Archive for the 'Sites to visit' Category
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November 2nd, 2011
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If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! Melissa over at Chasing Cheerios mentioned a Cultural Exchange just before the Summer. It sounded a great idea.
The idea was to send a packgae out that represented your country to a group of people. Melissa coordinated the whole thing. We were in a group of 6 people. 6 packages- how difficult would that be?
Naturally life gets busy during the summer. My husband was back after a year deployment so life was hectic. The kids also spent a large portion with Grandparents. I didn’t want to send activities for them to do. Hanging out with the Grandparents was all that was required.
So September rolls around and back to school. Again super busy. The boys and I worked really hard on finding UK things and what they wanted.
This is what we selected for our package. Each one was a little different.
 ELC money in Euros and Sterling- Twining fruit Tea. (We’re big fruit tea drinkers but we were thinking of the kids- no caffeine!)
- Mini chocolate digestives ( I had to buy a second packet the first packets got…er..um eaten)
- Love hearts and traditional sweets
- keyring with a tourist attraction from the UK/London. Here we have the traditional phone box. Not many of these around.
- Make a flag activity
- Information pack about the K including recipes
- Drawn picture of a Beefeater costume.
Imagine that duplicated 6 times. It was an interesting time at the post office sending these off.
Next the wait…….
So far we’ve received one from Arizonia and one from Japan.
The boys are beyond excited to open them up. We unpacked them at Dinnertime.
If you get the chance to participate in an exchange….do!
There are lots of physical swaps online. I spoke about the International Postcard Swap on the podcast recently.
Have you participated in any swaps? Share the links below
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August 31st, 2011
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On a recent visit to an Art Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic. I was delighted to come up against these wonderful collages or sculpture by Shalom Tomas Neuman.
Love how everyday toys, electronic items are used to create really zany pictures.
You can see more about the work here,
Art at home does not’ have to be about pen, crayons and paper. Hope you’re inspired from your environment too.
What art work have you taken your little ones to see that you would recommend?
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August 8th, 2011
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It’s probably something that most of us can relate to in the popular book, Too Many Toys by David Shannon, of the poor dad stepping on LEGO pieces.
LEGO this summer has come into its own with all the boys. With our age span from 3 to 8 now we have many different types.
On a recent visit to Jen of Muminthemadhouse the LO played with her boy’s LEGO Space set . It was a rare and not forgotten treat.
All the way home he talked about the “Plane” meaning shuttle. Other peoples LEGO is so exciting and it makes you think and create in different ways.
We’ve been happy to find huge tubs of it a car book sales lately. While I’m happy for the boys my heart aches for hoovering around that stuff. So far the grand finds have been at their Grandparents’ house so they are getting the pleasure of LEGO. I know in a few weeks though that all most of that LEGO will be making it’s way back here.
What keeps me sane with LEGO?
Letting go!
I know that LEGO will be around the house. It’s really not the biggest deal. We live in our home and always have. I expect to see that kids live in a home and one of their things is that they drift and leave stuff. I love that active play in them to do this.
Listening
Have you listened to your kids, when they don’t know you’re there, playing with LEGO? It’s a joy! They so totally get into it and absorbed. The situations and scenarios they play out are long and complex. Yes some of them are based upon familiar characters but I’ve seen a lot of crossover from books, real life and just imagination.
Time
LEGO has been a huge hit this summer and 3 little boys have sat, squirmed and rushed around for huge swathes of time inside and out setting their own play. They’ve completely got lost in the play and can’t believe it’s meal time or anything else. That’s a great thing! It’s how I remember summer being.
Light flash!
Today I hit upon and idea that just works well for me. Hoovering is hard.I don’t want to suck up those little extra pieces but it happens, at times. So I found a box and as I was tidying the room for hoovering I dropped the pieces in there. I did this for two rooms. Look at the booty I found!
I think the boys will love me! More Lego is like ice cream- you just can’t have enough!
It’s a simple tip that perhaps you already did but it’s saved my sanity. I don’t feel so annoyed and frustrated at all these little pieces.
Sometimes WE choose the toys that suit US as parents for ease of use, lack of pieces, quick, expensive, electronic, no mess because it’s EASIER for us. It’s not that we do all the opposites of those listed we have our days too when we need to do differently.
