Superbowl Crafts

This year's Super Bowl promises to be an EPIC game. For many kids, it will be the first Super Bowl they can remember. So, you can ratchet up the excitement by making some football crafts in honor of the Steelers' eighth trip to the Super Bowl!!

Click here for some fun ways to celebrate the Superbowl from Beaver Valley's Macaroni Kid, a website that lists kids' activities and family-friendly events in Beaver County.  Included are Football Players (pictured), Bottle Rattlers, Football Centerpieces, and D-Fence Headbands!

Here we go STEELERS, Here we GO!

Now that the tree is gone...

.... keep giving!

Looking for some meaningful family activities, now that the big day has passed?  There are still a few holiday attractions to enjoy, and opportunities to help the young ones serve others.

As your family begins packing up after the holidays and discarding old items, there's a perfect way to combine those activities with charitable giving while instilling lessons about service.

Many thrift stores, including the Salvation Army Thrift Store and Goodwill Industries, are welcoming donations this time of year. Proceeds from the sale of such items are used to support needy families in the area, as well as other charitable causes.

Consider having your children select toys they no longer play with to donate to a youngster in need. Donate clothes, especially winter coats, that no longer fit, too.
You also might ask kids to help clean out your food pantry, then let them accompany you to donate the food at Harvest Hope or another community food bank. If there is an elderly resident living in your neighborhood or somewhere nearby, consider making a batch of cookies with your child and deliver it as a New Year's surprise.

Your child will learn the value of giving and become a more charitable person in the process.

(the above appeared in the Beaver County Times on January 11, 2011.  Written by Bertram Rantin via McClatchy Newspapers.)

Cooped up with kids?

(from FamilyLife MomBlog February 11, 2010)

A huge historic blizzard is raging in the Washington, D.C,. area where I live. In a city that prides itself on being known as the most important city in the world, it's a beautiful and humorous reminder that man is not in charge.

From the important people on Capitol Hill to the important moms in the homes, everyone is feeling a bit out of control as the snow piles up, the government is shut down, and schools closed yet again.

Last night several of my young mom friends managed to dig out of their drives and gather at my house for supper. When I asked if we should cancel because of the treacherous conditions one replied, "No way. If I don't get out of my house there's no
telling what I might do to my kids!" Now there's an honest mom for you!

It is wearying to be shut up inside with a bunch of toddlers and young elementary kids for days on end. Especially when you are used to a mother's day out, preschool, or regular school. You may have awakened this morning dreading another day of whining, sibling rivalry, boredom, a trashed house, and wondering how you could get through the day (the next hour?) without losing your cool. Take comfort. You are not alone and you are normal.

To read more, click here.

Rainy Day Fun For Preschoolers

Two great resources for moms who are stumped on how to entertain their preschoolers:

1. Indoor Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers
2. General Indoor Activities for Young Children (organized by topic)

Keep 'Em Busy

In the car

• Baking sheet + fun-shaped magnets
• Cardboard + sticker sheets

In the waiting room

• Tear a magazine subscription card into four pieces and then have your child piece it back together.

At the store or mall

• Let you child keep a tally of how many bears she sees, or people wearing hats, etc. Give her a piece of paper and crayon to keep count.

Share you boredom busters - leave a comment with some of your favorites!

Keep 'Em Busy

Here are some ways to keep your toddler/preschooler busy with items you may have in your purse:

• Have your child close her eyes. Using your lipstick, make a small dot somewhere on your body. Then have you child try to locate it!
• Using a pen, draw smiley faces on the tips of your child's fingers. If they get lonely their finger pals can entertain them!
• Wrap a small object inside a (clean) tissue and see if your child can guess what it is from the shape of the tissue.
• Breathe onto a pocket mirror to steam it up. Then use your finger to draw a shape or letter on the fog. See if your child can identify it, then let him try.
• Draw something nearby and in sight, using a pen. See how long it takes your child to guess what you a drawing, and then locate it.
• Ball up a clean tissue and then let your child see how far she can blow it in the air. Crumple up another and let your children have a race to see who can blow it across a table first. Join in the fun with them!

