Fall Has Arrived!

Fall is one of the most magical times to be outside! The leaves are changing right before our very eyes! We cozy up in scarves and mittens and enjoy the crisp fresh air and crunching leaves. It is also a time to enjoy some simple and easy fall songs with our lil' ones...

 

Here are some wonderful favourites that we have collected from books and online resources...

 

 

Pumpkin poem

When all the cows were sleeping
And the sun had gone to bed,
Up jumped the pumpkin,
And this is what he said:

I'm a dingle dangle pumpkin
With a flippy floppy hat.
I can shake my stem like this,
And shake my vine like that.

Have You Ever Seen a Pumpkin

tune of "Have You Ever Seen a Lassie"

Have you ever seen a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,
Have you ever seen a pumpkin, that grows on a vine?
A round one, a tall one, a fat one, a small one.
Have you ever seen a pumpkin, that grows on a vine?

The Wind

"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day,
"Come o'er the meadows with me and play:
Put on your dresses of red and gold -
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

Fall Leaves

Down, down, yellow and brown,
Fall the leaves over the ground.
Rake them up in a pile so high,
Until they reach up to the sky.
Adapted Traditional

　

5 Little Leaves

Five little leaves so bright and gay (Hold up five fingers)
Were dancing about on a tree one day. (Wiggle fingers on one hand)
The wind came blowing through the town. (Cup hand around mouth and make wind noises)
Ooooooooo……………Ooooooooooooooo………
One little leaf came tumbling down. (Bend down one finger)

Four little leaves so bright and gay, (Hold up four fingers)
Were dancing about on a tree one day. (Wiggle four fingers)
The wind came blowing through the town, (Cup hand around mouth and make wind noises)
Oooooooo…………….Oooooooooooo……………….
One little leaf came tumbling down (Bend down another finger)

Three little leaves so bright and gay……………………etc.
Two little leaves so bright and gay………………………etc.
One little leaf so bright and gay…………………………..etc.
Author Unknown

　

The Leaves on the Tress

Tune: "The Wheels On The Bus"

The Leaves on the trees are yellow and brown,
Yellow and brown, yellow and brown.
The leaves on the trees are yellow and brown,
All through the town.

The leaves on the trees are falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
All through the town.

The leaves on the trees make a crunching sound,
Crunching sound, crunching sound.
The leaves on the trees make a crunching sound
All through the town.

Let’s rake all the leaves into a mound,
Into a mound, into a mound.
Let’s rake all the leaves into a mound
All through the town.

The children in the town jump up and down,
Up and down, up and down.
The children in the town jump up and down
On the leaves on the ground.
Jean Warren

Discovering the Impossible!

Welcome back to school everyone! We are all looking forward to another fabulous year of growing, learning, discovering and exploring! Each year we watch the children build new friendships, strengthen new skills, experience new perspectives and challenge themselves to meet goals and reach for their dreams!
We see these little people become more independent, more self-confident and more ready for the 'big' world around them. They learn, through play, how to build social skills and develop peer connections, how things work and why they do what they do!
As early childhood educators, we are fascinated by observing the vast amount of knowledge each child acquires throughout the year!
We care for them, ensure their safety and help gently structure their environment, we provide activities, equipment and supplies for them to safely and effectively learn and grow all on their own! They lead the way for their own learning and discovery, they do the 'work', we provide the surroundings, support and supervision for children to become leaders and build their own dreams and goals.
If you sit back and let a child lead the way, you will be amazed at what you will discover! Amazed about what you can learn about our world through a child's eyes and heart.
If we are busy trying to form their vision of what we expect and what we know of the world, we miss out on such a magical and natural way of seeing what's around us. Simple discoveries and ideas that are so easily missed in our busy 'adult world.' Allowing the children to investigate their learning, gives the possibility of exploring and discovering what we thought was impossible!
We are always there for support, understanding, encouragement and guidance if needed. However, the wisdom that is shared throughout the year is the wisdom from the mind of a child, a child that sees our world without prejudice, without barriers, without limits, without fear of failure. They see our world full of hope, full of dreams and full of a knowledge we can only imagine. They are the ultimate teachers in our world... if we stop to watch and listen.

Helping Your Child Learn to Share!

Sharing -- Help Your Child Learn

        ~ Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Discipline Solution

Does your child have a hard time sharing her toys with others? Children get very attached to their possessions, and they don't understand how sharing will affect them or their toy. In order to get a better understanding of these feelings, think for a minute about one of your most prized or important possessions - perhaps your computer, camera, cell phone, or car. Now think of having a friend take it away to use for a day... That feeling of apprehension and uncertainty, (plus a child's inexperience) is at the root of reluctance to share. Sharing is a complicated social skill that takes guidance and practice to develop.

What to do?

Demonstrate how to share.
Share things with your child and point out that you are sharing. For example, "Would you like a turn on my calculator? I am happy to share it with you."

Encourage your child to share with you.
It's easier for a child to share with a parent, since you'll be careful and you'll give the toy back when you're done. It makes for good sharing practice. When you hand her toy back, explain what happened, "You shared nicely, thank you!" That way she has a good feeling about what it means to share.
 
Give your child choices.
Instead of demanding that your child share a specific toy, give her some options. For example, "Sarah would like to play with a stuffed animal. Which one would you like to let her play with?"

Create situations that require sharing.
Your child can get good practice with sharing when given toys or games that require two or more people to play, such as board games, sports equipment or yard toys. Also look for activities that have plenty of parts for everyone, such as modeling clay or art projects, or building with blocks.

Let your child know what to expect prior to a sharing situation.
Before a friend's visit let her know how long the friend will be there, and reassure her that all her things will still be hers after the friend leaves. Allow your child to put away a few favorite things that don't have to be shared.

