Kidz Patch

18 Spring Flower Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 17:12:00 +0000

Here's a round-up of 18 different Spring flower crafts you can have fun with this Spring time with your little ones

18 Spring Flower Crafts

Originally on my blog - Serenity You

Using Word Walls

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +0000

See how you can use Word Walls from Fun-A-Day

Free Printable Spring Fun pack

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 20:02:00 +0000

Free Printable Spring Fun Pack from Marriage, Motherhood and Missions

Watercolor Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Watercolor Painting by Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational

Paper Case Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 17:28:00 +0000

Is anyone else missing spring? There is to much snow for me and not enough colour. So to change this and also to give the children something to do while I did the ironing I gave them this.

oh and I forgot to add the glue!!
You can also use anything else you have to hand.
The girls were excited as to what we was going to do and couldn’t wait to get started. I explained to the girls we was using the cases as a flower and the straws as the stems.

First colour your ‘flower’ case in.

Using sticky tape, stick the straw to the back if the case. You can glue a pompom to the front or use stickers, Posy even used cut up wiol

And there you have your simple flower. This activity kept the girls busy for 2 hours, and even Izlles joined in making Daisy’s.

I personally think these are gorgeous, and they are so simple yet effective.
I now have 3 bouquets of flowers to cheer up my living room.

This post was originally published on What to do with the Children

Free Airplane Memory Matching Game Printable

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:30:00 +0000

here's a cute Free Airplane Memory Matching Game Printable from Vicki-Arnold

Great for all little plane lovers

Free Zoo Scavenger Hunt Pages Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 12:30:00 +0000

My Joy-Filled Life has these fantastic Free Printable Zoo Scavenger Hunt Pages

Lolly Stick Knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:34:00 +0000

This craft is more for older children or for you to do for your children.

I have recently discovered finger knitting. I found a good YouTube tutorial on how to do it here. So using this I quickly finger knitted Posy’s teddy a scarf.

Posy was happy about the new scarf. But making this also gave me another idea, to make it bigger.
I quickly got some craft sticks, but popsicle/lolly sticks will work just as well. I glued these onto a piece of corrugated cardboard, and glued another piece of card on top.

I then used the sticks instead of fingers. I weaved the wool like shown below.

You need to go back and forth weaving until you have 2 lines of wool either side like the pic above. You then using the last stick pull the bottom loop up and over the stick leaving the top loop one where it is. Continue to do this until you just have 1 row of the wool. when you get to the thread just place this to the back of the board.

Weave 1 more line of wool back and forth just once until you once again have 2 lines of wool, pull the bottom loop up and over the stick leaving just 1 row again. Keep repeating and your knitting will quickly grow.

Keep going until you have your desired length.
To finish you take the last loop and place it on top of the loop next to it.

You then use this as the second loop so pull the bottom loop up and over the top. Then repeat the process take the last loop place it on the stick next to it and pull up and over. Keep repeating until you have the last loop.

Cut the wool and thread the end of it threw the loop. Take it off the loop and tie both ends off.

Posy was ecstatic that she and her teddy had the same scarf.

This post was originally published on What to do with the Children

5 Ways to get Your Children to Drink More Water

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:07:00 +0000

5 Ways to Get Your Children to Drink More Water Some ideas!

Wasn't it Mary Poppins who said "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down"? In my house, we have taken that to extremes! Luckily, my children are addicted to fruit juice but even most fruit juices are loaded with sugar and still not the same as water. Come to think of it, I am probably the worst one in my house when it comes to what I drink. I am a soda "Junkie"- Not an addict, a literal junkie. Yes, I have read and studied all of the reasons why diet soda is bad for us and have decided that my precious silver can is worth the risk. When I run out, I even hold my empty can so I don't go through separation anxiety...... Okay, its not that bad but you get the idea. I have been attacking what we eat with a vengeance and have neglected to focus on the liquids we put into our bodies- so the journey starts today.

Why do our bodies need water?

Brain Power - yep, water can make you smarter! Since your brain is made up mostly of water, keeping your water tanks full will allow you to stay more alert and aware. Without enough water, your brain cannot function well which can lead to headaches and migraines.

Look Younger - Your entire body is made up of water, including your skin! Drinking plenty of water will keep these cells full and plump which can help reduce the appearance and depth of wrinkles!