Encouraging Creativity & Imagination In Young Children

10 ways to help foster the natural creativity and imagination preschoolers seem to posses:

1. Set out unusual toy combinations, such as blocks + dolls or play dishes + fabric scraps.
2. Ask open-ended questions such as “What would happen if…?” or “Why do you think…?”
3. Place a new art tool, an unfamiliar toy, or a tray of unusual collage materials where your child will find it and be intrigued to explore.
4. Read books about animals, people, places; have conversations and encourage your child to ask questions.
5. Listen and respond to your child’s questions (even if they seem endless!). Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know. How could we find out the answer to that?”
6. Gather and set-out props that encourage pretend play, such as dress-up clothes, clipboards, maps, menus, etc.
7. Provide open-ended toys, such as blocks, playsilks + fabric, art materials, etc.
8. Start a junk box where you collect boxes, old catalogs, cardboard tubes, etc.
9. Provide large blocks of unstructured play time with plenty of opportunities for making choices.
10. Have a collection of child-friendly discovery tools in an accessible place: magnifying glass, binoculars, tape measure, magnets, buckets and other containers for collecting.

These ideas and several other creativity/imagination resources can be found at the Let's Explore Blog.

Listening Well & Following Directions

4 Fun Ways To Practice Listening Skills

1. Start with something simple: Talk with your child a lot. Have conversations. Interview each other. Tell jokes. Talk, talk, talk.
2. Read and read and then read some more. Audio books are fun, too.
3. Play I Spy or other guessing games in which you and your child take turns giving each other clues.
4. When you are reading or telling a familiar story to your child, make a mistake, such as, “When Goldilocks arrived at The Three Frogs’ house, she went inside without knocking.” See if your child catches your mistake! (Don’t be surprised if they want you to do this all the time — mine do!)

4 Ways To Make Directions Fun

1. Scavenger hunts, treasure hunts, etc. with verbal clues.
2. Draw simple pictures for everyday routines, such as getting ready in the morning. Have your child point to each picture and tell you the “story” of this routine.
3. Have fun with silly, unexpected directions: “Go to the kitchen and quack like a duck!”
   Let your child have a turn being the direction-giver and you be the follower. Model good behavior!
4. When you cook together, talk about the steps. “First, we pour in the flour. Then, we add the sugar. Now, we mix it all together.” Use those sequencing words (first, next, then) so your child becomes familiar with them.

For these tips and more, plus examples of great ways to give easy-to-follow directions to your child visit the Let's Explore Blog.

Turn Off Week 2009 (9/20-9/26)

September 20-26 marks Turn Off Your Television Week. People everywhere are accepting the challenge to unplug for one week and discover new avenues of entertainment, be it solo or family-oriented.

Up for the challenge? Wonder what you could possibly do without TV all week? Check out this resource found at SimpleKids.com (click link or image to left).

Family Fun BOZ Night, only $1!!!!!

Mark your calendars moms! This is an event too good to pass up!

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Friday August 28

6-8 pm

Chippewa Evangelical Free Church, rooms F100/F101

Cost $1

(includes a BOZ movie, play-place, chicken nuggets, drink, snack and dessert)
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Come let your kids play in a safe environment while you get to socialize with other parents! If you have any questions you can call the church at 724.843.6381.

For more information about BOZ visit the official BOZ website.

Indoor Activities for Kids (NOT involving television or electronic devices)

This article found over at SimpleMom.net has some great (FREE) ideas to keep kids busy without running to the remote for entertainment. Here are just a few ideas, but be sure to check the simplemom.net site for the complete list of 20 activities:

1. Read, write, listen to, or act out a book.
2. Make an indoor playhouse/fort or enjoy a picnic.
3. Help with chores.
4. Supply cardboard boxes and see what they do.
5. Nothing.

Another FABULOUS resource for kids of all ages is Unplugged Play by Bobbi Conner. This book is loaded with simple activities that can occupy a child's attention for hours! Activities are organized by age level, so you won't have a hard time finding something when you need it.

The Importance of Family Rituals

"Kids love traditions and family rituals, because it fosters a sense of belonging and security. They also thrive on routine, so rituals only add to that need." (quote from The Importance of Family Rituals by SimpleMom)

Highlights of the article (to read entire article click here)

1. Rituals are what make your home "home."
2. Family traditions need not be tied to a holiday on the calendar.
3. Family rituals don't have to be elaborate or expensive.

