I didn't give a lot of thought to the benefits of scooters as I was picking one out for R. I just thought he'd like it. But recently, as I watched him riding his scooter, I was absolutely struck by the benefits. I love watching him grow into this new phase of childhood and I look forward to many more afternoons watching him do tricks, fall, and get up again.

The Benefits Of Scooters

Promotes self-confidence. His pride and self assurance is evident as he masters something new.
Develops balance and coordination. The more he practices, the better he gets!
Provides exercise. He's expending energy and he's further developing his gross motor skills.
Fosters determination. It can be hard to learn a new skill, but practice and determination pays off.
Encourages risk assessment. He's weighing the risks and taking chances.
Increases resilience. He's getting up and trying again after some big falls!
Time outside. And outside time is good.
Knowledge of safety equipment. He discovered the very first day why he should wear his safety gear.
Pure joy. He's happy. Unbelievably happy.

Do your kids love scooters too? Do you have a benefit to add to the list?

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Puzzle Hunt-Counting by 10's

2013-01-30T15:37:00.000-06:00

Puzzles are fantastic for learning and they are a great way to spend some time indoors. But did you know that you could make puzzles more exciting? We recently kicked the learning and fun up a notch by throwing in a scavenger hunt and counting.

We received this 100 Piece Solar System Jigsaw Puzzle from Melissa & Doug and I eagerly set to work to create a fun new experience for R while sneaking in some counting by 10's practice. I divided the pieces up into ten separate envelopes and created rhyming clues for all the places I'd hide them.

I turned our clues into a printable and simply cut the strips apart to include in the envelopes. Please feel free to use these printables for your own puzzle hunt. My clues were easy and focused on the places in our home rather than the numbers he'd be finding, so you could use the clues for any type of indoor scavenger hunt! I also created a blank clue sheet to share in case you'd like to make up your own. If you'd like either of these printables, just click on the picture, save and print!

Once I had everything set up, I invited R to put together his new solar system puzzle. And oh was he puzzled when he opened up the box and found an envelope instead of the pieces! His confusion turned into excitement as I read the introduction and the first clue.

Here's a fun little game to play! Read the clues and find the pieces along the way. Finding the first clue will be a treat! Look for it where you get something to eat!

He had a blast running through the house to discover where each clue would take him. He would laugh and call out each group of ten, anxious to find all 100 pieces. And this scavenger hunt really had him running all over the house. He found pieces in the refrigerator, on his bed, in his box of musical instruments, and more. He even found one set taped to a mirror!

{Personal embarrassing confession: When he heard the getting dressed clue, he went straight to the dryer. He didn't even think about his dresser, and I have an idea why!}

The next round of fun began as we assembled the beautiful puzzle. R loves outer space and had a great time putting this one together.

Do you have a fun clue or puzzle activity idea? Please share in the comments!

{Disclosure- This post is sponsored by Melissa & Doug. The opinions expressed are my own and they are honest. I enjoy sharing activity ideas for products my family loves, and I hope that your family can use this idea in your own home. Have fun!}

Construction Pretend Play Prompt

2013-01-24T10:33:00.000-06:00

I put R to work. And he couldn't have been happier! He really enjoyed this construction worker pretend play prompt, and with several simple construction sites to choose from, he played for hours! I'm sharing this post over at the Melissa & Doug blog today, so please visit the link for more details and a printable.

Pretend play is such a vital part of childhood. What are your favorite ways to encourage it?

Arctic Sensory Bin

2013-01-22T07:30:00.001-06:00

We recently created an arctic sensory bin to go along with our polar unit studies this month. We had a lot of fun creating the bin, and even more fun exploring in it.

R is five (soon to be six!) and he still adores sensory bins. I love sensory bins because they are essentially open ended play prompts with lots of learning thrown in.

You can see his delight at finding the arctic hare, that was cleverly camouflaged in the snow!

You can find the details about this arctic bin, as well as a few ideas for guided learning, over at the Safari Ltd. blog.

