New Years Eve Activity

Here is a super fun and simple activity that you can do with your kids today!

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Supplies you will need:

• empty soda bottle
• beans/rice
• glue
• paint brush and bowl
• tissue paper (variety of colors)
• ribbon
• fuzzy balls
• buttons/beads
• any other fun craft things you might want to glue on

Pour a handful of the beans and/or rice into the empty bottle.  Put glue on the inside of the cap and twist on so that the cap stays secure.  

Make a mixture of 1/2 glue and 1/2 water in the bowl and mix together.  

Cut up the tissue paper into smaller square pieces (or any shape really).  

Pain the bottle with the glue/water mixture and then stick the tissue paper to the bottle.  Let it dry.

Then, glue on any other fun balls, beads, or buttons to the bottle. 

Take the ribbon and tie it to the neck of the bottle and curl the ribbon.  

Then shake, shake, shake til the little ones tucker out at midnight 10 o'clock.

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Source:

Kiboomu!

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Book Review: Woof! Woof! by David A. Carter

          

School Age:  Preschool

Developmental Skill:  Cognitive and reasoning skills.  This helps children to think interdependently  increases vocabulary and builds self-confidence as they solve problems.

Review:  This book is a simple and energetic. It uses very simple words and has fun cut outs in the pages with shapes.  It has a guessing game throughout the book as you try to figure out what the shapes are making.  Little children will love this interactive book and it is a great way for them to practice shapes and work on problem solving skills.

Activity:  Practice shapes by cutting out different shapes and gluing them to popsicle sticks.  Then with the popsicle sticks play a game of "Hokey Pokey" (stick your circle in, stick your circle out, stick your circle in and you shake it all about).  It's a very fun way to get to know shapes.

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How To Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Child

Sometimes it can be hard to remember to show love to your child when they just drew a picture of a treasure map all over your hallway wall with permanent marker.  Or to be overly concerned when they start crying (again) because they want a purple straw and all that's left is orange ones.  So here are few ways that can help you step back and remember to nurture the relationship you have with your child:

Listen.  Let's face it.  Kids talk a lot.  They talk and talk and asks lots of questions over and over.  And as irritating as this can be at times there is a reason behind it.  They are learning and facing new experiences everyday.  They talk about it and ask questions to process those experiences.  So make sure to be a good listener to your child and not just tune them out (which you would never do I am sure). Turn off the technology that can so easily distract us. Then give them good eye contact, be ready to teach when the time is necessary, and validate their learning.

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Have special time with them.  Everyday take a little bit of time to have one on one with your child.  This is especially important when you have multiple children.  They need to be given special attention and love and shown that they are important to you and your family.  Alternate between doing things with them that they want to do and are in charge of and things that you want to do and are in charge of.

Speak to them with respect.  Oftentimes, we demand respect from our children, because we are the adults, but do not reciprocate it in return.  We often lose our temper and are impatient with them.  Try to be aware of the way you are using your words towards them.  Be kind, loving, and grateful to them.  Be a model of the respect you want them to show to you and others.

Bedtime.  This can be a very special time with your child.  This is also a great way to connect with them and create a stronger bond.  Talk to them. Ask them about their worries, how their day at school went, how they are getting along with their siblings, etc.  Reassure them that you hear their concerns and will help them solve it the next day.  Also take this time to read to your children.  Reading is one of the best ways to help your child develop and a great way to spend extra time together.

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Be interested in what they're interested in.  Talk to them and support them in their hobbies.  Be open about their interests and realize that they may be different then your own.  Be proud of who they are and who they and becoming.  Notice their interests, ask questions, and respect their opinions.

Hugs.  Multiple hugs a day.  Hug them when they first wake up, hug them when they accomplish something, hug them when they say something nice, hug them randomly all day long.  Their doesn't need to be a reason. Just hug them as a way to show them you love them.

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There are many more ways to strengthen your relationship with your child.  Take the extra time to make your relationship a priority and show your child how much you appreciate and care about them.

Sources:
Aha! Parenting
Chicago Parent

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Christmas Playgroup

Here is our weekly playgroup idea.  The theme this week is Christmas Time (surprise).  You can have so much fun with your playgroup during the holidays and we wanted to share some things we did during our playgroup this week.


We have a really fun batch of gingerbread playdough that the kids absolutely LOVED.  They played with it and used cookie cut outs to make their own "gingerbread cookies". Here is a simple recipe that you can use:

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Gingerbread Playdough

Stored properly this dough should stay supple for a couple of months.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 cup water

Mix together flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spices in a medium-sized pot. Stir in the oil and water until evenly mixed (will be thick). Place pot over medium-low heat, cook and beat with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is playdough consistency. Remove from pot (Careful, it’s hot!) and knead with your hands until smooth. Store in an airtight container.

Then we played a game with a gingerbread man puppet. Everyone sits in a circle and then we had one child be the "gingerbread man" and wear the puppet.  They went out of the room and while they were gone we had a single jingle bell that we gave to one of the other children in the circle.  Everyone puts their hands behind their back and the "gingerbread man" comes back in the room and they stand in the middle of the circle.  The child with the bell jingles it and the "gingerbread man" tries to figure out which person has the bell.  When they find who it is then that person becomes the next "gingerbread man".    It was a very fun game and the kids couldn't wait for their turn to be the "gingerbread man".

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After the game we read a Christmas book.  There are so many out there for you to choose from.  Then we had an arts and craft activity where we had a gingerbread man cutout of sandpaper and the kids could color them.  We also had them rub cinnamon sticks on the sand paper and then the cutout smelt like cookies.  Next they hole punched the top and tied a string so that they had their own gingerbread man Christmas ornament to put on their tree at home.  

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Holiday Traditions

Holiday traditions can come to be in a lot of different ways.  Some are ones that your great-great grandmother started and have been passed down from generation to generation (putting an orange in the bottom of our stocking).  Other traditions your own parents started themselves (getting a new pair of pajamas on Christmas eve).  And others you don't really know how they started or why you do them...you just do (putting peanut brittle out for Santa instead of cookies).  

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Traditions can be a wonderful way to bring your family even closer together as you continue old ones and create new ones.  They create an environment that is familiar and comfortable.  They are fun, exciting, and sentimental.  Here are some ideas for Christmas traditions that may be fun to try with your family this year:

• Drive around and look at all the holiday lights in your area.
• Go sledding or ice skating as a family.
• Have a cookie exchange with friends and neighbors.
• Make the same entree for Christmas eve (such as stew) or Christmas morning (such as sweet rolls) each year.
• Read holiday Christmas books (Polar Express, Santa Mouse, etc) every night during the month of December.
• Purchase an ornament for each child every year that will help them remember that year.
• Volunteer at a local food bank or help a child from the Angel Tree as a family each year.
• Deliver cookies or a special treat to your local police department, fire station, or hospital staff on Christmas Day.
• Draw names as a family to do a gift exchange.
• Open one gift on Christmas Eve.
• Call or have a video chat with loved ones on Christmas Day.

Add your own to the list and share your holiday memories other readers. 

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Happy Holidays!

Source:

Cozi

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