have you taken a walk lately?

From time to time I have to share my Grandma Says with you. Today's email was just so practical that I had to pass it on...

GOING FOR A WALK

I recently came across a paper written by a former student, detailing all the learning possibilities she identified in taking a group of preschoolers for a walk around the neighborhood. It got me to thinking about the hidden curriculum that is potentially present in such an every-day event as taking your children for a walk.

In a time when both adults and children are being encouraged to get frequent exercise, just the physical act of going for a walk provides a healthy example of keeping fit, breathing fresh air, strengthening muscles, and building endurance. Another plus is stress reduction in enjoying an activity with no agenda.

Taking the time for the walk teaches the idea of setting priorities, for both physical enjoyment and emotional benefits.

Observational skills and awareness are heightened as we notice familiar places as well as novel additions to the surroundings, as new plants emerge, landscaping is adjusted, and decorations are added in yards.

Different kinds of vehicles pass, and we comment on colors, styles, and preferences. Animals, birds, and sounds surround us, and we listen, becoming tuned in to our environment. We absorb notions about respect for property, and diversity in personal decisions about living conditions and style. We express our likes and dislikes, and listen to each other's opinions.

We look out for each other as we walk, and learn to be responsible near traffic. Enjoying a common, shared experience, we develop conversational skills, and learn how to interact with passers-by and their dogs.

As a casual introduction to literacy, we read stop signs, street numbers, street names, and learn to "read" traffic lights. We become aware of our community, noting all the service people required for the smooth functioning of the world around us, and incidentally begin to understand the world of work as we interpret the signs on trucks.

We are introduced to a sense of direction and local geography, figuring out where our home is in relation to where we walk. We become aware of what it means to walk "around the block." We learn to identify markers for our location.

We notice the weather. If we walk regularly, we notice the often-subtle changes in season in the plants around us. I know one family who has adopted a favorite tree on their walk, and they watch eagerly for the changes in bloom and bud that tell them the days are growing warmer and longer.

We make up stories about the houses and the people who live in our neighborhood. We enjoy asking questions and pretending in our familiar neighborhood, and we get comfortable learning about our neighbors, their children, occupations, and pets.

Who knows, the walk may inspire our play or art projects when we return home, filled with the sights and thoughts of what is around us. Perhaps most importantly, we have enjoyed being together in a simple, relaxing activity.

Do you have time for a walk today?

Homemade Snow Dough

The kids working their Snow Dough.

Looking for a fun way to bring some snow inside this season? Here is a fun recipe for Homemade Snow Dough. The kids enjoyed making snowmen and snow monsters!

Seth's snowman - we used toothpicks for arms.

A Snow man closeup - we made two batches of dough. One with green sprinkles for Seth and one with red sprinkles for K.

A New Month to Learn and Grow

December has arrived. It's time for a new unit in our home preschool. Here's the details for those who are interested:

Dec. 1 to Dec. 11 - Snow and Winter
I realize that snow does not necessarily arrive at this time, but it certainly can. The reality is this unit is easy to have a lot of fun with and use it to decorate our home for the long winter. Some projects on the docket: Homemade Snow Dough (recipe coming soon), making Snow Flakes to cover the windows, Cupcakes with coconut on top for a baking project and of course more depending on the timing.

Dec. 14 to Dec. 30 - The Story of Christmas
We live in a home where we believe that Christ was born on Christmas and that HE is the Savior of the world. We make sure to teach the true meaning of Christmas in our home: It's not about what we get, it is about what we give to others. In fact, the goal of this unit is to come up with a gift we can each give personally to Jesus for His birthday.
If you have never read the account of the birth of Christ pick up a New Testament or Bible and check out Luke 2 for the truth!

Emotional: Patience and Waiting for Others

Social/Moral: Time with Family

Spiritual: Giving to Jesus and Others

Month's Verse: "Every good and perfect gift comes from above." James 1: 17

Some other seasonal items that happen in our home outside of day care include a Nativity Calendar. Each day we read a bit more of the story of Christ's birth and add a character to our scene. It is so fun to look forward to each night at supper time.

