7 Media-Free Rainy or Snow Day Activities for Toddlers.

Buffalo is not known for it's over abundance of sunny 72 degree days. In most years, by second week of February we are usually sick of snow days and spring is no here in sight! We have a (mostly) media-free household, as far as the kids go, so I resist the urge to plop them I front of the tube when it is too cold or wet to go outside.

Craft: fabric paint & leaves

1) Craft, Craft, Craft! Seriously you'd be surprised how few supplies it takes to make pre-schoolers completely delighted. Paper, safety scissors, empty cereal boxes, yarn, pasta & glue. I have recently fallen in love with the wet-on-wet water color method that my kids have learned in school. The results are so amazing, and the Waldorf curriculum suggest only using one color at a time to start.

2) Bake Something: It just like crafting but you end up eating the results. Cookies are fun! My 32 month old daughter loves putting sun-drops on each one, which is something I always hated. Find a simple bread recipe that can stand up to lots of eager kneading and let them work it out with the dough. Besides it's nice to have an excuse to turn on the oven.

3) Read: I don't have to tell you the benefits. You can read to them or just near them (it sets a good example.) My mom says that she uses to read what ever she was reading to me in a sweet tone, including adult news papers & books etc. I imagine this would work until at least 3.

Not a chore for her!

4) Dance! (and sing): Sometime the little ones just need to work on their gross motor skills. And no amount of indoor quiet play will really make them happy. You could probably use a little booty shaking too, why not give in move the coffee, and pump up the jams. My suggestion is to play some hip shaking party music that you LOVE, because you will have to play it a few times!

5) Clean Something: While you and I may already know that cleaning is a chore, kids don't! Washing dishes is bubbly sensory delight! Put old socks on their hands to dust the base molding and while they are at it maybe the could look for the fairies' nest. I always feel like I'm getting over a bit, and I probably am. But they won't realize for years.

The product of free play

6) Leave the kids alone: (with in reason). Children will amuse themselves, and as long as you're toddler proofed and not far, its good for them. Free play is enormously valuable in early childhood development. Parents don't need to entertain or educate every minuet. It's impossible anyway. Give your toddler a little space for doing something on their own.

7) Go Outside: Yes this is a list of things to do when it's nasty outside, but kids really don't mind the wet or cold as much as you do. Dangerous wind chill or flooding excepted, as long as they have good gear they will likely brave more snow or rain than you'd expect. In fact, I realized that I was the one who needed new boots, the kids were already well equipped! They've yet to be conditioned to hate drips, puddles and cloudy skies. You may discover its not so bad out after all.


What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day? I'd love to hear what other families do to beat the cabin fever!

Time to Start School?

First Day of Pre-School

        K-dog is five, the wonderland of early childhood is ending, and the structure and order of school age is upon us.  The time has come.  There is a flurry of open houses and applications and registration deadlines right now.  My husband and I are really wondering what will be best for him.   Even, what is best for our family?




    Because of his birthday, late October, there is first the question of weather he should go to kindergarten again, or onto first grade.  We have had the good fortune of a Waldorf Early Child Center that was very close to us.  K has loved it, our family has loved it.  It has been a nurturing and creative environment.  It seems that going into a Waldorf school would be the logical option.  Of course, the expense and, for us, a long bus ride and some other negatives that require some thought.  As, at least, mediocre parents we have to research some of the other options.  This should be easy; my very own mother was a kindergarten teacher for 30 years.  I have an “in”.   I could make decision matrix coming on; my father was a mathematician.  I cannot just leave it to the numbers; my heart is in it.

A school loving kid

    Realistically, I am not sure how much it will really matter.  K-dog is the child of lots of privilege.  He nursed until the, eats organic (mostly), sleeps in a safe warm bed, both of his parents went to college, we read to him at least 30 minuets a day, heck he takes violin lessons.  We could send him to the woods for 4 hours for 5 days a week and I am sure he would learn to read.  (Did I mention that was an option?)  This really has to weigh on parents who do not have so many choices.  School is not just an education.  It will make K-dog, and all of us part of a wider community.  He will be there most of the day, most of the week.  Mostly I want him to love school, as much as I did as a youngster. 

First Day of Kindergarten
What's next?

    We've been talking about all this around our house. Of course, K has been listening. When I dropped him off at school today first thing he told his teacher was, "When I get bigger, I'm going to go to school with lots of desks!" Its coming if I'm ready or not!


    How did you decide where to send your child to school?

Not a Perfect Parent

Maybe not first chair... but really cute!

I have not ordered any cod liver oil. I cannot stand the idea of giving my children cod liver oil.  I am sure there are bunches of articles that say that I should be; all of the best parents give their children cod liver oil.  The smell reminds me of a horrible roommate I had in college and I refuse to let it into my house.

I would like to think of myself as one of those greenie, crunchy, but bookish, attachment, Waldorf parents. I have always liked to research the right way to do things. I will admit it, I like being right. From the time I found out I was pregnant for the first time, I bought books, canvassed my friends and peers, did the homework, and was so sure that I was doing everything right. In the last 5 years, I have found that perfection is overrated and I simply cannot (and will not) keep up.

            Yes, I nursed my son until three.  I will likely nurse my daughter that long. I think the breastfeeding, and child led weaning is a healthy, normal and important part of childhood (not motherhood). I also realize that some people do not agree with me, and frankly I am sure that just because a baby has formula that their mother loves them any less. I know it does not make her an unworthy mother because she was unwilling to sacrifice her income, sanity, body, wardrobe, social standing, or long held beliefs.

Mother does not mean martyr, notice how the words are different?

Wordless Wednesday: Why did I just buy all those toys?

Wash the Dishes

Little ones love bubble's! Especially our little girl.

Even if it is a bit wet and messy.

it's totally worth it.

My only regret: why didn't I think if this 'Wash the Dishes' game before I had already washed all the dishes. Well that's just one VERY clean sippy.


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First Day

Today was my sweet girl's first day of school. Well, it was her 'cubby day' so I was actually around for most of the morning. She seem a little unsure for just a moment, maybe a little quiet (for her) at first, but that didn't last.  A bowl of oats, and a few songs and she was getting into the swing of it. At recess she caught up with K., but only played with him for a few minuets. We already know several of the other children because they are our friends kids, and they are my older son's classmates. Not to mention A's naturally outgoing personality. So by the time noon rolled around she was absorbed in play and clearly didn't want to go!

I've always though the point of childhood is to grow out of it. Thank heavens, DS was an easy baby but not A.. She NEVER took a bottle from anyone, rashed up from disposable diapers and was what I call, "sitter resistant" (read 105 Db blood curling cries).  So Until about 15 months,  I was on baby-house-arrest.  Alas It ALL goes by so fast, even the house-arrest parts. Now she's heading out in the world and making her own friends.  K went through all this too but he was not ever so clingy in the first place, or maybe it was that we had a new baby at the time, but it didn't shake me so. Usually at every milestone I tell myself, "Well, its not like s/he's packing for Stanford, it's just XYZ." Every one says, you just blink, and they will be moving out. When they do pack up and launch I'm going to want them to go.

There were some tears as I left the classroom for the hour of no-mommy adjustment, but they were mine. Which got me totally off guard, because I am so happy to see her growing. I don't want her to stay a baby, and, well she isn't.

This is what parent toddler does to the toddler

This is what parent-toddler does to a toddler.