Weight Loss - Water assists in digestion and boosts your metabolism. Water also regulates your body temperature so you are able to have a more productive workout!

Health Benefits - Drinking lots of water helps to fight against flu and things like kidney stones and heart attacks. Add lemon to your water and it will help fight respiratory disease, intestinal problems, rheumatism and arthritis.

Mood Enhancer and Energy Booster - Water helps to flush toxins out of your body. Without enough water, you heart has to work harder to get the oxygenated cells to the rest of your body. This tires out your body which means you are a bit exhausted too! Giving your body enough water will allow it to run at peak function - so it will be happy and it should share the love!

I know that there are many more reasons but Those are just a few of the reasons why water is good for us. So...now we know it is good for us.....How do we get our kids (eh...ourselves) to drink more?!?! Here are 5 GREAT Ways to get your kids to drink More WATER!

1. Make it accessible - Soda and juices are so convenient because they are kept in the fridge so they always cold. EVERYTHING tastes better cold! So keep a large water jug or dispenser where your children can access it! If you get one like the one pictured, you can refill it yourself and your children will LOVE the fact that they can get it themselves!

2. Add Fruit - I know that a lot of folks add lemon and lime but maybe you want your water to have a bit more pizazz! Try adding watermelon, oranges, berries, or even cucumber to your water. Freeze the fruit first and you will have delicious ice cubes!

3. Fun Cups - Any fun cup will do! A cute sipper, a cup with a crazy straw, or try a cup that your child can decorate! You can actually use their favorite piece of artwork, a picture, or have them design something super special. Taking the time to sit with your child and decorate this cup will make it special for them and they will use it more!!

4. FREEZE IT! Make an ice pop for summer fun! Add fresh fruit and sit it in a mold (or use a dixie cup and a Popsicle stick) in the freezer.

5. Make it a game! Get a chalk board or dry erase board and track EVERYONE in the families water intake! The first one to eight cups wins!

I hope that these fun tips help your family to drink more water. Doctors recommend 8 8ounce glasses per day. Yes, I know that there are concerns out there about the safety of tap water and you can learn more by visiting www.epa.gov/safewater/annual and by calling your local water agency.The EPA believes that at least 90 percent of the United State's Drinking Water is safe but if you still want to be extra careful, you can also test your water yourself, using a home test kit. These tests detect lead, arsenic, pesticides, and bacteria. Two reputable ones are PurTest and Discover testing. The kits sell for $10 to $30.

Good luck to your children (and yourself) on developing better water drinking habits! if you have any tips, PLEASE SHARE!

This post was originally published on Frugal Fit Family

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Make this cute Spring Daffodil Picture with your kids from Rainy Day Mom

Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:33:00 +0000

I have finally got around to re baking the lemon and poppy seed loaf I made at weekend and this time it turned out much better.
This is a cross between a cake and a loaf and tastes yummy especially with cream or lemon curd.
Posy made this with me first and I was surprised by how much she did! The only thing I did was zest and juice the lemon and beat the eggs into the flour, and she only didn’t do this as a biscuit was more tempting.

Posy enjoyed measuring the ingredients

She found it interesting on how the mixture changed when we added the eggs she cracked.

As the mixture curdles until you beat it completely.
As I have said she enjoyed mixing and combined all the flour and milk making good work of her gross motor skills. I asked her if she was tired and I was told “no because I have muscles”.

It was also nice to smell the lemon while zesting and looking at the inside of the lemon before squeezing it.

Baking any cake or loaf is very educational while being fun and very yummy too.

Lemon and Poppy Seed Loaf

185ml milk

40g poppy seeds

185g butter

220g caster sugar

3 eggs

300g self raising flour

The zest and juice of 1 lemon

First gently warm the milk either in a pan or in the microwave

for 1 minute. Add the poppy seeds and set to one side.

Pre heat the oven to gas mark 4 or 180c, grease a loaf tin.

Cream the butter and sugar together then add the eggs and

beat until the egg is combined and the mixture is smooth.

Add the flour a bit at a time alternating with the milk.

Once combined add the lemon zest and juice.

