Family Fun
How Do We Create Good Role Models for our Kids?
At the baby and toddler age, children learn best in an informal learning environment – meaning children learn by example. They are learning emotional skills, social skills and practical skills like using the hose to water the garden by following our example. They learn the basics of language by taking the lead from the older people around them who model the fluency in that language. Language basics are learned through immersion not through rote teaching. In the informal learning environment, a good role model is key. Read more
1 Year Old Birthday Party Ideas
Ahh. The 1 year old birthday party – need ideas? When planning your one year old’s birthday party, the key is to keep it short and simple. 1 1/2 hours is about the maximum overload a baby can handle before entering the cranky stage. Plan around naptimes to ensure your child is at his best.
Provide lots of free play, minimal structured activities and lots of snack foods for the kids. Be mindful of possible food allergies and stick to basics. Don’t forget the adults when planning your shopping list, though. Parents will need lots of nourishment to keep up with their little balls of energy! Read more
The Arts on a Budget
We’re not suggesting that you stop paying full price to take your kids to the ballet, theatre or symphony, but many parents feel that artistic pursuits are inaccessible for one reason or another. Excuses for not exposing children to these media range from ‘But the hockey was on’, ‘He will get bored’, ‘My baby cries all the time and she will disrupt things’ …to ‘It is too expensive’. Here are some outside-the-box ways to give it a go and mitigate the reasons for staying home. Read more
Making Goop
Start by putting down a garbage bag… You’ll need a box of cornstarch… but $3 is totally worth the hour of sanity you’ll get out of it. You mix the cornstarch with barely enough water and food colouring to get it runny: think slightly-too-soft cookie dough. (i.e., LOTS of cornstarch, and probably one cup to 1.5 cups of water.) It makes a non-Newtonian fluid (if you want to sound all sciency). Basically, if you punch it, hit it or grab it… it’ll go solid.
As soon as you relax your hold if it (or gently push your hand into it) it’ll turn to a thick pancake-batter like consistency. Makes cool “ooze” for little kids to play with… and cornstarch is a no-brainer for clean-up. Enjoy.
Win a Backyard Popsicle Soccer Party!
Now that World Cup fever has struck, who doesn’t want a cool duffle filled with all you need for the perfect backyard soccer soiree? Pylons, a ball, gloves for the keeper… And you get Popsicle gift certificates too. Just tell us your favourite memory involving a Popsicle. Comment below, please, and nothing too racy or we’ll have to issue a red card. Ha ha.