Praise good sharing moments.
Watch for good things that happen - no matter how briefly - and praise your child for sharing nicely.

What not to do

Don't shame your child for not sharing.
If your child isn't willing to share he needs to learn more about the process. Teach, rather than punish.  

Don't embarrass your child with a public reprimand.
Even if you've given lessons, prepared your child, and set up a good situation for sharing, your child might still refuse to share. When this happens, take him to another room and discuss the issue privately, and then set a plan.

Don't force your child to share special toys, gifts or lovies.
Some things should be exempt from sharing rules, such as a favorite doll, a stuffed animal he sleeps with, a fragile toy, or a gift recently given to him.
 
~~~~ 

       
               Excerpted fromThe No-Cry Discipline Solution (McGraw-Hill) by Elizabeth Pantley

Preschool Farewell

At the end of the summer we say farewell to many of our amazing little preschool friends as they head off to kindergarten! We have watched them grow, shine and discover and now they carry on, with firm foundations, into the 'big' world. We wish them all the best, as their journey of learning leads down a new path filled with even more fascinating experiences and adventurous explorations.

 

Kindergarten Here We Come!

Tune: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Kindergarten, here we come!

We know we'll have lots of fun.
Lots of things to make and do.
Reading, writing, counting, too.
Kindergarten, here we come!
We know we'll have lots of fun.

Fun Ocean Songs!

I know, I know! It's been a while since our last post! But here are some fantastically fun songs to share with your lil' ones while enjoying the summer and hopefully the ocean!

A Sailor Went To Sea

A Sailor went to sea, sea, sea.
To see what he could see, see, see.
But all that he could see, see, see.
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea
(Have your children repeat this getting faster and faster.)

Fish Story
One, two, three, four, five -
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten -
Then I let it go again.

Why did I let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
The little finger on the right

Catch a Fish (Sung To: Row, Row, Row your boat)
Catch, catch, catch a fish,
Hook it on your line.
Reel it, reel it, reel it,
This one will be mine.

Five Little Fishes Swimming in the Sea
Five little fishes swimming in the sea
teasing Mr. shark you can't catch me
Along came Mr. shark (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped a fish up right out of the sea.

Four little fishes swimming in the sea
teasing Mr. shark you can't catch me
Along came Mr. shark (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped a fish up right out of the sea.

Three little fishes swimming in the sea
teasing Mr. shark you can't catch me
Along came Mr. shark (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped a fish up right out of the sea.

Two little fishes swimming in the sea

teasing Mr. shark you can't catch me
Along came Mr. shark (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped a fish up right out of the sea

One little fish swimming in the sea

teasing Mr. shark you can't catch me
Along came Mr. shark (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped that fish up right out of the sea

Now there’s no little fishes swimming in the sea

No little fishes saying can’t catch me
Along comes Mr.Shark (softly) as quiet as can be
He spit those fish right back in the sea!

Fish in the Sea
The fish in the sea go swim, swim, swim
swim, swim, swim, swim, swim, swim
The fish in the sea go swim, swim, swim
All through the Day

The lobsters in the sea go pinch, pinch, pinch

pinch, pinch, pinch, pinch, pinch, pinch
The lobsters in the sea go pinch, pinch, pinch
All through the Day

The octopus in the sea go wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
The octopus in the sea go wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
All through the Day

The crabs in the sea go click, click, click
click, click, click, click, click, click
The crabs in the sea go click, click, click
All through the Day

Other ocean creatures to try...
The sea horse in the sea rocks back and forth...
The whale in the sea goes quirt squirt squirt...
The clam in the sea goes open and shut...
The crabs in the sea go click click click...
The jellyfish in the sea go "bloop bloop bloop"!
The Sharks in the sea go chomp, chomp, chomp…

Slippery Fish
Slippery fish, slippery fish
swimming in the water
A slippery fish, a slippery fish
gulp, gulp, gulp
OH NO! He's been eaten by a

Tuna fish, a tuna fish
swimming in the water
A tuna fish, a tuna fish
gulp, gulp, gulp
OH NO! He's been eaten by an

Octopus, an octopus
swimming in the water
An octopus, an octopus
gulp, gulp, gulp
OH NO! He's been eaten by a

Great White Shark, a great white shark swimming in the water
A great white shark, a great white shark
gulp, gulp, gulp
OH NO! He's been eaten by an

Enormous Whale, an enormous whale
Spouting in the water
Enormous Whale, enormous whale
Gulp, gulp, BURP!
Excuse ME!

Just Playing by Anita Wadley (1979)

When I’m building in the block room,

Please don’t say I’m

JUST Playing.

For, you see, I’m learning as I play;

about balance and shapes.

Who knows, I maybe an architect someday.

When I’m getting all dressed up,

Setting the table, caring for the babies,
Don’t get the idea I’m

JUST playing.

For, you see, I’m learning as I play.

I may be a mother or a father someday.

When you see me up to my elbows in paint,

Or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay,

Please don’t let me hear you say “she’s JUST playing"

For, you see, I’m learning as I play.

I’m expressing myself and being creative.
I may be an artist or an inventor someday.
When you see me
“Reading” to an imaginary audience,
Please don’t laugh and think I’m

JUST playing.

For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs,
Or packing my pockets with choice things I fi nd,
don’t pass it off as

JUST play.

For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle,

or some plaything at my school,
Please don’t feel the time is wasted in playFor, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to solve problems and concentrate.
I may be in business someday.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods,

Please don’t think that because I enjoy it,
it is JUST playFor, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to follow directions and see differences.
I may be a cook someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run,
and move my body,
Please don’t say I’m

JUST playing.

For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning how my body works.