Add the mixture to the tin and place in the middle of the oven

and bake for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes remove from the

oven cover in tinfoil, turn down the oven to gas mark 3 or

160c and bake for a further 30 minutes.

Leave to cool slightly in the tin then turn out onto a wire rack

and leave to cool completely.

Enjoy with cream or lemon curd.

For a more lemony cake use 2 lemons instead of just the

one.

You can print out the recipy here lemon and poppy seed loaf.

This post was originally published on What to do with the Children

5 Natural Remedies for Children with ADD/ADHD

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Simple solutions for children AND ADULTS who need help with focus, clarity, and behavior.....

Please know going into this that I am NOT a doctor nor am I from the healthcare industry. I am a mother of 5 children with one that is borderline ADD (he has not been diagnosed but he fits all of the behaviors used to diagnose the disorder) and I am determined not to medicate my child at the age of 5. I also need to note that I will never fault a parent for doing what they believe will help their child. I completely understand that there are situations which do require the medications as for some children, this may be the only answer. I simply advise that BEFORE you go to the medications, you take the time to investigate some all natural solutions and lifestyle changes that could be your answer to medicinal freedom.

Too easily today, active children are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Don't you remember the days when parents would excuse their active child by saying, "Sorry, he is a bit hyper". You never hear that anymore. It is always, "Sorry, he has ADD". IT IS ESTIMATED BY EXPERTS THAT OVER 1 MILLION CHILDREN ARE MISDIAGNOSED WITH ADD/ADHD EVERY YEAR! If they have issues in school-they are labeled ADD. If they like to move quickly from one activity to another-they are labeled ADD. If they have trouble sitting still-labeled. This happens as early as Kindergarten when some children are having their first school experiences. Most doctors will accompany this diagnosis with a prescription slip for a medicine with a LONG list of side effects. Some of these side effects include things like depression, thoughts of suicide, insomnia, mood changes, loss of appetite, and they go on and on. What is scarier is that in many cases these medicines that are meant to deal with the "mental" side of the disorder and having psychological side effects are prescribed by a family practitioner without the evaluation of a psychologist.

Many children who start on the drug end up taking it for the remainder of their lives as they get accustomed to the "clarity" effect it offers. I know adults in their 40's who can't kick the need to take it and take it daily before work. I should mention that a portion of tese started taking it in college to study and were never prescribed the medication. This only proves the addivtive nature of the medication. Do the Benefits of the Drugs outweigh the Side Effects? Only a parent can decide...first, you should better understand the disorder.

What is ADD/ADHD

ADD is the general term used to describe people with ADHD. They mean almost the same thing, but there are three types of ADHD.

Inattentive Type
Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
Combined Type.

Some say that the disorder is genetic and is found mostly in children however some adults may be diagnosed as well. The easiest way to describe the disorder is to say that your brain is in constant communication with your body. It is always sending messages on how to think, act, and feel. In those with ADD/ADHD, those messages are not always sent clearly causing confusion.

What Causes ADD?

The disorder is still being studied extensively and scientists really aren't sure yet what exactly causes it. However, they have found that hormones also play a role. One of the causes for ADHD stems from problems in the gut (digestive issues) and food allergies or sensitivities. This is true in my son's case. We found that he has issues digesting lactose. I will spare you the details of what the symptoms that led us to figure this one out.

Other Factors Could Be things like:

Smoking while pregnant.
Other nutritional factors: preservatives, DYES-Specifically, Blue #1 and #2, Green #3, Orange B, Red #3 and #40, Yellow #5 and #6, and Sodium benzoate.
Toxins
Brain Injury

What are the Symptoms of ADD/ADHD ?

The list below shows the symptoms of the three types of ADHD.

Symptoms of inattention:

distracted easily
Bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless they are doing something enjoyable
Misplacing items often
Don’t seem to listen when spoken to
confused easily
Difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others
Struggle to follow instructions

Symptoms of hyperactivity:

Fidgety and squirmy
Talk nonstop
Trouble sitting still
Difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities

Symptoms of impulsiveness:

Impatience
Inappropriate comments
Show emotions without restraint
Act without thinking about consequences
Interrupt others

So- Now you understand the disorder a bit better. Here are some natural alternatives that MAY help to keep your child off the prescriptions! It is not true in every case but I can tell you the difference that I have witnessed in my son is amazing.

