Transportation Tuesday, or Could I Just Sit Down for One Minute, Please?

If you are like me, you find that your toddler does. not. allow. you. to. sit. down. for. one. minute.

However, I've found that if I put this tunnel on the table to the side of the couch and push the train through it with gusto, (again and again) New Kid laughs his a$$ off and I can sit down for one minute.

But only one.

Toddler Art Experience

New Kid is intrigued when Kiddo sits down to draw so I taped a piece of paper large enough to cover the entire area in front of him on the table. I didn't want him to be limited by a small piece of paper and feel that there were rules to where he could and could not draw. Artistic inhibitions are hard to break. And if you offer washable art supplies, marked up walls and furniture are easy to clean.

About 5 years ago I read Susan Striker's Young at Art and have been trying to follow its philosophy regarding art education and so I gave New Kid a black crayon. He thought it was fun to make some scribble. ..... Unfortunately, since his brother was at the other end of the table with a virtual gold mine of art implements he insisted on being handed more and more markers. I discovered, however, that he was much more interested in removing and replacing the caps than drawing.

But that's okay, too. (Plus, it kept him busy for a long time!) It's the exposure that's important and I look forward to more toddler art experiences.

Friday Do-Over: Filling a Jar

Idea First Published 10/21/09 (new photos and text)

Keep your child busy while you put away the groceries by having him transfer bulk goods to glass jars. Funnels make it more fun. Here Kiddo is transferring whole cloves which add textural and olfactory variety to the chore. You can also mix it up -- transfer spices to small jars or grains and beans to large jars using a scoop (as we did in the original post).  Cluttered kitchen table is optional, of course.

Best not to get upset when your child spills a few, it will happen. Just get out the broom and teach him how to sweep!

Indoor Sports

Just in case you were not sufficiently appalled at our indoor ball play, you should know that yogurt tops make excellent indoor Frisbees.

They are also fun to try and roll (sorry, hardwood floors required).

Lazy Parenting: Learning the Alphabet

You may or may not know that the New York Subway lines are designated by either a letter or a number. You also may or may not know that Kiddo and New Kid have a zillion toy NYC subway trains (if you don't know this you clearly have better things to do than read this blog. Good for you.).

As it turns out, the presence of the subway in multiple aspect of our lives has taught New Kid many letters and numbers. I already knew he could name many of the train lines, but when we were at the Lefferts House and New Kid started showing me letters on the blocks and naming them, I realized he was able to transfer that knowledge to other objects.

Don't worry, I'm not delusional. This does not mean New Kid has any sense that letters are part of a language system that leads to reading. He is only 20 months old. But it's nice to know I won't have to work very hard to teach him the alphabet. Of course, not all the letters are represented by the subway lines. No I, O, U, H, K, P, X, Y and the V and W are gone now, but they live on in various forms around our home.

Transportation Tuesday

Kiddo is in love with Transit Maps of the World.

He simply cannot get enough of it.

He uses it as a reference point when playing with his own trains.
For more free play see Childhood 101.

Practical Life: Toddler Toothbrushing

New Kid thinks that while I am brushing my teeth he should be playing with the toilet.
Um. No.

So instead I give him his toothbrush and turn on a tiny stream of water under which he likes to hold his toothbrush. He then sucks the water off of it. So I guess there is no actual toothbrushing going on but I like to think that he is getting used to the idea of independent toothbrushing, just like his mom and big brother.

At least he is not playing with the toilet.

Weekend Bonus Post for Autumn Lovers

Look what we spied in the tree the other day.

It's coming.

Friday Do-Over: Water Transfer

A classic Montessori-style activity that is a winner every time, but even if your child doesn't want to be methodical about the transfer of water from one container to another, just letting them loose with a dropper and a bowl of water can be fun, too. First Published 1/18/09
The reign of free play that Kiddo indulged in pre-New Kid is over and I am required to find entertaining activities all the time, once again. Fortunately I can bring out some repeats like this Montessori dropper activity. I hope you are noticing that in most of these photos Kiddo is still in his pajamas. That should tell you a lot about what does and does not happen around here these days.

Mom's Bookshelf: Vol. 2

You wanted to know what else I've been reading, right? Since no doubt you do,"Mom's Bookshelf" will make an appearance from time to time. Don't worry, my reviews are always short and sweet.

The Male Brain. Before I had kids I thought "gender-schmender." Now I know: boys are crazy. But seriously, everyone with boys should read this. There are a few choice facts about the teenage boy brain you must know. I can't tell you though, it would spoil the surprise.