And don't forget! You have an opportunity to win the Arctic TOOB and a few other fantastic prizes tonight (1/22/13) at the Safari Ltd. Winter Twitter party! The party starts at 9pm EST. Follow the hashtag #educationalplay and your hosts @ChildhoodBeckon and @SafariLtd. Can't wait to chat tonight!

25 Family Time Activities- Going Out

2013-01-19T04:46:00.000-06:00

Last week I shared 25 family time activity ideas for when you want to stay home. But sometimes you just have to get away! Here are 25 ideas to look forward to when you want to venture out.

25 More Family Time Ideas:

1. Go to the fair. Ride the ferris wheel, eat a batch of cotton candy that's bigger than your head, win a goldfish!

2. Go camping. Set up camp at a state park or even a friend's backyard for a change of scenery!

3. Visit an arcade. Bring a big bag of change and play until it's gone!

4. Go to the movies. A classic for a reason!

5. Go fishing. Here are a few tips for fishing with kids.

6. Go skating. Call to see if your local rink hosts a family night!

7. Volunteer as a family. Get involved!

8. Bowling. This is a family favorite!

9. Take a hike! Take a walk through nature together as a family. It's great exercise and great fun!

10. Visit a museum. Art, natural history, children's museum. What museums are near you?

11. Watch a play. Visit your local high school's production of Beauty and the Beast, or spring for a bigger show!

12. Visit the library. Explore the shelves. Race to find a specific book. Attend the story time.

13. Go to a park. Or five. Make it a mission to play at as many parks as possible.

14. Go on a scavenger hunt. Make a list beforehand and then visit a park, store, etc and try to find all of the items.

15. Attend a sporting event. Cheer on the home team together as a family!

16. Have a day of picnics. Plan to eat every meal out on the grass with the ants. Maybe as you are park hopping?

17. Go bike riding. Don't forget your helmets!

18. Go through the car wash. For fun. Lots of giggles!

19. Go letterboxing or geocaching. So much fun!

20. Pick your own fruit and vegetables. Find a place near you.

21. Go swimming. Splash around in a pool, pond, or lake on a warm day.

22. Attend a puppet show. A lot of libraries host puppet shows!

23. Explore a neighboring town. What looks interesting? Try a new place to eat. See the sights.

24. Play tourist in your own town. Don't forget the camera!

25. Visit the zoo. Spend some time looking at your favorite animals. Take turns navigating.

What does your family like to go do? Do you have a favorite activity or place to visit?

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Safari Ltd. Winter Twitter Party

2013-01-17T17:21:00.000-06:00

I am going to have the pleasure of co-hosting a Safari Ltd. Twitter party this next week! We'll be chatting about educational play, winter, boredom busters, and more. Safari Ltd. is generously giving away prizes throughout the party, so there will be several chances to win. It's sure to be a lot of fun!

The Details:

The Safari Ltd. Twitter Party will be from 9-10 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Follow hashtag #educationalplay
Be sure to follow your hosts on Twitter- @ChildhoodBeckon and @SafariLtd
Prizes are limited to US and Canada residents only.
RSVP below and let us know you want to join the fun!

I'm really looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new friends! Please come chat and share with us on Tuesday.

Are You New To Twitter Parties?

Twitter parties are fast paced fun and sometimes if a party is really jumping, it can be hard to keep up. You can attend a party on Twitter alone, but I've found that using TweetChat really helps me stay up to speed during parties. It's really easy to use. Just visit the Tweet Chat website, and allow the application to access your Twitter. Then enter in the hashtag you would like to follow (#educationalplay) and you can watch the party (and only the party!) in one window. It also takes care of adding the hashtag to each of your tweets for the party automatically!

RSVP-

25 Family Time Activities- At Home

2013-01-08T12:43:00.000-06:00

One of our goals for this year is to spend more quality time together as a family. We are setting aside time each week to be intentionally and purposefully together. And maybe your family is planning to do the same. But what will we do during all of this family time? Don't get in a rut just because it's part of the routine. Here are 25 family time ideas to keep things interesting! Fun is never far with these ideas.

25 Family Time Ideas:

Here are 25 family time ideas to keep things interesting at home! Fun is never far with these ideas.