Natural Remedies for ADD/ ADHD

1.ROUTINE & RELAXATION- It is important to establish a routine for your child. Make everything as scheduled as possible so they understand what comes next. Meal times, chores, even bed time routines are so important. Keep your home as calm as possible and try calming activities like massage and warm baths.

This also goes for discipline. Make sure both parents and caregivers are on board with the method you choose. Be sure to thoroughly and CALMLY explain to the child what they did wrong and be sure they understand what the right choice would have been.

2. HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES - These were a lifesaver for me. We were having trouble potty training our son at the age of 4 (and still the occasional "accident" now) when we turned to what we called "feel better drops". He understood what to do but would be so busy with something that he would choose it over the restroom. There may be many versions of these but we used a product by Newton Laboratories called "Hypercalm". It is made from all natural ingredients and is available in a dropper or pellet form. The drops didn't put him into a coma and didn't give him a high, they just took the "edge" off and allowed him to think a bit more clearly to make the right decision.

Other suggestions are Herbs that calm and soothe the nervous system. They include lemon balm, chamomile, hops, passion flower, skullcap, brahmi, valerian, and St. John’s Wort.

3. DIETARY CHANGES - Again, we found that my son had issues with milk. I also noticed a HUGE difference when I began eliminating processed foods from his diet. Try to go as close to raw and organic as possible and eliminate dyes and preservatives. This doesn't mean that you have to make everything from scratch! There are so many all natural brands now and even "convenience" items available without the additives. There are even "ADD Diets" that are suggested. They include some of the following tips:

Eat a high-protein diet, including beans, cheese, eggs, meat, and nuts. Add protein foods in the morning and for after-school snacks, to improve concentration.
Eat fewer simple carbohydrates, such as candy, corn syrup, honey, sugar, products made from white flour, white rice, and potatoes without the skins.
Eat more complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables and some fruits (things like oranges, tangerines, pears, grapefruit, apples, and kiwi).
Eat more Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in tuna, salmon, other cold-water white fish, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and olive and canola oil.

4. Nutritional Supplements - Even simple combinations of the "right" vitamins and minerals can make a quick improvement in your child's focus and behavior. While there are different methods that should be discussed with your child's doctor, the suggestions include:

Omega 3's
Calcium, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin B (usually all found in a good multivitamin)
Vitamin C
Flaxseed

5. Exercise and Activity - get your child active in something that provides structure.

Excercise: This may sound CRAZY but try taking them to a Zumba class. They do make this for kids and its called Zumbatomic or even the adult classes would be great. Martial Arts, Yoga, and sports also provide structured learning as well!
Activity- Music classes and Art classes are fantastic. They get to be hands on with a project while they learn and explore. This keeps their minds and hands busy! Many of these children (and me) are Kinestetic. It is a tactile way of learning where the best learning takes place while physical activity is also happening. Give me a slinky during a lecture and I will absorb everything that is said. No slinky--my mind wonders and I doze off!

To close, I would like everyone to know that there is nothing "WRONG" with children with ADD. I wish that the disorder was better understood by people. These children are intelligent, bright, and happy just like other kids. They simply learn and process information differently than others might. In many cases medicine may be the only answer but if you are willing to go the drug route, why not try a few things that may naturally help your child first. These natural remedies can actually be beneficial to all children and adults so implementing them for the whole family will only increase their benefits!

Only you will know what is right for you so do your research and with your doctor make an educated decision for your child's method of care.

If you have any all natural remedies you swear by- PLEASE SHARE!

This post was originally published on Frugal Fit Family

Free Butterfly Colouring Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Lot's of Butterfly Colouring Pictures from Butterfly Pictures

25 Cute Penguin Things To Make and Do

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 09:20:00 +0000

Did you know that it was National Penguin Awareness Day on 20th January?
To celebrate I'm sharing with you a round up of 25 Cute Penguin Things To Make & Do