Queen Emma and the Vikings. Pillage, plunder and the woman who survived it longest.

Pandora's Seed. The intersection of genetics, ecology, disease, archaeology and agriculture. Fascinating. The author is an "explorer-in-residence" for the National Geographic Society. How awesome would that job be?

Deep Ancestry. By the same author as above. I am a sucker for a good genetic anthropology story. I also recommend Brian Sykes's books on the same topic.

No Wind of Blame. An English Country House is the perfect setting for a murder mystery.

The Perfect Scoop. Mmmmmm, ice cream.

I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. I actually have it pretty easy.

Mistress of the Monarchy, the life of Katherine Swynford, the Duchess of Lancaster. I love a woman who can hold her own.

What have you been reading? You should tell me.

But, It's a Book!

For a while now I've been composing in my head a post about why I don't do sponsored posts or giveaways in exchange for free merchandise or accepts ads, etc. It's not really because I am on some high moral ground -- people can do what they want on their own blogs, it's not my business -- there are just a number of reasons I don't want to go that direction. I get a lot of junk email requesting me to post stuff on my blog. And if the marketers are reading this (they aren't, of course): I don't have an iPhone (so I won't market your Apps for you) and I don't like Target (so I won't advertise your so-called "deals"). Some of the requests I actually approve of, such as free carousel rides in Prospect Park on Thursdays, or free performances of Theatreworks' Summer Show, but I don't think people read this blog for that information. Local moms should probably already read this blog, or this one, both aimed at an NYC audience.

But I guess it's good I never wrote that post because I did just accept a copy of the book, It's a Book, in exchange for posting about it. I was all set to reject the request but I just love the author, Lane Smith, and I found myself unable to resist. After all, It's a Book!



It came in the mail yesterday and I must say, I love it. It's short, cute and a little bit irreverent at the end, three of my favorite traits. Kiddo read it on the way to the library, which seemed somehow appropriate. I won't bother with a long and proper review when you can read so many of them at the amazon page. However, you can watch a short and fun trailer (does anyone else think trailers for books --esp. one about how a book is not a computer -- are a bit weird?) at you tube.



See also:
Lane Smith Books
MacMillan's site

Sidewalk Picnic

Want to go crazy and try something new? 

Have a front yard BBQ.

Just because you don't have a yard doesn't mean you can't have a neighborhood BBQ! A friend of ours brings her furniture and food out on to the sidewalk, fires up the coals and while the kids play, the parents sit back (except for this parent whose toddler is in the "running away is fun" stage).
 

The advantages over a backyard BBQ? Meeting neighbors as they pass by and spontaneous invitations.
Try it.

Ping Ping Ping... Pong!

Usually I don't advocate buying yet more plastic crap, but I did break down and buy a set of 6 ping pong balls. They turned out to be really fun. I was able to make dinner while the boys went crazy in the living room. You may think that sounds a little risky, but the balls are so light and they actually don't bounce very high so I wasn't too worried. The boys especially liked dropping all six out of a container and watching them scatter every which-way.

I know, I know... you're thinking, "I can't believe she allows ball play inside!" But really, sometimes I have to be at home in the apartment (like to make dinner) and boys have a lot of energy, OK?

For more free (and maybe not-so-crazy) play visit Childhood 101.

Friday Do-Over: Sharing is Good

The last weeks of summer are upon us. Take a sharing ball to the park. First published 6/29/09
It would be the understatement of the century to say that Kiddo does not like sharing. I know that most kids have trouble with sharing, blah blah blah. But, seriously, his fear of other kids touching or looking at his stuff borders on pathological. If your kid always shares readily, you have a marvelous child.

My latest tactic to combat his misanthropy is "the sharing ball". I informed Kiddo that we were going to purchase 2 new balls, which of course put him over the moon. New toys! However, these two balls were only to be played with with other kids. A few words on the balls themselves will serve as a reminder. I'm sure it won't solve the problem completely, but I am hopeful that it means we can actually contribute some toys to park playdates. Up until now Kiddo has adamantly refused to bring his own toys because, Heaven forbid, another kid might touch them.
More tips on sharing appreciated.

Ball in a Box

New Kid loves to throw balls around. Maybe this is not so good in a small apartment.

Sometimes I put a ball or other small toy inside a clear container so he can shake it and watch it roll around. Sometimes he even plays with it by himself for more than 2 minutes before trying to take the lid off to get at the goods.

Truck Stop: I Brake for Cupcakes

Look what was waiting for Kiddo when he finished with his swimming lesson. How could we resist?
Visit the Cupcake Stop.

