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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

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!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

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?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Meaning of Christmas

I love Christmas, you usually love Christmas, but lately you have been questioning the “true and ultimate meaning of Christmas”. You know the meaning of Christmas. You have seen the It’s Christmas Charlie Brown special no less than 163 times. Our hero Chuck can’t get into the Christmas spirit and is a bit frustrated by the commercial take over of the holiday, but Linus’ soliloquy (memorized at the threat of violence) is probably the best excuse for a joyous season that anyone could come up with. It came out in 1965; it is 46 year old. You are still reading a blog post entitled “The True Meaning of Christmas.” If a cartoon cannot settle this debate for you, I clearly will not.

I know the true meaning of Christmas

Giving the gift of 'No' for the Holidays

So many articles tell us women, and moms specifically that the only way not to be overwhelmed by demands on our time is to learn to say no. I used to think that I was good at this. I mean I have only ever been to one block club meeting and I will never have a good thank-you note record. Which, I have met with a certain level of acceptance.

I have also been enlightened to the fact that a ‘no’ to one thing is quite often a ‘yes’ to some thing else. Meaning that no being in the block club means that my Thursdays open and instead of pondering the moral fiber of each less than considerate dog owner, so I may focus on some other aspect of my life. It is what my economics professor called ‘opportunity cost’: its not just the hour of my life spent on dog poopy but also the hour lost that could have been spent on something else.

I prioritize, I decline, I trust that some else will organize the holiday cookie exchange this year and even if they do not do it well, Life. Will. Go. On.

I have not mastered the art of saying no. Skipping on the pooped lawn discussions are easy,