I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.
When you ask me what I did at school today,

And I say,

“I JUST Played”,

Please don’t misunderstand me.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to enjoy and be successful in work.
I’m preparing for tomorrow.

Today, I’m a child and my work is play

Creepy Crawlers!

Oh, it’s a creepy crawlie world out there! Bugs, bugs, bugs! We may stay clear of them but children are fascinated by them! Here are some great creepy crawly bug songs that have been tried and true, shared and reshared!

Did You Ever See?

Did you ever see a worm, a worm, a worm?

Did you ever see a worm move this way and that?

Move this way and that way and this way and that way?

Did you ever see a worm move this way and that?

Did you ever see a spider, a spider, a spider?

Did you ever see a spider climb this way and that?

Climb this way and that way and this way and that way?

Did you ever see a spider climb this way and that?

Did you ever see a bee, a bee, a bee?

Did you ever see a bee buzz this way and that?...

Did you ever see a ladybug, a ladybug, a ladybug?

Did you ever see a ladybug crawl this way and that?...

Did you ever see an ant, an ant, an ant?
Did you ever see an ant march this way and that?...

Did you ever see a mosquito, a mosquito, a mosquito?

Did you ever see a mosquito fly this way and that?...

 

Big Bugs,Small Bugs Sung to: "Frere Jacques"
Big bugs, small bugs, big bugs, small bugs,
See them crawl on the wall?
Creepy, creepy, crawling, never, never falling.
Bug, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs.

Flutter Butterfly sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
Flutter, flutter, butterfly.
Floating in the summer sky.
Floating by for all to see,
Floating by so merrily.
Flutter, flutter, butterfly,
Floating in the summer sky.

Bugs Go Sung to: "The Wheels on the Bus"
The firefly at night goes blink blink blink
Blink blink blink blink blink blink
The firefly at night goes blink blink blink
All around the town
The bees in the flowers go buzz buzz buzz...
The ants in the grass go march march march...
The crickets in the leaves go chirp chirp chirp...
The caterpillar in the field goes creep creep creep...

Can you move with me? Sung to: "Do Your Ears Hang Low"
Can you wiggle like a worm?
Can you squiggle? Can you squirm?
Can you flutter? Can you fly like a gentle butterfly?
Can you crawl upon the ground
Like a beetle that is round?
Can you move with me?

Can you flip? Can you flop?
Can you give a little hop?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you give a little shake?
Can you dance like bee
Who is buzzing round a tree?
Can you move with me?

Pardon Garden Rhyme
What do you suppose?
A bee sat on my nose!
and what do you think?
He gave me a wink!
And said, “I beg your pardon...
I thought you were the garden!”

Fun Activities to Help Your Child Learn, Say and Write Their Name!

Your preschool is on their way to kindergarten within the next year, can they recognize their name? Can they identify the letters in their name? Can they write their name? These early learning concepts will give your child a fantastic jumpstart to their school career! But where do you start? Keep reading!
The key word throughout this blog is encourage, try not to force or put pressure on your child, ensure that this is fun or you can possibly teach your child that learning is not fun and this can create a more difficult learning process in the future.

Introducing their name by sight

• Wooden Letters for the wall
• Label snack containers, cups, etc. with their name (alphabet stickers are a great way to do this and your child can help you by placing them on the item)

Saying the letters of their name

• Write your child’s name in sidewalk chalk and get them to say the letter as they step on each one
• Sing the song ‘Bingo’ and replace the letters with the letters of your child’s name

 Recognizing their name as individual letters

• Looking in a book ~ ‘Can you spy the letters of your name?’
• Driving in the car ~ ‘Can you spy the letters of your name?’
• Sitting in the grocery cart ~ 'Can you spy the letters of your name?'
• Have activities easily accessible and in various ways, allowing your child to become familiar and comfortable with the letters and be able to place them in the correct order
• Refrigerator magnets
• Foam Bathtub letters
• Cut letters out of magazines and have your child glue them in the right order
• Paint rocks with the letters of your child’s name
• Wooden alphabet blocks – have more than what’s is in your child’s name, this allows them to seek out the letters they need
• Alpha-bits cereal or alphabet soup, moving the letters around to create name
• Letters cut out of felt, you can use a felt board to stick them on or simple a rectangle piece of felt placed on a table or sometimes a couch will work too!
• Alphabet stickers

Writing the letters of their name

Make it fun! Not work! Have their own very special pencil, maybe allow them to pick it out at the store, or surprise them with a fancy one. There’s just something so great about a brand new, freshly sharpened pencil! Make this time quality time, ensure that when your child is first starting out that there is no pressure to be perfect, it’s all about the process of learning at this stage, not the final product.

• Write the letters on a piece of paper and encourage your child to trace over them
• There are many educational websites for preschoolers that allow you to type in your child’s name and it will print out their name in dot form, for great tracing practice
• Write the letters clearly at the top of a piece of paper with lines on it, encourage your child to copy the letters and continue to copy them until they reach the bottom
• Encourage them to write or create their name in a variety of ways, not just with pencil and paper
• During a shower write with soap on the shower door
• Use bathtub crayons to write it along the tub
• Sidewalk chalk outside
• Form letter shapes using play-dough
• Write out their name across a piece of cardboard or stiff paper and encourage them to use buttons and glue them along the shape of their name letters

This list is just the starting point, a little motivation to help you get going. The possibilities of fun letter and name activities is endless once you get started! Soon, you will be finding many new creative ways to inspire your child to recognize and write their name, they may even surprise you with discovering new ways to practice!

Easter Songs and Activites!

Fun Easter Ideas!