This year I also am trying a new tradition, or adding to an old one, depending on how you look at it. Each year before we open gifts on Christmas the first gift we open is the Bible. My husband wraps it in advance and it is the first gift to be passed out and then read. So this year, I had my mother help me and we have wrapped 24 Christmas books. That means each night before bed Seth will open a book (some new and some old) to read with mom or dad before being tucked in. I think it just adds to the merriment of Christmas! Then on Christmas day we will open the most important gift of all God's Word telling us of how He sent His one and only son so that we might have life!

Let me know if you have any fun family traditions that others can join in too...

Spiderific Cookies

One mean little spider!

To complete our baking/measuring unit we had to have a recipe that related to Halloween. These tasty little spiders were just the thing! The kids loved being able to do so much of it and of course the tasting part never hurts either.

Try them out for yourselves at Betty Crocker: Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

Seth loves helping in the kitchen but has a rag handy as he does not like to have sticky fingers. Funny how he can play in the dirt and pick up worms with no trouble though...

K has on the day's official shirt - Trick-or-Treat!

I think Seth was trying to bulk up his pumpkin for this shot. Not sure...but I do love the chocolate mouth. "No mom I haven't tried the Rolos." Whatever!

The idea is thanks to Crystal over at Shining Moments.

November Preschool Calendar

Seeing as how the end of the month will be quickly upon us, I wanted to update you on our home school preschool plans for the month of November.

November 2nd - 13th: Building/Construction
Ideas include building with small and large marshmallows and toothpicks, getting out the big tub of Legos and having it front and center when the kids arrive in the mornings, building with blocks, learning about construction equipment from books and kid-friendly videos, etc.

November 16th - 25th: Thanksgiving
Ideas include books about the Pilgrims, Turkey related games and crafts (see above), painting with "Turkey" feathers, etc. Baking some Thanksgiving related food such as corn and potatoes or having our own Thanksgiving lunch where we all make something for it together to share.

Emotions: Joy and Happiness

Social/Moral: What is a family? How do we treat family members?

Spiritual" Giving thanks to God in all circumstances.

Verse for the month: "Give THANKS to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." Psalm 107: 1

Books: I no longer am taking the time to list books this year. The time involved seems unnecessary when you can all just go to your local library and search the topic at hand and receive numerous hits and ideas. There are some fabulous books out there and you should be enjoying them with your kids on a daily basis. We shoot for 30 min reading as a Day Care and then another 15-20 minutes with just Seth before bed EACH DAY!

Just for the record the monthly Bible verse is going great. We keep it right next to our calendar where we talk through the month and days of the week each day. The kids have memorized both the September and October verses without any trouble at all. Amazing how God is establishing His Word in their hearts at such a young age!

Catering to Your Every Need

Last night we took Seth to the Big Brother, Big Sister class at St John's Hospital in Maplewood where we plan to deliver our baby. He brought his baby Irwin, my old Cabbage Patch Doll, and learned how to hold the baby by supporting the head, how to diaper the baby and how to swaddle the baby. It was rather cute.

The last part of the evening was a tour of the Maternity Ward. Seth is always thinking on his toes and had a few questions about the room and where everything was. My favorite moment went something like this...

Instructor: "Here is a table on wheels that rolls right over mom while she is in bed. That way she can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner right here in bed!"

Seth: After glancing around the room, "But where does she make it?"

Whole room fills with guffaws and chuckles.

Instructor: With a large smile on her face, "Someone else makes the food while mom is in the hospital recovering."

That's my boy! If mom isn't the one making dinner then people must be starving. Where else could food come from?! I guess I better work on that one, but how?!

All-Natural Play Clay

As we are once again stuck inside it's time to start pulling ideas out for...hmm... shall I say the "cold winter" months?! Yuck! Since we are in our Baking/Measuring Unit until the end of October it seemed appropriate to get into the kitchen. Today we tried a recipe I found in my Family Fun magazine called All-Natural Play Clay. It took a few tries to get it just right but the kids had fun being able to make it on their own and then play with it too. Check out the link and have some indoor fun!