To read more of why family rituals are so important and how to start creating some in your family go the SimpleMom website or click here.

20 Ways to Celebrate Creation With Your Children

1. Call birds, plants and animals in your region, town and neighborhood by name.
2. When traveling find out about the nature you will see along the way.
3. Research the flora and fauna of areas where missionary friends live.
4. Expose your children to nature photographs in books and newspapers.
5. Encourage your children to lift up rocks and see what's underneath.
6. Buy a magnifying glass and binoculars and teach your children how to use them. Keep both out and easy to find.
7. Put up a bird feeder or leave a tree snag standing to provide bird habitat.
8. Grow plants which attract butterflies and ladybugs to your yard.
9. In the fall, let your children rake up leaves, jump in the piles and then spread them around shrubs and plants for winter mulch.
10. Grow a garden. If you don't have yard space, grow herbs or tomatoes in pots.
    Plant an avocado seed and watch it grow.
11. Watch your newspaper for season specific events.
12. Take short daily family walks in your neighborhood. You will notice more each day.
13. Visit parks or nature trails with eyes and ears wide open.
14. Visit a farm to see where food is grown. Some may offer groups an opportunity to feed calves, milk cows, and make ice cream.
15. Go berry picking and then make jam or buy vegetables at a local farmers' market and make stir-fry. Your children should know where food comes from.
16. Set up recycling in your church, Sunday school classes, and fellowship hall.
17. Decrease consumption. Start a book, toy or clothing exchange.
18. Watch for opportunities to help clean up a park or beach.
19. Share your ideas by commenting to this post!
20. Take care of the world around you - pick up trash and recycle.

ideas from author Nancy White Carlstrom

Do You Remember?

Kids have an amazing capacity to remember things. Now, while they are young, is the time to harness that ability and help fill their minds with things worth remembering. Below is a list of ideas on how to help your child remember Scripture:

1. Books of Bible
2. The 10 Commandments: Exodus 20:1-17 (click here to read passage)
3. The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3-12 (click here to read passage)
4. Psalm 23 (click here to read)
5. The "Love" Chapter: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (click here to read all 13 verses of the chapter)
6. ABC Scripture Memory (click here for more detail)

Family Nights

Here is a great resource for creating memorable family nights with your family. This mom has three children - two biological and one adopted - and is married to the worship pastor at Buckhead Church in the Atlanta suburbs.

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Check out this amazing woman's ideas and perhaps use one in the next week!

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Whittaker Woman Blog - Family Nights Archive

Toy Links

Simplemom has two great articles regarding quality toys for children. Be sure to check them out

11 Cheap (and free!) Toy for Young Children

Classic Toys That Are Worth The Money

Cheap Fun

Instead of buying another toy for your child (a toy that they will probably get tired of in a week), try this fun idea:

Create your own play area on the floor!

Basic Supplies: a roll of masking tape, small toys (vehicles, animals, people)
Optional supplies: colored paper, foil, cloth scraps or wash cloths, scissors, small boxes, markers (for you to label buildings or make signs)

Ideas to get you started: Think about what type of small toys your child has or enjoys playing with (little people, cars, trains, zoo or farm animals?) and make an appropriate setting.

Example 1: Have a lot of animals? Make a zoo. Use the tape to mark out animal cages of different sizes and shapes. A plastic fruit basket or clear container could be a cage, but just a square taped on the floor works too. You can write or draw labels and signs. Use masking tape also to make paths connecting the cages.

Example 2: For the train or vehicle lover, use the masking tape to make tracks or roads. Make it interesting by adding bridges, tunnels, or ramps. Don’t forget the road signs and a station or two.

Example 3: Make a neighborhood. Start with a couple houses and some roads. Add a school, grocery store, Wal-Mart or other familiar places. Maybe a park with a pond or swimming pool.

Help your child think of pretend scenarios to act out with the toys. You could also map a setting for a simple fairy tale and help your child tell the story using toys. (Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs, The Gingerbread Boy, etc.)

idea taken from MOPS On The Hill Blog