• Create a map for each child leading to their Easter Basket! Or have their empty Easter basket by their bed with a map in it, and along the way they find things with their map too special treasures to add to their basket! Make sure if you have more than one child that you mark them somehow (such as with a specific color, or initial) so those items get left for the specific child.

• If you are hiding the eggs outside, have someone go by under the window outside with bunny ears, and see if the children spy them from the window! They will be so excited to run outside and try and catch the Easter bunny before he hops away!

• I came across a really fun one on Pinterest! Do a night time hunt with activated glow bracelets inside plastic eggs! It looks really awesome! Have to try this one!

Easter Songs!

Sleeping Bunnies

See the bunnies sleeping til it’s nearly noon

Come let us wake them with a merry tune

Oh so still, are they ill?

Wake up little bunnies, hop, hop, hop

Wake up little bunnies hop and stop!

Little Peter Rabbit

Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose,

Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose,

Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose,

And he flicked it and it flew away!

Continue with Peter Rabbit having a fly land on other body parts (head, arm toes)

Easter Bunny (Itsy Bitsy Spider)

The little Easter Bunny is hopping on his way

Coming to your house on Easter Sunday

He’ll hop and hop and hop

Until all the eggs are gone

Some are hidden by the house

And others on the lawn

The little Easter Bunny is hopping on his way

Hiding eggs for you to find on Easter Sunday!

Easter Eggs (Three Blind Mice)

Easter eggs, Easter eggs

Red and Blue, Green ones too

The Easter bunny hid them well

Where he hid them, he won’t tell

We’ll have to search and then we’ll yell

Easter Eggs! Easter Eggs!

Did you ever see a Bunny? (Did you ever see a lassie?)

Did you ever see a bunny, a bunny, a bunny?

Did you ever see a bunny hop this way and that?

Hop this way and that way and this way and that way?

Did you ever see a bunny hop this way and that?

Little Bunny Foo Foo – talk the part in italics, sing the other part

One morning Little Bunny Foo Foo woke up and said,

"Oh what a beautiful day! I think I will take a walk!"

Little Bunny Foo Foo went hoppin’ through the forest

Scooping up the field mice and tapping them on the head

Down came the good fairy and she said,

‘Little Bunny Foo Foo I don’t like your attitude

Scooping up the field mice and tapping them on the head.

I will give you three chances, and if you don’t stop,

I will turn you into a goose!’

The next morning Little Bunny Foo Foo woke up and said,

"Oh what a beautiful day! I think I will take a walk!"

Little Bunny Foo Foo went hoppin’ through the forest

Scooping up the field mice and tapping them on the head

Down came the good fairy and she said,

‘Little Bunny Foo Foo I don’t like your attitude

Scooping up the field mice and tapping them on the head.

I will give you two more chances, and if you don’t stop,

I will turn you into a goose!’

The next morning Little Bunny Foo Foo woke up and said,

"Oh what a beautiful day! I think I will take a walk!"

Little Bunny Foo Foo went hoppin’ through the forest

Scooping up the field mice and tapping them on the head

Down came the good fairy and she said,

‘Little Bunny Foo Foo I don’t like your attitude

Scooping up the field mice and tapping them on the head.

I will give you one more chance, and if you don’t stop,

I will turn you into a goose!’

The next morning Little Bunny Foo Foo woke up and said,

"Oh what a beautiful day! I think I will take a walk!"

Little Bunny Foo Foo went hoppin’ through the forest

Scooping up the field mice and kissing them on the head

Down came the good fairy and she said,

‘Little Bunny Foo Foo I really like your attitude

Scooping up the field mice and kissing them on the head!

BUNNNY

I know a rabbit with long, pink ears and Bunny is his name-o

B-U-N-N-Y, B-U-N-N-Y, B-U-N-N-Y

And Bunny is his name-o!

Continue with other body parts such as:

Twitchy nose

Soft, white fur

Floppy feet

Fluffy tail

St.Patrick's Day Art Activities!

• Green Shamrock shapes ~ glue green sparkles on them  
• Shamrock mobile! Simply use a hanger with different lengths of string and tape or glue little shamrocks on the strings! If you really want to get fancy you can twist green ribbon around the hanger!
• Buttons in various sizes and colors ~ glue (or wire through the holes) buttons together starting from largest on the bottom to smallest on the top, creating a rainbow tree shape! Rainbows intrigue the leprechauns to come to your house!

• St. Patrick’s Day headband! Measure a strip of paper around your child’s head (you may need to strips taped together) Tape the band together when you have the right size. Next you have several options! You can create a mini leprechaun hat with black paper and tape/ glue it on the front of the band. Or you can take two green pipe cleaners and tape them on each side of the band (creating antennas) and tape shamrocks to the top of each one!

• Take 7 small jars (baby food jars are awesome, or spice jars) ~ fill them with water ~ using only red, blue and yellow food coloring ~ create a rainbow! Mix the primary colors to create the secondary colors. This is a great science experiment too! Each jar will have one color of the rainbow, place in a sunny window for a beautiful decoration!

• Glue/ tape four green hearts into the shape of a shamrock and hang in the window!

• Shamrock rings ~ use green pipe cleaners ~ shape the middle of the pipe cleaner into a ring to fit on finger, then using the rest of it, twist into a shamrock shape, ( two loops for each end of the pipe cleaner and then push in the top of the loop slightly to create each 'petal') twist the end under the ‘ring’ to secure in place.

Valentine's Day Songs!

Sharing the love...

Love, Love, Love (tune: 3 Blind Mice)

Love, love, love,
love, love, love
See how it grows,
See how it grows.
I love my friends and they love me.
We love each other it’s plain to see.
There's plenty for a big family.
Love, love, love, love, love, love.

I'm a Happy Little Heart (I'm a Little White Duck)

I'm happy little heart
I’m pink and white and red.
A happy little heart with lace around my edge.
I have three words on the front of me.
That say I love you! Oh, can't you see?
I'm a happy little heart
I’m pink and white and red.
Happy little heart with lace around my edge!

H-E-A-R-T (Tune: Bingo)

There is a shape and it means love

And heart is it's name-o.
H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T,
And Heart is it's name-o!

Continue leaving out a letter on each repeat and use a clap in place of the letter.

As a felt song have five heart shapes with a letter on each that 5 children hold in front of the group and turn over as that letter is left off.