Note: For the measuring cup challenged: 3/8 cup is the same as 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Hate to admit it, but I had to call my mom to figure that one out. Math genius I am NOT!

Come On Baby Light My Fire!

It is Fire Safety Week around the nation. Today we attended the local Touch A Truck where we were able to climb aboard fire trucks and see some fire fighters in action. Seth was in love!

My Jr. Fire Fighter "driving" a pumper truck.

Seth and Dad "driving to Minneapolis to put out a fire". Wow, that little guys imagination was in full swing today.

One of the fire demonstrations was an actual car fire. Pretty amazing to watch the window blow out as the heat kicked in!

As expected the fire fighters got the flames under control and saved the day. Heroes!

Since Fire Safety is a great topic for preschools we are doing an Emergency Unit the first two weeks of October for home preschool. Today's Touch A Truck was a great kick off event. We will do a practice fire drill, change the batteries in the fire alarms and make sure they work, talk about Stop, Drop, and Roll, etc. Here is a fun website to check out with your kids too: Sparky the Fire Dog.

Our spiritual theme for the month is God Protects Us backed up by 2 Thessalonians 3:3, "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." We are still working through friendship for our social and moral category and when it comes to emotional development; using your words when frustrated. Talk about huge!

A family that plays together stays together!

Keeping Kool with Kids

K enjoying her play dough.

This morning after dropping off Seth, K (my four year old day care girl) and I ran to Target for a quick errand and then came home to play. Wednesdays will be our "girl" day where it is just the two of us while Seth is in preschool. In hopes of making things fun right away we decided to make some play dough. K has little experince in the kitchen so this was a great teaching opportunity for me and I am sure that many more will follow. Try this fun play dough recipe with your kids!

Kool Play Dough

2 1/2 cups flour
2 pkgs. unsweetened Kool-aid mix
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbsp. Alum
2 cups boiling water
3 tsp. cooking oil

Mix well, knead until smooth and let cool. This stuff is great fun and the smell is wonderful. May not be suitable for your youngest as the smell might make you think taste...

Parenting is Preparing for Life

Note to reader: A Preachy Moment, but face it, it is my blog and therefore I can share my opinions from time to time. You never know, I may have a good point or two that can help you out in your parenting pursuits.

The more I spend time with children, from my fifth and sixth grade class at church to the preschool and school age children in and around my home, I am astonished at how unprepared they are for real life. As parents one of our major roles is preparing our children to live life without us. That may sound harsh, but I imagine you look forward to having an evening to yourself again at some point in the future. Maybe even an "empty nest"?!

So why do we clean up after our children, allow them to say words we know are inappropriate, allow them to disrespect adults, let them chew with their mouths open, give into their tantrums and demands, tell them that everything will be okay, etc., etc.

I realize that building life skills take time. Until my son turned three I did not want him to help clear the table for fear of him breaking any of my good dishes. Now that he is older and stronger, with encouragement and a little advice, he is guided to help clear his place. He also has to asked to be excused from the table. Does that make me a crazy old lady? I don't think so.

Do you want to wipe your child's nose until he leaves for college? Do you want him to use the back of his shirt sleeve? Of course not, but don't expect them to figure these things out on their own. Take time to show them how to properly wipe their nose with a Kleenex. Two or three times helping them become independent and the next thing you know, you don't have to get a cold every time they do!

We teach our family to clean up after ourselves often by setting a good example ourselves. (My husband admits I have even rubbed off on him and he thought he was a pretty neat and tidy guy.) When Seth makes a a mess in his room, it needs to be cleaned up before he comes out to do the next activity. When I get out of my bed in the morning, I make it so that our room looks pleasant. I find it much more peaceful and inviting later that evening when I get a chance to finally crawl back in. Seth helps with dusting and vacuuming, now the day care kids as well. I don't find these expectations too high and when they are in a hurry to move on to something else they work quickly and efficiently to help with chores. We also do our best to make them fun. The "Whistle while you work" philosophy if you will. In order to make a mess here you need to know how to clean up a mess here. Taking care of what God gave you: life skill, simply stated.