Pink & Purple Penguin cookies from Glorious Treats

Penguin Hooded Towel Tutorial from Crazy Little Projects

Penguin Gumdrops from Crafts al a Mode

Royal Penguin Pine Cone from Crayon Box Chronicles

Purl Bee Penguin from The Purl Bee

Feed the Penguin Game from Little Family Fun

Penguin Button Art from Repeat Crafter Me

Penguin Finger Puppets from Fantastic Find

Crochet Penguin Hat from Repeat Crafter Me

Crochet penguin Family from Planet June

Toilet Roll Penguins from Mama's Like Me

Olive Penguins from Living my Life on Purpose

Free printable Penguin Craft from Hurray for Full Day Kindergarten

Skiing Penguin Ornaments from Suzy's Sitcom

Free Printable Penguin Worksheet from Mrs. Ring's K-Crew Kids Rock

Wood Penguin Ornament from Just a Little Creativity

Paper Cup penguin from House of Baby Piranha

Penguin Igloo Birthday Cake from Gourmet Mom on the Go

Penguin Bottle Craft from Crafts -N- Things for Children

Penguin Cookies from Frog Prince Paperie

Hama Bead Penguin pattern from My Happy Crafts

Circle Penguin from Reading Confetti

Milk Bottle Penguins from Repeat Crafter Me

Penguin Lego from Musebootsi

Felt Penguin Dec from Sarah's Little Snippets

Which one was your favourite?

Natasha is mum to 3 little monkeys and blogs over at Serenity You

Paper Lantern Hot Air Balloon

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

We've been trying to do regular art projects with the kids.

They love getting to pick through fabrics, match colors, glue things, and make a mess.

I love seeing their creativity and personalities shine through their art.

Last night we made some cute little hot air balloons that will eventually hang among clouds and lights in the playroom.

Here is the how to:

For each balloon you will need:

1 paper lantern 10, 14, or 16 inch

Fabric/pendants/decor

2 long pieces of yarn ~30"

cardboard square 3-5 inches

burlap square cut 4 inches wider than cardboard

hot glue and craft glue

scissors

We used craft glue to attach our decorations.

Didn't want to burn little fingers!

To make the basket:

Start by gluing your card board (hot glue) to the center of your burlap square.

Next, you will fold in each corner, tuck and glue.

After it is glue is cooled, snip off the corners inside.

It will look like this:

To attach the basket:

Find the center of each piece of yarn.

Glue to center of the bottom of the basket.

Then glue at a diagonal from corner to corner.

Repeat with second piece of yarn going from the other corners, forming an "X" on the bottom.

Now you will glue your yarn up the sides of each corner.

This is what you should have:

Now you just need to glue it to your lantern!

I did this 5 different ways....this is one way.

You want to make sure you are keeping your yarn even.

Measure and mark each string or just eyeball it, like I did.

Be sure you are attaching it to the BOTTOM of your lantern:

Glue strings in a + pattern around center hole.

Giving 5-6 inches between basket and lantern.

(Pretend the gluing looks perfect. Photographing and gluing at the same time is tricky.)

Now just run your strings up the side of the lantern and glue at the top!

Ta-Da!
We hung ours up to "finish drying" along the living room.
Which really means until the light fixtures arrive and I actually hang them in the proper place in the playroom.

I order my penants and lanterns from the Knot.
Very worth it for the colors and buying a lot at once!
Otherwise, I'd go to the local craft store.

This post was originally published on The Crafty Woman

Bird Feeder Kiddo Craft

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:56:00 +0000

We did a fun little spring craft today and I thought I'd share!

Toilet paper roll, bird seed and peanut butter.

Thats it.

I let my littles use a plastic leftover party knief to rub the peanut butter on the toilet paper roll.

And as for the bird seed, I filled up a tupperware bin and let them roll it in about 1/2 inch of bird seed.

Heres to (almost) spring!

This post was originally published on Ashlea with an A

Full Alphabet Letter Identification Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Full Alphabet Letter Identification Printables from Over the Big Moon

Everything I Wish I'd Known about Breastfeeding

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Mums Makes List has a fantastic post about all the things she wish she had known before breastfeeding
This is a great post with loads of other links at the end of post to other breastfeeding post by other bloggers

Free Printable Spring Packs

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Get the gorgeous Free Printable Spring Pack from 3Dinosaurs

Get this Lovely Free Printable Spring PreK Pack from This Reading Mama

Free Color the Shapes Printable

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Go here to download My Color the Shapes Book from Mama's Learning Corner

Coloring Racing Printable Maths Game

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The Measured Mom has made this great free printable colouring racing game
Click here to see the post

Papa'a Pillow Forts

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

When it comes to building things, Papa is our go to guy.