1. Cook dinner as a family. Work together on one dish, or split up the dinner (and dessert) and work side by side to create a yummy meal you can all be proud of.

2. Go camping. In your living room! Push aside all of the furniture and set up the tent right there in the living room. Or grab your sleeping bags and sleep under the stars- the glow in the dark kind!

3. Game night! A classic and a staple of any family night routine. Play a tried and true favorite, let each person pick one game for the family to play, or even have a marathon!

4. Learn something new. A new skill. A new card game. A new recipe. Read together on a subject that interests you all or watch a documentary. So many possibilities.

5. Movie night! Make it special. Lay on some blankets and pillows in the floor, or cuddle up on the couch. Don't forget the popcorn and treats!

6. Have a read-a-thon. Take turns reading from your favorite family friendly books. Younger children could look at the pictures and recite the story from their favorite picture books, or just enjoy being read their favorites.

7. Set up an obstacle course. Let each family member plan a part of the obstacle course. Jump from couch cushion to couch cushion. Crawl under the table. Or take it to the backyard! Then take turns running through it. Who has the fastest time? Hand out silly, hand-made medals to every participant or compete for a grand prize!

8. Family art night. Work together on one masterpiece or see what each person comes up with separately using the same medium. You could even set up a family art gallery.

9. Take a trip down memory lane. Look at photo albums and watch old family movies. Reminisce together about the years past.

10. Video game night. This will be a favorite of my son's and husband's. Indulge in some screen time and play some favorite games. You can also rent new games for many consoles from Redbox now.

11. Build a fort. Gather all of your cushions, pillows and sheets for a fun fort indoors. Or get creative outside. Don't forget the flashlights!

12. Photo booth night. Use a sheet for a back drop and set out lots of props! Take hilarious pictures.

13. Fun with puzzles. Tackle a huge jigsaw puzzle together as a family. Or teach younger children the art of putting together puzzles with one containing less pieces.

14. Write a story. Choose characters and discuss the plot. Take turns telling parts of the story and write it down! You could even illustrate! Or save that for another night. ;) Need help getting started? Here are 10 tips for storytelling.

15. Go on a scavenger hunt. Great fun for indoors or out!

16. Have a family slumber party. Everyone wears their pjs, eats way too much junk food, and stays up a bit too late having fun. Sleep in the next day!

17. Act out your favorite story. Rehearse and perform!

18. Music night! Dance or sing along to some fun music. Or form a band and make your own music with homemade instruments.

19. Ice cream sundae night. Put out lots of ingredients for amazing ice cream sundaes. Build your own and share your creations.

20. Plant a garden. Whether it's food or flowers, there's a lot of fun and satisfaction to be had working in the garden.

21. Candlelight night. Do everything by candlelight! Not just dinner.

22. Stargaze. Make wishes. Look for the constellations or make up your own. What do you see? And don't forget to go out and watch some of the many meteor showers we have each year!

23. Celebrate the small stuff. Use any excuse for a party! Celebrate the successes and events of everyone in the family, no matter how "small".

24. Play outside. Get outside and have fun in your own yard as a family. Play Frisbee, fly a kite, or play some classic childhood games like "red light, green light." Toys are not required! Or play in the dark!

25. Play hide and seek. This is such a huge hit among kids, but the adults can have a lot of fun too!

What family time activities does your family enjoy? What would you add to the list?

Next week I'll be sharing a list of family time ideas that will take you out of the house, so be sure to check back! You can subscribe for free or follow me on Facebook to follow the fun.

Setting Family Goals for the New Year

2013-01-01T02:13:00.000-06:00

As we begin to welcome in the new year, I can't help but reflect on the past. There's a mixture of emotions surrounding this passage of time, and there's a great deal of hope for the upcoming year. The above quote is powerful. It reminds me that even though I can't slow down the ticking of the clock (or pause it all together), that I can control how I spend my time. I can control where it goes.