Rock Stop

When we walk home through the park Kiddo and New Kid always have to stop at the "Rock Place" where they gather handfuls of rocks (large gravel) and then hurl them over the nearby "cliff" (actually just a hill).

Sometimes I even get to sit down on a big rock while they search for little rocks.

Are your kids fascinated by rocks, too?

Reading assignment:
If You Find a Rock
Let's Go Rock Collecting

For more free play visit Childhood 101.

Have You Tried KenKen?

KenKen is Kiddo's latest number craze. If your kid likes Sudoku (which Kiddo does), KenKen is the next step and it involves math. Some might disagree, but I think kids will benefit by learning Sudoku first, it makes KenKen a bit easier to understand.

Will Shortz of Sudoku fame has KenKen for Kids. Check out  I Can KenKen. Some of the easier book for adults are ok for kids, too, depending on their skill level.

For more math goodness visit Math Monday and Favorite Resource of the Week.

Peachy Keen (A Weekend Recap)

This weekend we went peach picking. I'd never been peach-picking before and I'm really getting into the pick-your-own fruit thing, but peaches are #2 on the dirty dozen for pesticide contamination. Long time readers will know I have chemical phobias (I wash my hair with baking soda, OK?), yet it is really difficult in New York state to grow orchard fruit without chemicals. Two pick-your-own farms in the area practice IPM, so we went to Fishkill Farms. Next year we will try Prospect Hill Orchards (maybe for cherries, too!)

It is so nice to escape to the country once in a while and it was a beautiful, not-too-hot day. 

Plus, there was homemade ice cream on the porch, so how can you beat that?

This photo pretty much sums it up.

I now need to make a lot of peach pies.... or something ...FAST. (If you have any favorite peach recipes, please let me know!!)

This trip also allowed us to cross off an activity from our summer to-do list.

Friday Do-Over: Tissue Box

OK, I don't advocate buying disposable tissues, but if you already have them, just let your kid pull them all out of the box. It's not a big deal, really. First published 3/11/08.

Today was Kiddo's fabulous science class; the topic was sound and they made instruments. Kiddo's favorite was a "guitar" made from rubber bands and a tissue box. When he liked it so much he wanted to take it home with him, Mom knew it would be a good distraction for later. Even though Mom never buys disposable facial tissues (handkerchiefs only, please) they bought a box on they way home. Upon arriving home and seeing the dishes stacked in the sink, Mom knew this would be a great opportunity to allow Kiddo the pleasure of emptying the tissue box one tissue at a time. The end result was marvelous and he played with the resulting pile as if they were leaves on the ground!
The result was that Mom got the dishes done in peace and Kiddo even cleaned up the tissues by himself knowing that a homemade guitar was in his sights.

Hand Held Pies

I'm really into hand-held pies these days. They are a great snack or meal for the kids. Sometimes New Kid gobbles them so fast I have to remind him they are hand-held pies, not hand pies. I use Jim Lahey's no-knead pizza dough recipe so it is even easier.  You can fill them with anything you want: ground beef, curried veggies... whatever.  After assembling them, I bake them at 425 for 15-20 minutes. I freeze a bunch to have on hand to eat out of hand.

As you can see from the photo, I'm not that concerned about the way my pies look. But they sure taste good.

Why Read Chapter Books?

Here's a terrific article I came across about the importance of reading chapter books to young children, and how to read effectively.

Blow Dry

What do you do when it is hot, humid and you are dripping with sweat? Why, you stand in front of the library's turbo fan, of course.

Toddler Stacking

Mormor left these sandbakkelse molds with us on her last visit. I haven't used them yet, but that hasn't stopped New Kid from using them for stacking practice.  He's hard at work practicing his fine motor skills!

Granted, most people don't have sandbakkelse molds, but be on the lookout for similar items from your kitchen that would work for your toddler: measuring cups and spoons? prep bowls? plastic cups?

For more free play visit Childhood 101.

Kiddo's First Job

Our neighbors hired Kiddo to feed their cats while they were on vacation last week. It was a his first paying job! I was so proud of him because he never once said "I don't want to," when I told him it was time to go downstairs to feed them. He dished out wet food in the evening and dry food in the morning all by himself and enjoyed telling me which dish was for which cat.

In the first chapter of Superduper Teddy (part of the Riverside Kids series I reviewed as an Urban Chapter Book), Teddy has his first job which is also feeding the neighbor's cat. I think I'll have to get it from the library and read it to Kiddo, again!