The way we use our language is important too. Be aware! Our children will repeat what they hear! If we use kind words instead of yelling when we are angry we set a better example. (This is NOT easy!) As life coaches we must give our children the proper words to use. When my son interrupts other children fighting he will say. "I have an idea" and their blank stares at least calm down the situation and we work to move on. I had to teach him those words though. I also hate it when kids yell at one another, or worse yet a parent. I am constantly trying to give them better words in a kind tone. For example: "Stop it!" can be replaced with, "I am using that toy now let's take turns." If my three year old can handle these corrections I know yours, with time and patience, can too. Our words can be used to hurt or to love, encourage and respect others: life skill!

Now I realize that my son may not keep a clean dorm room years from now, but I do know this: He will at least know how to use a washer and dryer and fold his own underpants. He will be able to boil water and cook a few easy, healthy meals. He will know how to treat others with respect and dignity even when they do not deserve it. He will appreciate that God has given us many things and we are intended to care for them to the best of our ability. He will know that He is loved for who God made him to be. And most important, I pray, he will know that God is ALL he really needs.


Can you believe that I have had 300 posts as a blogger already?!

Down on the Farm

My little man on the Gus Gang farm in NE in 2007. Isn't he adorable?! I can't believe he has grown up so much since then.

It's Back to School, well home school anyway. If you are new to my blog, I incorporate lessons with my family and day care children in hopes of making each day purposeful as well as educational. My goal is to make learning fun and encourage a lifelong love of learning. In fact, if they are learning and don't even know it the better! This year we have a four year old and a six year old on top of my three year old son so we are really trying to get focused. (Our six year will attend public school and the rest of the children will eventually as well, but learning at an early age is always better as it helps prepare them for a life of school. Just so you know it is not my intent to home school for the long haul. A choice each family must make for themselves.)

My curriculum outlines units that are two weeks long focused on areas of interest to kids in particular. Such as animals, dinosaurs, occupations, construction, bugs, seasons, etc. Again, the idea is to make learning fun. This year we are also working on our letters and numbers, in addition to last year's colors and shapes. I even am reading the ABC's with phonic sounds now to help the kids on their path to learning to read. Three days a week for 30 minutes is the goal of time set aside for "learning" at the table together, but the rest of the day we also have topic related crafts, activities, books to read and toys to play with too. Everything revolves around the topic. Also new this year we are also adding a monthly Bible verse to familiarize the kids with memorization and God's Word. Each month has a social/moral and emotional characteristic as well which will relate to our Bible verse and teaching of the month. Did I mention we have a calendar time in the morning too?! (Routine and schedule help us all!)

So what are we up to this month?

Farm Animals (Sept. 1st - Sept. 18)
Orchards/Apples/Fall (Sept. 21st - Oct. 2nd)

Emotional: Shyness and Trying New Things (new day care family, starting school and pre-school all relate well)

Social/Moral: What is a Friend? How do we treat Friends?

Spiritual: God Love Us, Love Each Other!

Month's Verse: "[Jesus said] 'Love each other as I have loved you.'" John 15:12

Our units include a story kit from the library, a farm set with a wide variety of farm animals, farm crafts (some of which I found simple googling ideas online), an array of books from the library for story time (30 min. each day before afternoon quiet time), and hopefully a group trip to an Apple Orchard with some small farm animals for petting. Of course we will have to do some baking with our apples too!

I will try to give you a heads up each month as to what we are doing. This is helpful to keep me on task and I hope some of you may find it helpful to use in your own homes as well. Even taking a 30 minute time to read to your children in a purposeful way will help you students on their path to higher education!

A Visit to "Lakeside Baptist"

A boat full of kids makes for an adventurous paddle!