A way that I'm focusing on making the most of this time (and really, this childhood that beckons me) is by setting goals. Goals for myself as a parent, and goals for my family as a whole. I want these goals to remain a focus throughout the year. My plan is to write out our goals and add them to a special keepsake box so we can review them periodically and reread them next New Year's Eve.

I wanted this to be a family affair, and I found that asking family oriented questions was the best way to get them involved.

Questions to Ask Yourself and Partner:

1. What was your favorite memory of this past year?

2. What was your biggest regret?

3. What is your favorite family activity?

4. What makes you feel happy and loved?

5. What is one new thing you'd like to try as a family in the new year?

Questions to Ask Your Kids:

1. What was your favorite memory of this past year?

2. What is your favorite thing to do as a family?

3. What is your favorite thing to do with just dad? With just mom?

4. What does mom do to make you feel happy and loved? What does dad do?

5. What is one thing you'd like to try as a family in the new year?

By asking these questions, I was able to get a sense of what is most important to each one of us, and to us as a family. Not only did this help with goal setting, but this also made a great keepsake interview. It was especially nice to see what made the biggest impression on R. And I imagine it will be great to see his various answers from year to year.

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The holidays are here and it's hard to focus on anything else! So I created a way to sneak in some math practice with this holiday themed play prompt. This was super simple to put together and encouraged a lot of practicing through play.

The Play Prompt:

This prompt included a few of our favorite manipulatives, so it was sure to be a hit. Magnets and stickers!! We used these magnetic wooden numbers from Melissa & Doug. I adore the wooden toys and learning materials from Melissa & Doug because of their quality, but we also love this set because it's colorful, fun, and includes both numbers and signs.

I set this prompt up one night and left it on the table for R to find in the morning. I set out the magnets and a metal cookie sheet with a few construction paper backgrounds, as well as a construction paper Christmas tree cut out. I filled a muffin tin with the stickers and craft materials. I added the dice because everything is more fun with dice!

The Play:

R was thrilled when he seen the set up and eagerly got to work. He rolled the dice, chose the corresponding magnetic numbers, and had fun deciding which materials to use. He didn't actually stick the stickers to the page, but rather used them as manipulatives he could move and use over and over. He practiced addition, subtraction, and a few simple equations containing the two.

He added up penguins and subtracted snowflakes. He decorated the Christmas tree and counted out presents to put underneath it. He added cars to his train and put lots of elves to work making toys to fill it. This activity was also great for storytelling and pretend play. He had a blast!

More Ways to Play:

*Just count- This would be fabulous for younger kids. Practice number recognition, one to one correspondence, etc.

*Skip the dice- Dice can be a lot of fun for kids, but you might prefer to call out math facts or supply a separate page with the math facts you'd like your child to practice instead. This would be especially true if you'd like them to practice adding numbers higher than twelve or subtracting from higher than six.

*Add another die- Use three dice instead of two and work on some simple equations!

{Disclosure- This is a sponsored post. I was compensated for sharing this idea using the Melissa & Doug magnetic wooden number set, but the views, opinions, and ideas are my own and were not swayed by compensation. I commit to only share products and companies that my family loves. I also try to give anyone reading new ideas for enjoying these great products. I hope that you've found this useful and can incorporate this idea in your home! Thanks so much!}

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10 Ways to Play with Safari Ltd. TOOBS {And Giveaway!}

2012-12-11T22:27:00.000-06:00

It's no secret that my family loves the TOOBS and replicas from Safari Ltd. They truly have something for everyone and there are so many ways to play and learn. So I thought it would be fun to share 10 of my favorite ways to use these fantastic toys. Best of all, Safari Ltd has graciously offered to give away one TOOB to a Childhood Beckons reader!

10 Ways to Play:

1. Use them as game pieces! I absolutely adore this idea from the Safari Ltd blog. I think it's genius and I know R will love the twist!

2. Play with them in a sensory bin. The Pleasantest Thing shares her pasta and puppies sensory play, but the combinations are really endless!

3. Play a matching game. Living Montessori Now posted about a dinosaur matching activity that kids are sure to love. (This link also contains several other dino-themed activities using TOOB toys.)