Whether it is train tracks, or pillow forts, Papa just has this out of the box way of thinking that makes for great outcomes.

When I build something, it turns out ok. It looks much like how I think it should.

But when he builds something, it comes out being this abstract, creative work of art.

With working a lot of hours lately, Papa tries to be sure and spend as much time with the girls as he can. Luckily, we co-sleep with both girls. So he gets all night snuggles which helps him stay connected with them. But some days he gets very little play time. So pillow forts are sometimes the greatest way for him interact with our little ladies.

The girls are all about it. Oh the giggles that follow one of his builds.

It is amazing to see how he has grown into such a great man. We have been together since we were only 15 and 16. And were the best of friends even before that! It will have been 8 years ago that he asked me to be his Valentine. Who says first loves don't last? It wasn't always easy, but we pulled it off.

Both girls love him so much. But Squirrely has a special bond with him. One that she has had with him ever since his hands were the first hands that held her tiny newborn self. Bunny has always been a bit of a Mama's girl, which I love. But Squirrely is Papa's girl. It is a good thing I breastfeed, or she wouldn't need me at all. With him, she is fearless. Because with him, she never has any reason to fear. Why fear falling when you know someone will always be there to catch you? He always has, from the very beginning.

This post was originally published on Like Mama ~ Like Daughter

Doh Much Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:24:00 +0000

In case you missed our previous post about my homeschooling resolve in 2013, one of the things I’m focusing on is being less “boring” around my kids. So, I’m trying to add in more art play since everyone loves art in our house. Enter a morning of Play-Doh…

I’ve actually had this Play-Doh set for a while but we haven’t played with it nearly enough over the years.

Roo was content to sit and make Play-Doh ice cream all morning.

Pooh used multi-colored Play Doh to make some pretty colorful dreadlocks on a plastic pig.

As someone who has dreadlocks, I was only moderately offended.

Tigger made a blue mohawk on her purple rooster.

Pretty sharp, huh? I think I’m raising a house of future hairdressers.

Christopher Robin is home from work today, so we’re enjoying the day with him. Hope you’re all having a good day as well!

This post was originally published on Look! We're Learning

Fun With Hats

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Most young children love dressing up and playing pretend. I have to admit, I love watching Engineer get into make-believe. My teaching partner and I often get the giggles watching our students in the home center, too!

Having a stash of pretend play clothes doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. One of the easiest things to do is have hats on hand for the kiddos. Hats can be put on, and taken off, easily which allows for more independence by the children. They don’t usually take up much room, and they’re less expensive than dress-up clothes. Plus, you can make a hat out of pretty much anything — paper, scraps of fabric, headbands, etc.

With a hat, a child can go from a police officer

to a buffalo

to a builder

to an elephant

to a baker

to a scarecrow.

The children have so much fun with pretend play, but there are many educational benefits to it as well. To begin with, young kids learn through play. That’s how they explore the world, so even when it looks like they’re “just playing” their brains are getting a workout. The language and vocabulary experiences are tremendous during play. They’re able to practice speaking with their friends, and they also act as examples for each other. The etiquette of conversation is also practiced during this time.

Kids can extend their knowledge of books and authors by acting out stories and dressing up like favorite characters.

They can also pretend to be different people — from community helpers to children in other countries to family members.

Wearing and making silly hats around the holidays lets the children learn more about their culture. Even if the hats are goofy, it’s another way for the kids to connect with what they’re learning. Plus, something about putting on a hat seems to make more children braver to try new things and act out what they’ve been taught.

What I’ve written here likely isn’t news to anyone. It doesn’t hurt to hear a reminder once in a while, though! Plus, isn’t it great to see so many cute, smiling faces?

This post was originally published on Fun-A-Day!

Easter Crafts for the Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Natasha Mairs - Serenity You) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Thumbprint Easter Baskets from Silly Eagle Books

Easter Egg Collage from Mama's Like Me

Home made Easter Cards from A Thrifty Mum

Rocking Peeps from Crafty Journal

Egg Shell Painting from Blog Me Mom