Sometimes you need to do something different, something special, something memorable. This time we did something memorable with our friends the Opdahl family. Instead of loading up four adults and four kids to sit still in church for an hour (after all of them losing way too much sleep the night before) we decided to have church lakeside and share in God's creation together. And seriously what better way to talk about God and nature, or even Jesus walking on water than being out on a lake?! It was the perfect idea!

Sunday morning was spent on lake Johanna with a canoe, a Bible and a few snacks (we had kids remember). After a reading from John about Jesus in the canoe we spent some time praying for each other. I was touched by their prayers and being able to share deep down what we are facing knowing that we were praying to a God who can walk on water or hold back the tide. It was glorious and top that off with a paddle for the guys and the kids made it perfect!

Here are the wilderness explorers hoping to see a turtle or a sunny on their quest. Believe it or not they never got wet - I was impressed at how still they sat!

Us moms got some quality time to catch up on life and share our joys and sorrows. It was sweet fellowship!

Be Creative!

The summer reading program at the Ramsey County Library is gearing up. Get in and get your info! Seth and I will conquer the four and under reading assignment in no time at all, but we LOVE to read. I would encourage you to check out your local summer reading program. It is a great way to get your kids involved in learning for a lifetime!

Science Museum Adventures

Our not so little boy at the Science Museum.

Some friends recently gave us free tickets to try out the Science Museum. We learned that Monday's are preschool kid friendly and made it a family adventure. We all found areas that we enjoyed the most. There were a few times we had to drag Jason away from something and more than a few we had to encourage Seth to move on too. Of course there were exhibits that were way over our heads too. Science is an amazing field of study! It was a great learning experience and I highly recommend it for the whole family.

Seth makes a great tug boat captain. This was his favorite area of the whole museum thus we visited it numerous times throughout the day.

Calling for backup - we've got to move this container ship now!

Our favorite - ginormous floor puzzles. This one was of the Mississippi River!

Children's Books: Things That Go

Seth's favorite of the series. Our son likes the classics. I love it!

I am sure you have been on the edge of your seat waiting for our new book list. Hmmm. There are endless possibilties with this theme but here are some we have enjoyed:

Things That Go

Airplanes: Soaring! Diving! Turning!, Patricia Hubbell
All Aboard the Dinotrain, Deb Lund
A Train Goes Clickety-Clack, Jonathan London
A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa, Jonathan London
Choo Choo, Virginia Lee Burton
Curious George Takes A Train, Margaret and H.A.Rey
Dinos on the Go!, Karma Wilson
Dinosailors, Deb Lund
Froggy Rides a Bike, Jonathan London
Get Off Our Train, John Burningham
I Saw An Ant in a Parking Lot, Joshua Prince
Let’s Go! The Story of Getting From There to Here, Lizann Flatt
My First Airplane Ride, Patricia Hubbell
Night Train, Caroline Stutson
Patty and the Big Red Bus, Meghan McCarthy
School Bus, Donald Crews
Smokey, Bill Peet
The Caboose Who Got Loose, Bill Peet
The Noisy Airplane Ride, Mike Downs
Trainstop, Barbara Lehman

Earth Day Everyday

I think Earth Day is one of those holidays we really ought to celebrate every day because let's face it our earth requires it! I recently read this article from Growing Child: Grandma Says. I think it is the best way I can share with you how teaching kids to love and care for nature, even in a very small way, can make Earth Day a part of every day.

CATERPILLARS AND KIDS

Recently I came across this wonderful quote from Bradley Millar: "Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar." It resonated with me strongly, knowing what I know about both caterpillars and kids. I have spent my professional life watching kids. I know their boundless curiosity, their innate desire to explore, and their fascination with critters and creepy-crawlies. I also recognize their inability to look ahead and see the results of their actions.

I know that, unintentionally usually, children's exploration of tiny things can result in hurt for the creatures, and kids' reactions of surprise, confusion, and sometimes remorse.

On the fewer occasions when I have seen children deliberately hurt tiny creatures, it has usually been because they are fearful of what they don't understand, and no adult has ever helped them know their responsibility to the natural world around them.