What I’m trying to do though is find a way for the boys to participate in unstructured and the messy and make it work in our home. Intentionally finding a way to make play opportunities work that are ideal and welcomed because they allow the kids to shine and play in ways that will surprise.
This box…. sets me on the road.
Photo credit: justmalia
Do you have any LEGO storage tips for me?
P.S I would love to do this for the boys room. What a creative way to store LEGO!
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June 8th, 2011
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 Birmingham Public Library (AL) Listening to audio is a skill that’s not confined to just car journeys. There are many times when we need to add some downtime or slow the pace down.
Listening is a very active form and a really easy way to provide imagination, inspiration and entertainment.
Here are 3 go to places for active listening
Listen and Play
This is part of the BBC school programming and is published on a Tuesday. They are available on demand for 7 days after broadcast.
Each programme includes familiar songs, rhymes, stories and sound discrimination games to develop children’s phonological awareness and confidence with spoken language.
Each show has kept my little one interested and we’ve subscribed via iTunes so can listen again to older versions. if you live outside of the UK access to the BBC iplayer is restricted but you can subscribe via iTunes and download as a podcast.
Listen and play
Playtime
P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E …It’s PLAYTIME! P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E………
With the current interest in letters and singing of the ABC song along with the phonic game on the fridge this show is perfect for my soon turning preschooler. It’s full of energy and emotion that he’ll stop to listen. We pretend together and with siblings as well.
Songs, stories and movement activities for pre-school children inspired by popular themes.
This is also part of BBC programming for schools.
Playtime
Barefoot books podcast
I’m a big advocate for diversity in book and literature with my family of boys we just love the Barefoot Books as they have a range of stories both traditional and from different cultures. We always have lots to talk about seeing the people and places in these books. Now you can read along or just listen to your favourite books.
Barefoot books publish a huge range of stories and many of them for the over 5s so watch out for the themes.
Barefoot books
We’ve been experimenting with audio and listening recently and have tried them at our family dinner time. Instead of the usual hustle and bustle we listened to a story and then discussed it afterwards. It was really a different way to celebrate dinner together.
We’ve tried the traditional sit down and listen but this doesn’t work as well for us . It’s been great tidy up ‘music’ and listen to in the morning music before everyone is awake.
Photo credit: Birmingham Public Library (AL)
When do you listen to audio and what do you listen to?
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April 26th, 2011
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Meet our latest kitchen addition.
The one benefit of having lots of boxes from a move is the endless fun you can have with them.
I’ve been on the lookout for a kitchen set for a long time but everything I’ve seen didn’t fit for one reason or another. We’ve never been shy about our creations even if they don’t look the greatest I’ve never been shy to share them. Some will laugh and point the finger and I hope you are inspired to do better then. The best thing about these types of project is how we all get involved. It’s not about how perfect it looks but how functional.
Two brothers
This is how the minds of two brothers think for their little brother one Easter holiday….with a little help from mum.
Small empty box wrapped in white paper
Kids:We don’t want to see that writing and maybe we can paint it
Me: Thank goodness as I kept meaning to get a better covering for it.
Kids: We need bits on the top……[looking around the room] How would I draw a circle?
Me: Introduces a cereal bowl.
Kids: off to find paper. Problem 1- no paper in the size for 4 burners so improvise with white ( we’ll colour it) and red card – probably left over from St George’s day craft.
squabble over who will do what…….
Brother runs off with paper ….
Discussion about distracting the LO and working together. MO decides to play or distract his brother while the BG can quickly finish the colouring and cutting.
Peace …… negotiation complete
me: How do you turn it on then?
Kids: run off. MO comes back with lid from a bottle. Puts it on the box. Lots of different bottle tops tried. Some from things in use………….
A little while later, the DIY stove is fully functional with Chef MO cooking up a feast and Chef LO lining up the ingredients.
There were more steps inbetween these. Lots of excitement, diversions, breaks for snacks etc But over the course of one morning it was completed.
This picture was taken at bedtime as activity is too fast and furious during sessions. The beauty of this stove is………
portable
homely
precious
full of memories
lovingly made
Designed and mostly made by brothers for their brother
played with by all.
Don’t be put off with making your own play activities or encouraging your children to do so.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of DIY projects check out childhood 101.
Sorry ….. I have to go………..been invited around for some tea and a baked bean tin?
This post is part of the meme We Play: Pop on over and view the other players
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