4. Practice colors and patterns. I love this idea from Crayon Freckles! This is such a fun and creative way to practice.

5. Learn about animal groups! This is another fantastic idea from the Safari Ltd. blog. Use their TOOB animals to learn about various animal groups. This would be a great sorting activity that you can really tailor to your child's age and skill level. Visit the link for more ideas!

6. Use them to reinforce and build upon a unit study. Carrots Are Orange has shared several ways she uses Safari Ltd TOOBS alongside a particular unit study. And since Safari Ltd has everything from sea life to dinos to civil war figures, you have a lot you can study!

7. Learn math. You can use the TOOB toys as math manipulatives! Count them, make patterns, use them to add and subtract. You can even measure them!

8. Pretend Play!- Pretend play has many benefits, and Safari Ltd. has many options!

9. Use them as party decor and activities! I found this example on the Safari Ltd. blog.

10. Add them to play dough for some creative small world play fun! Or some out of this world fun!

The Giveaway:

This giveaway is winner's choice! The mandatory entry is to leave a comment stating which TOOB you would choose if you won. So please visit the Safari Ltd. website and take a look around! Want more ways to win? Just fill out the easy form below for several more entries! This giveaway is open to U.S. residents and by entering you are agreeing to my giveaway rules. Thanks so much for entering and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tooth Traditions

2012-11-27T19:30:00.000-06:00

It finally happened. R lost his first tooth. I guess I'm still in a bit of shock, even though his new smile already feels natural. Feels perfect. I might even be in a bit of shock when the hole is filled. He wears the space well and now I kind of can't imagine him without it.

When he realized it was loose, he exclaimed, "it finally happened!" and I cried because it finally happened. Eventually, I stopped my blubbering and pulled out the book "Throw Your Tooth on the Roof". I had bought this book with this day in mind. I bought it well in advance and saved it. I'm never this prepared. Ever. And to be honest, I didn't think I'd need it this soon. But here I am. Reading it.

The book was perfect. He really enjoyed learning about what kids do with their teeth all around the world. We talked about the different countries. We talked about the path the tooth fairy must fly, the path that magical rat must travel.

He wiggled it like crazy, non stop. By the time we were eating dinner the next night, it was literally waving at us any time he spoke. He wanted me to pull it. Tonight was the night the tooth fairy would come.

Our Tooth Fairy Visit:

I didn't have a cute little pouch. Kevin and I hadn't even discussed what the tooth fairy would bring. We quickly decided that the first tooth would be more. Because it was extra special, and because he was so brave. Five dollars for the first tooth, two dollars for the teeth after that. Inflation from our days with the tooth fairy.

But I wanted to do more. I decided I'd have to go to the store and get some glitter to decorate the five dollar bill. (Why didn't we have glitter?!) And maybe I would get a pack of note cards so the fairy could leave him a little note. You know how they say you shouldn't go to the grocery store when you're hungry? Well, I have something to add to that. Never go shopping for miscellaneous tooth fairy supplies while you're hurried and emotional. I was grabbing things willy-nilly.

The tooth fairy ended up leaving him a little note, written in my curliest hand writing, with a highly decorated five dollar bill tucked inside. In the note, she explained that the first tooth was extra special and she liked to celebrate by surprising kids with an extra special present. She told him he could find his under his bed. He was thrilled to pull out the small gift bag that contained a small toy he'd been wanting and a fancy new toothbrush.

More Ideas From Around the Web:

-I love this idea of leaving the tooth in a glass of water and providing evidence of something magical.

-Surprise your kids with a picture of the tooth fairy flying beside them while they slept. This service will cost you $9.95, but you might could do it yourself with some clipart!

-I absolutely adore this cute little tooth fairy door. Bonus? It would help your child learn their address!

-Here's a nice tutorial on a simple and cute tooth pillow.

-Be sure to check out this homemade keepsake record book.

-For even more ideas, follow me on Pinterest and check out my All Smiles board!

What are your families tooth traditions?

And were you emotional for that first tooth?