In this world where we humans are supposed to be the smartest species, it behooves us to help our children assume their rightful responsibilities of protecting the living things around us. It will ultimately help our world, fragile as it is. But it will certainly help our children see themselves as part of something larger than themselves.

It is the nature of young children to be egocentric. Slowly, through experiences and explicit teaching, they move to being able to appreciate others' needs and rights. In coming to understand, appreciate, and know the stories of living things around them, children develop what Rachel Carson called "a sense of wonder."

The ability to marvel at life processes, and to appreciate the many forms of beauty in our world, will sustain children through the routine or dreary parts of their lives.

As we encourage children to explore with gentleness, and care for tiny creatures, they learn to control the impulse to smash and overpower, a very important kind of self-control indeed.

As we give them information and help them make connections between the caterpillar and the butterfly, we expand their understanding of the world around them.

As we validate their curiosity and help them learn skills for studying nature, we aid their understanding of what is important. "No, you can't keep it," we say. "What would that caterpillar need to be healthy?" Slowly the child learns to put aside his own wants in favor of what is best for another, no matter how small.

So when you teach respect for all things, even something as small as the caterpillar, your child is coming to be a caring, compassionate person. Your child is also coming to see herself as part of the larger human community to whom is entrusted the care of this earth, and all the creatures on it.

Those are important lessons indeed, all coming from teaching your child not to step on a caterpillar.

Receive your free subscription of Grandma Says at www.GrowingChild.com/FreeGrandmaSays or contact Growing Child customer service at service@growingchild.com or call (800) 927-7289

Looking for more ways to teach your young ones how to make Earth Day everyday check out Last Child in the Wood: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv.

Easter Eggs with A Message

Time to hard boil some eggs and get decorating for Easter! We picked up a cheap dye kit at Target but Seth is so excited to get into it. I am hoping that we can keep the mess to a minimum but have some fun too. Photos will be in your near future...

On Sunday we plan to hide dozens of plastic eggs outside this year, weather permitting of course. Inside the eggs I like to put little treasures. Candy of course is great. Small plastic animals were fun last year, like those kind you buy in a tube. I am thinking about doing my own Resurrection Eggs this year. With the help of the web site you can gather your own items around the house. No time? Quick pick up a set at your local Christian bookstore or order online. I think Seth is old enough to understand the basic concepts and then in the future we can continue to help him understand them more.

Easter is a special time of year in our lives and now it is time to help our son understand it's special meaning too...

It's A Zoo in Here!

I plan my lessons for the sake of the kids and their interests but there are certainly some I enjoy much more than others. Take the Zoo for example. While I am pained for the treatment of animals who must live in enclosures, Zoo's do save and protect animals. Seeing an animal up close and in person is too amazing an opportunity to miss out on either. I enjoy watching them as much as Seth does. In fact sometimes I wish he would slow down so I could watch longer!

Life with three kids most days of the week is a Zoo in and of itself. Our inability to get out and about only makes it more so. The Zoo topic is one I get great mileage out of. We have a large bucket of Schleich animals that we have collected and we use them and our blocks, legos, whatever we can find to build ginormous zoos for all the animals. We also draw zoos on paper and use animal stickers to fill in the spaces. We also checked out a Fischer Price Zoo and zoo puzzles from the ECFE toy library. Seth and I will go to both the Como Zoo and the MN Zoo (thanks to a library pass) during this lesson series too. Of course it wouldn't be learning without reading a million different books too so I created a list of them for you.

