September 21st, 2010 3 reasons to subscribe to play activities newsletters Posted by Melitsa in Articles, Education, play activities, Thought of the week

Play newsletters are great resources for parents who are looking to make the most of playtime especially if you want to be creative, open-ended and seasonal.

If you check into your favourite play based websites you’ll not be surprised to find that they have a newsletter sign up box. Here you can enter your email address and name and then receive play activities through your email.

With more of us on the move we are using our smartphones to keep us informed and they have become our virtual office and diary.

3 reasons I enjoy newsletters

1. I can use them from any mobile device. I can find that “Standing in line” activity  while I’m going to the Bank.

Nothing is more frustrating than remembering part of an activity and being away from the source. You fancy that activity you read at home in your magazine, mostly you can now access them online but many of the books you can’t. We have sometimes snatches of time when you can think of an activity but don’t remember everything or want to recommend it to a friend. I like that  I can take my smartphone and find an activity without having to wade through just using a keyword search.

1. I can find a suitable activity for a seasonal project

Children love doing seasonal projects but many parents feel stumped on what to do. We can think of a few things but wish we knew something else to do. Newsletters often have a seasonal approach and offer many ideas. Another thing newsletters often do is offer a project based idea. Instead of individual play activities the activities leave ample opportunity for the child  or carer to go further in their own way. This starting point is great for encouraging curiosity and helping children to develop the skills of longer projects. Play activities don’t always end after 10 minutes and they don’t always turn out as you intended. When we use books with illustrations kids and parents can often become frustrated with their end product as it looks so different.

1. I can be inspired to try a new idea by seeing first hand how it works or looks

We made our own cash register and another reader saw ours and was sure she could make a better one. We’re glad to have inspired them to make one. Also the idea of stepping out of our comfort zone cooking, crafting or singing. Newsletters bring you ideas.

Do you subscribe to play activities newsletters? Which ones do you like? Share yours here…

Next:  Play newsletters you should know

Image credit:????

September 17th, 2010 The power of influence in the Early years Posted by Melitsa in Articles, Education, play activities, pretend play, Thought of the week

Scene: The BG, MO and LO playing in close proximity on the floor.

BG: Vrooom see it’s taking off now [saying to the MO].  Character 1= legoship with wheels”You’ll never catch us now” . Character 2= farmer who is playing a bigger role today, “This is not the end!”

MO: Wait….the boat. It’s a boat.

BG: No we changed it remember. It’s a ship now.

MO: NO…….[getting up and yelling]

BG: OK… calm down it’s a ship now and next time it’s a boat. Alright?

MO………………… pause…………….  weighing up this response.

Enter LO who grabs the spaceship/boat. Promptly takes off the wheels and throws the wheels one way and the farmer the other, then runs.

MO and BG  take off running after the LO …………

Lots of shrieking and laughing from the LO .

MO gets to the LO first.  The BG rounds the corner and gives him a big hug and wrestles him to the floor.

Lots of laughing and screaming from the LO and the MO looks on.

BG: You silly. Don’t be taking out boat! Don’t be taking out boat! Don’t be taking out boat!

MO Yeah it’s our spaceship! spaceship spaceship spaceship

Scenes like these happen often… Here I was impressed with many things and how things played out and a few things surprised me.

However many times you separate your fighting children what words you use are powerful because they will repeat them back. Whatever you model they become

Children surprise you with their words and actions you least expect. Sometimes you smile and many times you’ll be disappointed.

They’ll handle things differently than we would like but they have to find their way too. Stumbling at home, finding their voice, being assertive, learning to be flexible I’m glad the boys feel safe to do this type of learning at home.

After this little event I did speak to the MO and the BG at different times during the day. Nothing heavy but wanted to talk about what had happened?

Would you do anything differently? | Did he fill your bucket ? |Do you fill his bucket?

I don’t do this for every event. We are a bigger influence than we believe on our children and especially what comes out of their mouths.

We focus a lot on play activities here but if the children can’t get on with each other how can play occur.

Whatever happened this morning or yesterday? Let’s use our power of influence on purpose today.

September 13th, 2010 What afterschool play ideas do you do to connect with your tot? Posted by Melitsa in Articles, Education, play activities, Seasonal play, Thought of the week

My MO has just started full time school. He’s had a few days of this ….and boy is he tired and cranky when he gets home.