Top 10 Gifts to Inspire Creativity

2012-11-25T15:20:00.001-06:00

The holidays are here, and if you're like me, you might still be trying to figure out what to get your kids. Each year I carefully contemplate what gifts I'll put under the tree. I like to try to choose gifts that will benefit him as he plays. I want them to inspire creativity, teach him something, and I want them to be fun. So today I'm sharing my top 10 gifts that inspire creativity.

Top 10 Gifts For Inspiring Creativity

{Image Courtesy KiwiCrate.com}

1. Kiwi Crate Subscription- We recently discovered this fantastic service when I was asked to review the December Crate. We both loved it so much that I'm purchasing a subscription for R for Christmas. It's the gift that keeps giving creative arts and crafts projects!

2. An easel- Drawing, painting, writing. Everything is so much more fun if you do it on an easel. Ours renewed R's love of art after a period of it dwindling.

{Image Courtesy of Melissa&Doug.com}

3. Band In A Box Value Set- When you think of inspiring creativity, please don't forget music! I love this Melissa & Doug musical instrument set.

4. Dress Up Clothes- Playing dress up is a classic childhood activity with great gift potential. You can buy one costume to add to a collection, or fill a trunk or suitcase with dress up play staples.

{Images Courtesy of Melissa&Doug.com}

5. Puppets- Puppets are perfect for pretend play. Make up your own stories or act out some favorites. You could even do a hilarious stand up comedy act! We love these puppets from Melissa & Doug.

6. Play Dough- Whether it's store-bought or homemade, kids love creating with play dough. This is one of my favorite gifts to give to all the kids I know!

{Image Courtesy of SafariLtd.com}

7. Safari Ltd Toobs and Replicas- Safari Ltd has something for everyone, and there are so many ways to use these toys in play and learning. R has several of the dino toobs and replicas on his list this year.

8. Wooden Blocks- Plain wooden blocks. You can build with them. You can pair them with other toys. You can even pretend they are other toys. Wooden blocks are often play food here.

9. Legos- Ohh, legos. So many possibilities. So much fun.

10. Fort Building Kit- I'm intrigued by this Fort Magic building kit, but I also love this DIY version! I can just imagine the creative play in both the building and the activities that take place inside.

What would you add to this list?

{Disclosure- This post contains sponsored and affiliate links, however my opinion was not swayed by product or any potential monetary gain. Most of the products in this list were purchased by me throughout the years, and these are my honest opinions and recommendations. Thank you so much for reading!}

Childhood Beckons

Memorial Day Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

The Party Details:

RSVP:

Discover the Seasons: Color Hunt

Earth Day Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

The Party Details:

RSVP:

More Ways to Connect:

Homemade Bird Nester Learning Activity

Nesting Materials-

Ultimate Birthday Bash-Dinosaur Party

Kid-Made Plant Markers

Dino Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

The Party Details:

RSVP:

The Giveaway:

Coloring Book Puppets

Items Needed:

The Craft:

The Play:

President's Day Coin Bingo

Safari Ltd. Valentine's Day Twitter Party

The Details:

RSVP:

DIY Penguin Board Game

The Benefits of Scooters

The Benefits Of Scooters

Puzzle Hunt-Counting by 10's

Construction Pretend Play Prompt

Arctic Sensory Bin

25 Family Time Activities- Going Out

25 More Family Time Ideas:

Safari Ltd. Winter Twitter Party

The Details:

Are You New To Twitter Parties?

RSVP-

25 Family Time Activities- At Home

25 Family Time Ideas:

Setting Family Goals for the New Year

Questions to Ask Yourself and Partner:

Questions to Ask Your Kids:

Top Five Posts of 2012

Top 5 Posts

A Highlight

{DIY} State Ornaments

Holiday Math Play

The Play Prompt:

The Play:

More Ways to Play:

10 Ways to Play with Safari Ltd. TOOBS {And Giveaway!}

10 Ways to Play:

The Giveaway:

Tooth Traditions

Our Tooth Fairy Visit:

More Ideas From Around the Web:

Top 10 Gifts to Inspire Creativity

Top 10 Gifts For Inspiring Creativity