Animal Strike at the Zoo: It’s True!, Karma Wilson
Annie and the Wild Animals, Jan Brett
Apes and Monkeys, Michael and Jane Pelusey
Charlie at the Zoo, Marcus Pfister
Elephants, Michael and Jane Pelusey
Giraffes and Zebras, Michael and Jane Pelusey
Good Night Gorilla, Peggy Rathmann
If Anything Ever Goes Wrong at the Zoo, Mary Jean Hendrick
Last Night at the Zoo, Michael Garland
Mealtime for Zoo Animals, Caroline Arnold
Noisytime for Zoo Animals, Caroline Arnold
Out and About at the Zoo, Kathleen W. Deady
Playtime for Zoo Animals, Caroline Arnold
Pssst!, Adam Rex
Rhinoceroses and Hippopotamuses, Michael and Jane Pelusey
The Umbrella, Jan Brett
The Tiger Has a Tootheache: Helping Animals at the Zoo, Patricia Lauber
Twas the Day Before Zoo Day, Catherine Ipcizade
Welcome to the Zoo, Alison Jay
Wild About Books, Judy Sierra
Z is for Zookeeper: A Zoo Alphabet, Marie and Roland Smith
Zany Zoo, William Wise (poems)
Zoo Animals 123, Rebecca Fjelland Davis
Zoo Do’s and Don’ts, Todd Parr
Zoo-Looking, Mem Fox
Zookeeper Sue, Chris Demarest

Get out of your zoo and into a different one as soon as you can!

Wild About Animals

Seth and mom out in the wilds of the MN Zoo.

We will be starting our Zoo unit officially on Monday, but I was able to get the last of the MN Zoo passes from the library this week before they closed so Seth and I went to the Zoo on Friday for the WHOLE day. Yes, we spent six hours at the zoo and saw everything there was to see. It was great fun and dare I say, educational?

It's the season of Farm Babies so we spent a lot of time in the farm portion of the zoo and got to see and touch some of the cutest little babies. Seth was also pretty fascinated by seeing a cow get milked. I pretty much just felt for the cow! Fortunately there have not been too many questions about the incident, yet.

My favorite part was seeing Seth so excited to watch the animals and just how many he can identify. His concept of space and time however needs work. He did not understand that we couldn't just go back and forth from the farm to the grizzly bears. They are located quite a distance away! We will have to do a map unit in the near future...

The weather was great all day and warm enough to be outside for the majority of it too. We still wore out coats and hats unlike the mothers out for the spring fashion show. Yes, there were ladies in open-toe heels and capris with no jackets. There were toddlers in shorts too! Jeez, we are in Minnesota people. It might be sunny but it's still under 50 degrees out there!

It just wouldn't be a trip to the Zoo without a ride on the turtle.

Our first outdoor picnic of the year. Still a little cold but what fun!

Every farm must have a tractor to sit on! We also got to go on the tractor rides that took us to and from the Farm. Seth found that to be quite the treat.

Kissing goats?! Yep - these two became good friends. Seth enjoyed playing with his goatee... hee, hee.

Tips for Tots: Getting Artistic

I have been surprised by how little some people use art in their home with their small children. A child is capable of learning to color shortly after turning one and most certainly by 18 months of age. Getting out the washable crayons is the best way to start. Crayola even makes a set perfect for little fingers to hold if you want to invest some money in the process. Seth seemed to like the triangular shaped ones at first but now he just wants as many colors as possible to choose from.

After turning two we moved up to some washable markers and then got into washable paints. It sounds almost hazardous, but when they say washable they mean it. I have a horribly old kitchen floor that we do all of our arts and crafts on to be mindful of my cream colored carpet, but I have yet to find anything that doesn't come off. Well, there was that day with the glitter that I found in numerous places for weeks afterwards, but that is why we learned our lesson and haven't used it since.

Last week Seth and I went to some various craft stores to stock up on some fun supplies. Here was our list: glue sticks, pipe cleaners, stickers, and yarn. Simple and yet they allow for such fun for the kids! Most hobby stores we visit even have kits for craft projects you can do with kids of various ages. They can be great especially around the holidays. For example: Have you bought an egg decorating kit yet?

Check out your local hobby store and get some craft supplies for your kids to play with. Here are some to try: Jo-Ann's, Michael's, Lakeshore Learning, Hobby Lobby or even Target. The more creativity you allow the better!

And note to parents, I find sitting on the floor doing crafts with the kids about as therapeutic as a soak in the tub. It's good medicine for us all! What crafts are you working on with your little ones?!