Do You Know My Valentine? (Muffin Man)

Do you know my Valentine,

My Valentine, my Valentine?
Do you know my valentine?
His/her name is _________.

Five Pretty Valentines

Five pretty valentines waiting at the store.
(Insert child's name) bought one and then there were four.

Four pretty valentines shaped like a "V"

(Insert child's name) bought one and then there were three.

Three pretty valentines said "I love you"

(Insert child's name) bought one and then there were two.

Two pretty valentines, this was so much fun.

(Insert child's name) bought one and then there was one.

One pretty valentine, sitting on the shelf.

I felt sorry for it, so I bought it for myself!

New Year’s Resolution: ‘Spend More Quality Time with My Child!’

Have you started this resolution yet?

Life gets busy. As parents we all want to slow down and spend more time with our children. It makes us feel good and it makes them feel good. It creates lasting memories and close relationships with each other.

However, we all know how busy life can be! Work, school, dinners, chores, baths, etc. It’s busy and it’s exhausting!

How do we create time and make this time priority on our list everyday? We make it easy!

Two things often prevent us from spending that time with our children:

1. Exhaustion
2. Busy, busy, busy (checking off to-do lists!)

Exhaustion

You may be feeling like you just want to relax at the end of your day! Not run around playing hide and seek. Well, surprisingly, children enjoy that down time too! It doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t have to be a big, thought out project and it doesn’t mean packing up and going out to the park or the pool.

Busy, busy, busy!

I know that some of you are saying, ‘I have too much to do! I can’t sit and play cars or build blocks, or play store. I need to get things done!’ Fair enough, the time for a parent is not enough and the list is always way too long.

So how do you compromise? How do you accomplish tasks or relax and not miss out on precious time with your child?

Let’s figure out how you can be together without exerting a ton of energy that you just don’t have, or delaying things on your list that will take your focus away from enjoying any other activity with your child.

No energy?

Find some things to do that you can sit down and not have to pour a lot of preparation and planning into…

• Sit and read stories, or have your child read to you
• Cuddle together and watch a show or a movie
• Cuddle and talk! Talk about the day – likes/ dislikes. Talk about what you want to do tomorrow. Talk about anything!
• Do a puzzle with a cup of tea and a snack
• Create a sticker book! So fun! (we use a binder with those plastic protectors, then we put stickers on colored paper and just slide them in!)
• Color! Easy, easy, easy!
• Look through cookbooks and sticky note the recipes you want to try together

What’s on your list?

Tasks can easily incorporate your child’s assistance and company if you think creatively about how to do it! It’s also a lot more fun to do together, it gets done faster, sometimes, and your children love being with you, regardless of what you are doing, if it’s together and you are having fun doing it, they will love it and you will to when you realize just how much time you can spend together! Children love to help!

• If the dishes really can’t wait? Let your child stand on a chair and rinse the dishes, or help unload the dishwasher and place things on the counter.
  
• Doing laundry? Children are great at putting clothes in front loading washers, they enjoy putting the soap in the dispenser and pushing the start button. Children can also easily fold face clothes and tea towels (it doesn’t matter if they are not perfectly folded)
  
• Writing out Thank You notes or birthday cards? Bring out the markers and paper and let you child create their own thank you notes!
  
• Need to mail bill payments? Go for a walk to the mailbox together
  
• Making lunches for the next day? Children can help with this! They can pick out fruit to add to each lunch kit, spreading peanut butter on bread, adding juice boxes, etc. Even toddlers can be involved by using step by step instructions (find an apple, pick it up, put it in!)
  
• Getting coffee ready on the timer for the morning? Children love to scoop and pour the coffee grinds
  
• Grocery shopping? Preschool children love to ‘Spy’ the next item! (We are looking for…. Let’s see who can spy them first!)
  
• Dusting? Put on some tunes and slide some socks onto your child’s hands, easy way for them to help with the dusting! Especially those awkwardly low baseboards!

When you make spending time with your child the focus, you will realize how to easily make quality time together a priority! And soon you will wonder how you ever did anything without them! And you will look forward to that down time when you can relax and reconnect with each other after a busy day or week.

Gingerbread Playdough

This activity will have your home smelling
like Christmas in no time! So fun!

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
cinnamon, allspice, ginger and nutmeg

In a saucepan mix the dry ingredients together. Add spices to the smell you like. Mix water and oil together. Add them to the dry ingredients and stir. Cook the mixture for two or three minutes stirring. The dough will clump together and pull away from the sides of the pan. Take the dough out of the pan and knead it until it becomes soft and smooth. Allow to cool and store in an air tight container

Christmas Songs and Fingerplays!

Tried and true non-traditional favourite Christmas Songs and Fingerplays!

Reindeer Pokie (Sung To: Hokey Pokey)
You put your antlers in,
you put your antlers out,
you put your antlers in,
then you shake the,em all about.

You do the reindeer pokie
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.

You put your hooves in,
you put your hooves out,
you put your hooves in,
then you shake the,em all about.

You do the reindeer pokie
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.

You put your tail in,
you put your tail out,
you put your tail in,
Then you shake the,em all about.

You do the reindeer pokie
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.

You put your red nose in,
you put your red nose out,
you put your red nose in,
then you shake the,em all about.

You do the reindeer pokie
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.

You put your whole self in,
you put your whole self out,
you put your whole self in,
then you shake the,em all about.

You do the reindeer pokie
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.

Way up High on the Christmas Tree Way up high on the Christmas tree (Point up)
Two little candy canes winked at me (wink),
