Filtering by Category: Activities
A Little Art Inspiration
When I was a preschool teacher I had learned this concept many times, but never actually tried it: using photos to inspire a child's art. It's so basic and obvious, I just never really did it. Older kids and adults are always using photos or still life to copy or at least inspire, but it works with preschoolers too! Freida loves using her imagination, and I'm always happy to let it run wild ("here's my picture mom!" "it's awesome! what is it?" "poopy on a shark!" lovely. :) But recently her art time has dwindled and she seems to get bored at the easel really quickly. So, I started with the photo-inspiration technique, and it's been working wonderfully! This rainbow was our first shot at it, and we've since done butterfly, mountains, and lady bugs! It really seems to help keep her focused and lends to feelings of accomplishment... Try it!
Garlic: the Fine Motor Bulb
I don't know why this is the first time this dawned on me, but peeling garlic bulbs and removing the cloves is one of the best fine motor skills exercises ever!! Not to mention kids seem to love doing it, and it definitely reduces some of moms work in the kitchen... We now made this a ritual whenever we are in the kitchen whipping up fresh pesto; Freida is queen of the garlic. Try it!
365 Grateful
I got some interesting feedback on my birthday post. It seems these moments of reflection and gratitude seem to ignite some form of inspiration for everyone... Many women told me how reading it changed the way they looked at their morning; their day; their children. I know it works for me - in essence it's the whole reason I started this blog: to journal, document, and reflect on what I'm grateful for. And it has worked wonders! As mothers, wives, and homemakers, our lives become so busy, rushed, and non-stop that we seldom get the opportunity to stop, reflect, and celebrate! We just keep going and going...! I wanted to share with you a project - one of the most wonderful projects I have ever happened upon, in the hopes that you can take something for yourself out from the general concept, and increase the quality of your happiness.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/22100389]
I want to start this myself, care to join me? Plus, Instagram makes this cake! :)
Calling Mommies & Babies!
I posted previously about Babyccino when I was first launching the Monday morning "Mommy & Me". Now that we're starting up our 3rd series, I figured I'd let you all in on how it's been going...
The whole concept of getting together with local fellow mothers was really at the crux of the entire birth of Babyccino. The women in this community wanted a time and place where they can all get together, provide some interactive time for their children, while sharing motherhood with other women, and catching up with friends...
I figured I'd share these photos with you and hopefully inspire those of you in other communities to start up something of this nature as well. Having recently given birth, I'm constantly reminded of the dire need a new mother has to interact with other moms and simply get out of the house. It can be as simple as getting a few ladies together in a living room to share a pot of coffee while the kids play with toys on the rug! The point is to get out with your baby, meet with other mothers, and share the many trial and error stories of motherhood as well as share the many laughs that come along with raising children. Not to mention knowing your kids are benefitting from a social morning out along the way!
I also want to give you local women who haven't yet made the trek out to check it out a little kick in the pants! :) Come and join us for this next series as we help the little ones explore and discover the living world around them through 8 growth-themed Spring sessions! Come for the coffee; stay for the fun! Sharing motherhood is one of those things that really are priceless...
Also, I wanted to give a huge shout-out of thanks to all attending moms who have seriously made this whole experiment super-fun and successful!! Thank you all for joining in and bringing along your adorable and smart little people each week!! This could never have happened without you!