It’s been an adjustment from the carefree days of Summer to the careful and deliberate routine we have to maintain during school term.

The MO is adjusting to a whole load of new things apart from school but country, friends, systems and routines. Along with his big brother they are doing so well considering how stressful moving is. Partly I would put it down to how much we’ve played and laughed together as well as the presence of family. Because boy have we needed to laugh at times otherwise I think we’d have been wailing.

I’ve been keen to keep going with our play activities at home but with two in school I guess I’m feeling again what it is like when you go from one child to two children. You think it can’t be that hard and you’re quite surprised at how things don’t just slot into place. I mean you’ve done this school thing before right?

Well what I failed to account for was how much the dynamics had changed. I now have two very hungry and tired souls to take home. Not feeding the monster quickly leads to roaring monster who brings his twin cousins meltdown and mayhem. Nevermind the activity they had picked or you had picked out to do- no one wants anything to do with anyone else.

Then here comes the witching hour. That lovely time before tea. Those activities you worked on before will not be the same now.

There are also the routines for homework, chores and bedtime. Everything needs an overhaul.

I didn’t anticipate that.

So we’re starting this week with an open mind and some new ideas to try to make playtime and family time work together for all of us.

Photocredit: escape artist *lulu*

What’s been like for you with your next child starting school?

How has this changed your routines and play activities?

Would love to hear your comments

August 12th, 2010 5 ways to calm the unsettledness of moving with children Posted by Melitsa in Articles, Education, pretend play, Roundups, Seasonal play, Thought of the week

Traveling unsettles children. They are out of their routines and everything is just different. We can’t always bend enough for their needs and that inflexibility leads to conflict.
We’ve just had one of these periods of traveling. Things are not as we expected, which is fine and normal. How would we really know how things would be? We’re adjusting and reformulating plans. Hence my absence from Twitter, Blogging and Podcasting. Trying to get back on track for next week.
One day at a time……….

This is a post I had started for July .

Here are a few toys and ideas to keep them encouraged and positive about the future.
1. World puzzle

Showing them different places in the world.
2. Balls

3.

Only One You
4.pretend play

5. spinny critters

The boys have taken a keener interest in maps now that their dad is round the other side of the world. So we look at different map types every chance we get. Who can find dad the quickest etc?

Balls are a great way to burn off energy.

I need to talk about Only you another time. But it helps when you feel like another fish in a big pond and you know noone.

Kids act out and play through new situations. What better way than through a pretend play set from the region.

Laughing helps …………..we couldn’t have survived this move or traveling without having lots of opportunities for laughter. While the makers of spinny critters probably wanted matching parts. I know this was a super ice breaker and mood lifter when you showed a mixed up animal. “Horse-o-lion”. OK we loved the jokes

These are some of the things we have done recently. What do you do to prepare your child for long distance travel or moving? Would love to hear.

June 15th, 2010 Where can I find play activities I can do with my kids? Posted by Melitsa in Articles, play activities, Sites to visit

There are all sorts of activity sites online. It’s hard to sift through and find ones that give you what you want. If you are a regular reader of the Play Activities blog you’ll know that this site has had a chatty cousin called Raising Playful Tots.  Raising Playful Tots is a podcast available 24 hours a day about play activities and mums making the most of their playtime.

I’m excited to share that working in collaboration with Nicole from Planning with Kids we both launched a new index of play blogs called Raising Playful Tots Index.

Complied in one place are bloggers who love Play. They promote Early childhood play with a variety of play activities and inspirational ideas for our under 8 children in one place.

Whether you are looking for new ideas, inspiration, things to do , babysitting tonight and need a helping hand, pop on over to the RPTI and enjoy the exciting play activities by parents and educators.

You will have a full play folder with a range of play activities from specialist to generalist. Waldorf play inspired to homeschooled, baby, toddler, preschool and School activities for you to dip into depending on what you are looking for.

There will be some familiar blogs and many new ones.

Check out the Raising Playful Tots Index, FAQs and About the RPTI for more information and claim your badge if you’re in the Top100. You can see one of the badges in the sidebar>>>

Thanks to Nicole also for her hardwork. It’s been a joy working with Nicole even though we’re actually continents away.

So that question…………….Where can I find play activities I can do with my kids?

Raising Playful Tots Index