So I shook that tree as hard as I could (pretend to shake tree)
And down dropped those candy canes (squat down)
Mmm, Mmm, Good!! (Rub Tummy)

Little Reindeer One little, two little, three little reindeer
Four little, five little, six little reindeer
Seven little, eight little, nine little reindeer
Pulling Santa's Sleigh

Five Little Christmas Trees Five little Christmas Trees (Hold up Five Fingers),
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very sad (Make Sad Face)
'Cause they hadn't found a home
Then chop went the axe (chopping)
And down fell the tree (clap)
And off she went with a happy family! (Make Happy Face)

Four little Christmas Trees (Hold up Four Fingers),
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very sad (Make Sad Face)
'Cause they hadn't found a home
Then chop went the axe (chopping)
And down fell the tree (clap)
And off she went with a happy family! (Make Happy Face)

Three little Christmas Trees (Hold up Three Fingers),
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very sad (Make Sad Face)
'Cause they hadn't found a home
Then chop went the axe (chopping)
And down fell the tree (clap)
And off she went with a happy family! (Make Happy Face)

Two little Christmas Trees (Hold up Two Fingers),
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very sad (Make Sad Face)
'Cause they hadn't found a home
Then chop went the axe (chopping)
And down fell the tree (clap)
And off she went with a happy family! (Make Happy Face)

One little Christmas Trees (Hold up One Fingers),
Standing all alone
Her heart was very sad (Make Sad Face)
'Cause she hadn't found a home
Then chop went the axe (chopping)
And down fell the tree (clap)
And off she went with a happy family! (Make Happy Face)

No little Christmas Trees
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very happy
'Cause they all found a home

Five Little Bells Five little bells hanging in a row.
The first one said, "Ring me slow."
The second one said, "Ring me fast."
The third one said, "Ring me last."
The fourth one said, "I'm a chime."
The fifth one said, "Ring me at Christmas time."
The sixth one said, "Ring me with the others."
The seventh one said, "Ring me for the mothers."
The eighth one said, "Ring me with a song."
The ninth one said, "Ring me all day long."

Two Very ‘Cool’ Ice Crystal Projects!

The first of these two awesome projects is not edible, as it uses soap. However the second of these ‘ice crystal’ experiments is edible, yummy! Both projects require adult help as they deal with boiling water. If you are planning on doing both projects, we strongly suggest labeling the jars clearly as to which one is edible and which on is not.

1^st Project – Borax Ice Crystal Snowflakes!

You will need:
Borax soap (found in laundry section of grocery stores)
Boiling water
Pipe Cleaners
Food coloring (optional)
Wide mouth jar
A pencil
A piece of string

Instructions: Make the snowflake shape. Cut a pipe cleaner into three equal sections. Twist the sections together at their centers to form a six-sided snowflake shape. The snowflake will need to fit inside the jar.
Tie the string to the end of one of the snowflake arms. Tie the other end of the string to the pencil. You want the length to be such that the pencil hangs the snowflake into the jar.
Fill the wide mouth jar with boiling water.
Add borax one tablespoon at a time to the boiling water, stirring to dissolve after each addition. (The amount used is 3 tablespoons borax per cup of water.)
You can tint the mixture with food color.
Hang the pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar so that the pencil rests on top of the jar and the snowflake is completely covered with liquid and hangs freely (not touching the bottom of the jar).
Allow the jar to sit overnight, do not lift or move the snowflake during this time.
Approx. 24 hours you will see spectacular crystals!

Ice Crystal Project #2 – The Edible one!

You Will Need:1 1/2 cups of white sugar (possibly more)
3/4 cup of water
Small saucepan
Tall glass or jar
Piece of clean cotton string or thread
A pencil

Instructions:
Pour the water into the saucepan and bring to a boil.
Pour the sugar into the water and stir until no more of the sugar will dissolve (you will still be able to see little grains of sugar floating around at the bottom of the pan). If all of the sugar dissolves at first, add a little more until you can't get any more to dissolve when you stir it.
Keep cooking the liquid and stirring it until it is clear, but not for more than 5 minutes, or it will get too hot and turn into hard candy!
Turn off the stove when it starts to look clear.
Pour the sugar water into the glass or jar, but go slowly to make sure that none of the undissolved sugar from the bottom of the pan goes into the glass. Fill the glass about 2/3 full. (You might have enough for two glasses.) Add food coloring if desired.
Dip the string into the solution so that half of the string is coated. Take the string out and let it dry. It doesn’t take long
Once the string has dried, tie the clean end around a pencil and put the dipped end back into the glass of sugar water solution, balancing the pencil across the rim of the glass. Make sure the string does not touch the bottom or the sides of the glass, or your crystals will not form right!
Carefully move your glass to a place where it won’t be touched. Check it each day to watch the crystals grow. Within a few days, you should start to see a few crystals growing on the string. In approx. one week, you will probably have a lot of crystals on your string.
When your piece of ice candy is as big as you want it to be, take it out of the glass and hang it in a clean glass to dry. Then you can take the pencil off, cut the extra string off, and enjoy eating your sugar crystals off the string!

It's Raining, It's Pouring, the Kids are Saying 'Boring!'

It’s raining. It’s not just drizzling or sprinkling… it’s down right pouring! Welcome to the fall season on the west coast!
The question is… what do you do with your children when cabin fever is setting in?
Sure, you could dress them head to toe in slickers n’ boots and hope they don’t get lost in some giant mud puddle outside, as you try to get a little bit of sanity in your day. By ‘day’, I mean days, weeks, months, you just never know when the rain will end on the west coast!
Or… you could check out this list of ideas and links, staying warm and dry, and get started on some amazing and fun quality time! Soon, you will be looking forward to these rainy days when you can hibernate inside together and really enjoy some treasured experiences.
