Holiday project #2

Post-it calendar

There are lots of things happening in December. The Hanukkah, New Year (which is the main winter holiday in our family) and our daughter's 4th Birthday. She's really excited about her party. I think she spends every second of the free time in school asking other kids whether or not they will be coming to her party. At least that is the only thing she reports to me when I pick her up.

Have you ever tried to explain to a 4 yo why her party is not tomorrow, but on 19th? Time is an abstract thing for little kids. So, we make a post it calendar. We took 31 post-its, still attached to each other; and she wrote numbers 1-31 on each of them. Then we marked the important events like Birthday and Party day and holidays. She tears the leaf off every morning. And we talk about how many days are left till XXX. Also it gave her a change to practice counting and writing numbers.

	You can make a last minute Advent calendar or just like us - a "busy month calendar". We like ours a lot and we might continue to make our own calendars.

Holiday project #1

Make your own cards

Even better if you have a bored 4yo - ask her to draw something [tree, snowman, happy face], then either color it or glue small pieces of paper or foam on the lines. Sign. Send. Enjoy.

Here is lots of new blue goo now.

New goo. Blue goo. Gooey. Gooey. Blue goo. New goo. Gluey. Gluey.
[from "Fox in Socks" by Dr. Seuss]

We made a goo. Blue, because it's kiddo's favorite color. And spent the whole afternoon playing with it. It's rather simple.

Ingredients:

1 tsp of Borax

4oz of Elmers glue (PVA glue)

water

food coloring -optional

In the mixing bowl, mix glue and water 1:1. Stir well.

You can add a food coloring if you'd like. Keep in mind that it will stain your hands.

In the small cup mix borax and 1 cup of water. Mix until dissolved.

The following is better done with two people. Keep stirring glue, add borax solution, few drops at the time. You'll see how the glue is polymerizing. It will be harder and harder to stir the slime, keep mixing for as long as you can. [you will have some left over borax, never mind it] Let the mixture sit for a couple of minutes. Finish mixing by hand.

Have fun! Make balls, and feel the bounce; stretch it; make a snowman and see it "melt"...

NB: Store the slime in the ziplock bag in the cool place. It's not toxic, but it's not edible.

Free summer idea #1

The school year is over for our 3 yo daughter, and now it is up to me to come up with things to keep her busy. I'll post tips and ideas as we come up with them.

IDEA #1 - go to a pet store
Most of the preschoolers love animals, especially small ones. Zoos can be expensive and/or far away from you. BUT I can assure you, that there must be a pet store around. Take your kid there on a rainy day. Look at it as a indoor, air conditioned FREE zoo. You can find lizards, snakes, fish, frogs, birds, small rodents and sometimes cats and dogs there. Some stores even have a dog grooming salons inside.

Teach your toddler to put the jacket on... all by herself..

The "Jacket Flip" came from Montessori schools, now many nursery schools teach it too. Any child as young as 1yo can be taught to do it. It's simple and fun.

1) put the jacket on the floor in front of your child with collar facing the child.

2) help the child to put the arms into the sleeves.

3) do the flip.

Now the jacket's on! Zip it up and you're ready to go.