Now, I know what you are saying, ‘it’s pouring rain and I’m not going out to get a bunch of crafty supplies,’ no worries! Our first list is a 'No-Craft' list! If you are, however, a crafty parent, we have a second list of some fantastic ideas for crafting with your little ones.
 
• Turn on music! Easy! Music always brightens the day and drowns out the sound of the rain. Once the music is on…
• Dance around together! If you have some scarves, they are a perfect prop for children to dance with. Play ‘follow the dancer around the house’, up onto the beds, down the hall, under the table, where ever you choose!
• Make some hot chocolate or tea and get busy baking your favourite treat! (And dancing of course! No one said you can’t dance with a measuring cup in your hand!)
• Play cards, or make a card house!
• Do a puzzle together ~ hope you are still groovin’ in your seat!
• Get a bowl for each child and fill it up with their favourite snacks. Find pillows and cozy blankets. Turn down the blinds and turn on your favourite family movie! It’s the middle of the morning? No big deal! The kids will love it!
• Play board games! You know the ones that have been sitting and collecting dust all summer? Yeah, those ones!
• Snuggle up in the blankets with some favourite books to read together! Spy Books are fantastic, they are super interactive and create some great early learning opportunities!
• Let your little one have a warm bath with some shaving cream (you can color it with a tiny bit of food colouring) and a paintbrush and let them ‘Picasso’ the bathtub!
• Go online and send e-cards to people, just because! Let them know you are thinking of them. Often we get so busy to remember to let people know how special they are to us. This is a great activity to model caring and giving to others. Making others feel good, just because. And making others feel happy makes us feel good!

Ok, here’s the ‘Let’s get Crafty’ list!

• Tis the season to start thinking about a few new Christmas decorations!
• Gingerbread houses!
• Christmas tree decorations! This is really endless in possibilities!
• Glue sparkle on small pinecones
• Use a baker’s clay (see LittleHands link below for a recipe) and cut out shapes and paint them
• Use white pipe-cleaners and make snowflakes
• Lace red and green buttons onto ribbon or pipe-cleaners
• Lace red, white and green beads on to pipe-cleaners and make candy canes
• Popcorn and cranberry garland!
• Handprint felt wreaths! And so much more! (See LittleHands link below for instructions)
• This is a fantastic facebook page with links to many ideas to keep little ones entertained and craft ideas to do together! Ideas and Inspiration for Crafty Parents
• Here’s is a website that is absolutely endless with ideas! Printable games and pages, crafts, etc. FamilyFun
• Looking for gifts to make together for loved ones? Or just some easy crafts to do together? Little Hands Lots of Love Blog
  
  Whichever activity you choose, take a deep breath and just enjoy this precious time. The rain helps us slow down and ensure we spend much needed time together.

 

 

Winter Songs and Fingerplays

Winter is arriving soon!
Some of us have already witnessed the spectacular sight of snowflakes speckling the ground. The children are excited to see this winter wonder and can’t wait to get outside to play!
If you are looking to keep them nice and cozy inside and still just as engaged by the season, then here are some tried and true favourite songs and fingerplays about winter! Pour some hot chocolate, sit by the window, watch the flurries and sing together. So fun! The kids will love it!

Winter Sky
Way up high in the winter sky,
Two little snowflakes caught my eye. (Point 2 fingers to sky)
Down to the ground they fell without a sound. (Twist around)
And before very long, It was snowing all around. (Hold arms out)

Chubby Little Snowman
A chubby little snowman had a carrot for a nose
Along came a bunny and what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny was looking for his lunch...
And he ate that snowman's nose. . . .Cr…..r…..unch!

Six Little Penguins
Six little penguins off an iceberg did dive,
One bumped his beak, then there were five.
Five little penguins swam the ocean floor,
One saw a whale, then there were four.
Four little penguins spun around, whee-ee!
One spun off, then there were three!
Three little penguins, with nothing to do,
One went fishing, then there were two.
Two little penguins, having lots of fun,
One fell of, then there was one.
One little penguin, when the day was done,
Went home to sleep, then there were none.

Snowflake Dance

(Sung To: ‘Are you Sleeping’)
Dance like snowflakes, Dance like snowflakes
In the air, In the air
Whirling, Twirling snowflakes, Whirling, Twirling snowflakes
Here and there, Here and there

I'm a Little Penguin

(to the tune of ‘I'm a Little Teapot’)
I'm a little penguin
Black and white,
Short and wobbly
An adorable sight.
I can't fly at all
But I love to swim,
So I'll waddle to the water
And dive right in!

Have You Ever Seen a Penguin

(to the tune of ‘Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?’)

Have you ever seen a penguin? a penguin? a penguin?
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that?
Swim this way and that way and this way and that?
Have you ever seen a penguin swim this way and that?
(move arms like you're swimming)

Repeat, substitute "swim" with:
"slide" (make sliding motions with feet)
"waddle" (take tiny steps and swing body from side to side)
"dress" (bow and curtsy)

"Dear Old Frosty" (tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb) Guess who wears a magic hat, magic hat, magic hat
Guess who wears a magic hat, Dear old Frosty does
Guess who has two eyes of coal.....
Guess who has a carrot nose......
Guess who carries a big yellow broom......
Guess who wears a big red scarf.....
Guess who wears big green mittens....
Guess who wears big black boots.....

Watch for winter activities coming soon!

Potty Projects!

There are those wonderful little toilet-learning children who decide they are just going to go on the potty and they do. No arguments, no accidents, no stress. If you have one of those children then congratulations you really don’t need to read any further. But, for those of you who have a child like mine, a child that needs a little time and encouragement, then read on!
My son, then 23 months old, had been showing a great deal of interest in the potty. He liked to sit there briefly and then say "all done", and carry on with his play. Every once in a while I managed to get him to stay just a few minutes longer and each time we had success on the potty! It was during these ‘quality’ times sitting on the bathroom floor that I realized there had to be something better than the usual staring contest and ‘just a few more minutes’ reassurance. It wasn’t really fun for either of us and I don’t blame him for jumping up and running around half-naked. It was boring sitting on the potty!
Thus, the birth of the ‘potty projects.’ Potty projects are small activities to help keep your child occupied while sitting on the potty. These activities only take a few minutes, which is just enough time to help your child become more successful in ‘producing’ on the potty, as well as turning awkward, clock-watching moments into fun and teachable moments. Let’s face it, you are spending a lot of time sitting on the floor or the edge of the tub, let’s work with this ‘special time.’
If you are thinking about starting toilet training, have already begun, or like me, have already spent many moments on the cold bathroom floor waiting, then let’s get started on potty projects!
Here are 10 projects to get you started, and then you can discover your own potty projects that work for you and your child! Some require a few props or supplies and others are prop-free! It’s good to start with a bin or large basket to carry all the supplies in or simply leave it in the bathroom by the potty if you have room. This way everything is within easy reach when your child is asking to sit on the potty.

1. Stickers- stickers can be used in a variety of ways. One, have a small sticker book on hand and let your child fill up a page with stickers. Or, let your child place stickers on their potty! This creates a personalized potty and a fun ‘I Spy’ game when there is a collection of stickers to look at.
2. Books- store a few books in the bin. Books that your child can only look at on the potty. A great idea is to invest in a few ‘potty’ books. Lift-the-flap books are also great with more interactive play.
3. Toilet paper roll creations- well, you are in the bathroom...why not recycle what is within reach! Have markers or crayons in your bin and let your child color toilet paper rolls.
4. Empty tissue box- Again, reusing what is within reach, fill an empty tissue box with various sizes of material or light scarves. Toddlers love pulling them out one by one and then shoving them all back in again. (Suggestion: place tape around the opening for more strength, then it won’t tear easily). If you so desire, use a box of full tissues and let your child pull them out and put them back in, they may not be as pretty when guests go to use them, but children love playing with tissues!
5. Action songs- Singing and acting! This one needs no props and your children will love doing these songs with you and they are easy to do while sitting on the potty! Itsy Bitsy Spider, Head and Shoulders, If You are Happy and You Know it, Wheels on the Bus, and 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. There will be tons of giggles filling the bathroom!
6. Magnet boards- There are many places (even the dollar store) that sell small magnet boards. Put a small one in your bin and collect some bright color magnets in a small tin. You can also find the letter and number magnets as well as other fridge magnets made especially for children. I have also found magnet boards that have a scene on them and come with the magnets (such as dinosaurs, construction, farm animals.) Again, very inexpensive at the dollar store.
7. ‘Can you Find...?’- Toddlers are learning so much so quickly and are always eager to show you what they know! Especially body parts! Another project that requires no props. Ask your child to point out body parts to you. Can you find your toes? Can you find Mommy’s toes? Can you find your ears? Carry on with other parts of their body and yours!
8. Beanbag toss- This game doesn’t need beanbags, you can find any soft, or small object to use. Beanbags are easily made by filling socks that are too small for your child, with rice or beans, and then sewing or tying them shut. Use the basket/ bin you have or find another bucket (make sure it’s deep though) or even a plastic stool your child stands on at the sink, turned upside down. Then place the bucket several feet from your child and hand them a couple ‘beanbags’ and let them try to toss them in!
9. Which cup? - This project requires 3 small cups and an object/ toy that will fit inside. Place all cups face down on the floor. Show your child the object and then place it under one of the cups. Move the cups around without lifting them. Ask your child to guess which cup has the object. They will want to guess again and again!
10. What’ missing? – Gather 4-5 small objects and place them on the floor or a plate, let your child have a few minutes to look at the items and then cover it with a face cloth or hand towel, remove one or more of the items without your child being able to see, then remove the cloth and ask them to see if they can guess what is missing! It’s good to start with just one object and working up to all of them!

Let this important milestone for your child, and your family, become a treasured time enjoyed together. Before you know it, your child will be using the potty and you may even miss those moments sitting on the cold bathroom floor!

Mini Pumpkin Craft!

A great little craft for Halloween is to decorate mini pumpkins!

Materials you will need:

• Mini Pumpkins
• White Glue
• Small decorations such as sequins, googley eyes, feathers, buttons, whatever you have on hand!

Hint: The dollar store is a great place to get small craft decorations!

Autumn Songs

The Leaves are falling down

Tune:"Farmer in the Dell"

The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
Red, yellow, green, and brown
The leaves are falling down

Author Unknown

Lots of LeavesTune:"London Bridge Is Falling Down"
Lots of leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Lots of leaves are falling down in a flutter.

Take the rake and pile them up, pile them up, pile them up.
Take the rake and pile them up in a mountain.

Run and jump and roll around, roll around, roll around.
Run and jump and roll around. Whee! It's autumn.

Author Unknown

The Leaves on The Trees

Tune : "The Wheels on The Bus"
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
falling down, falling down.
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
Red, yellow, orange, and brown.

The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch
crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.
The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch.
All through autumn (fall).
Repeat verse 1

Author Unknown

Leaf Pile

Tune: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"

Crunch, crunch, crunch the leaves
Rake them in a heap
Run, run as fast as you can
Into the pile you’ll leap!

I just made this one up!

Have fun with songs and children, use any classic tune and sing about what activity you are currently doing whether it’s crunching in leaves or doing the dishes!