Repurposing Older Kid Games for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers

We have a lot of games. I like games. Kiddo LOVES games. New Kid wants to do whatever his awesome big brother is doing. It's not so easy to play the same game with your almost 7 year old and your almost 3 year old at the same time.

However, while the older kid is at school I encourage you to bring out those "older kid games" for your little one to play with. You might just be surprised at not only how occupied it keeps him, but how many skills he explores.

Here are a few example from our home:

Skippity: New Kid likes to sort the chips by color, place them on the squares (1 to 1 math skills), and stack them (fine motor).

Scrabble: He sorts them by letter and makes the alphabet (literacy).

Boggle: He loves to shake the box (sensory), place them in the squares (1 to 1, fine motor), and tell me the letters (literacy).

Chinese Checkers: Oh, how much fun it is to put the pegs in the holes! (fine motor)

Rush Hour Jr.: Okay, let's face it: it's all about the cars. (P.S. Looking for a gift for a 4-6 year old kid? I always recommend this game.)

So put on your toddler glasses and take a look in your games closet. You don't have to follow the instructions in order to play a game. After all, aren't rules meant to be broken?

Popularity Contest Countdown Smackdown! #8

The eighth most popular post on this blog in 2011 is my Homemade Toddler Lacing Activity.

However, #8 on my list of all-time favorite posts is from 2009, when we set up an indoor target practice with a homemade catapult. And I ask you, how can you compare the sedate action of lacing a ribbon through a toilet roll with the awesome ruckus than ensues when you are launching poms all over the living room?

In the top left corner of the photo you can see part of the DIY road I made for Kiddo out of poster board. We eventually had to throw it out because the cat barfed all over it.

Weekend Snapshots

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving and I trust you all took many photos. Why not share them? Be sure to tell others how to join in by including a link or button (code in the sidebar) back to the home of Weekend Snapshots.

This weekend, Lefferts House, an historic Dutch homestead in Prospect Park, hosted one of my favorite events: Winter on Flatbush Farms. This was the first year New Kid really got to experience it and the weather cooperated quite nicely. (We've had a very warm autumn -- well, except for the freak snowstorm.)

Unfortunately just before we were to leave, the hub broke a jar, sliced his finger and  had to rush off for some stitches. When I was cleaning up there were droplets of blood everywhere! It was like cleaning up a crime scene! He's fine, of course, but I had to take the kids on the walk through the park by myself.

On the way, Kiddo found an Osage Orange. He knew what it was because he has been studiously reading his Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City.

A brief stop to admire the view.

Since I had no other adult help, taking lots of 'snaps while supervising rowdy boys was not in the cards, but I did get a pic of the man himself: Saint Nicolas. In the Dutch tradition, he arrived on horseback. We fed his horse carrots and received chocolate coins.

I also continued a tradition I started last year: making poached quince. I love doing this because a) the apartment smells divine and b) you never know when Aphrodite might stop by for supper.

Art + Math = Tessellations

Kiddo likes to peruse the math books at the library (I know! That is so not what I did when I was 6.) and he came home with Nature Math. One of the concepts discussed was tessellations and the book outlined this very simple activity. I learn a lot from Kiddo's interest in math and found this project utterly fascinating.

You could easily make tessellations from regularly shaped objects (think hexagon beehive), but irregular tessellations are lovely.

Directions:
You need a small square of stiff paper. The thin cardboard from a cereal box would do very well.
1. Cut from the lower right corner to the upper right corner.
2. Slide the cut piece to the left. Tape flat sides together.
3. Cut from the original upper left corner to the upper right.
4. Slide that piece to the bottom. Tape from corner to corner. It will look something like this:

5. Trace the shape on the big paper. Then fit the shape to the tracing.

6. Repeat step 5 until your patience runs out.

Kiddo noticed a similarity between his shape and a ginko leaf.
Here's the book we used:

This post is part of the After School Link-up. (I've also linked up with Link & Learn.)

If you have been doing some after school projects this week, link them up below and visit my co-hosts at the following blogs:

The Educator's Spin on It

Little Wonders' Days

Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns

Just Playin' Around

Mama Smiles

Superheroes and Princesses

Magnetic Building "Blocks"

I got this marvelous idea from Teach Preschool: A DIY Magnetic Play Kit.

Simply glue strong magnets to cans and a variety of lids. I also put some magnets on the inside of the cans so metal objects like washers can magically stick to the cans.  I still need to get lids large enough for the slinky I found in the depths of our play bucket, (follow the link to see what I mean), but so far these "blocks" have been great fun.

They are especially fun for swinging around with a Telescoping Magnetic Wand!

I've linked this to Show & Share and Link & Learn.

Popularity Contest Countdown Smackdown! #9

My toddler dot-to-dot activity became the 9th most visited post on this blog because several people linked to it on Facebook, Pinterest and on their own blogs. Honestly, I didn't think people would find it such a clever idea, but I'm glad they did!

My 9th favorite post is a bit different. Way, waaaay back at the start of this blog, I wrote a little rant about the new and (un)improved Candyland. I quite enjoyed getting all of that out. As a bonus, you can also read the post I wrote about Chutes and Ladders a year later.

Weekend Snapshots

Love the weekend? Join the club. Want to share your weekend with the world? You've come to the right place. Link up a post which contains photos of your weekend or a day that felt like a weekend. Want to let others know how to share? Include a text link or my handy-dandy button (code in the sidebar).

This weekend was one of my favorite events of the year: The Brooklyn Museum's Children's Book Fair. Honestly, I felt like a groupie. David Ezra Stein? Squeal! Peter Brown? Double Squeal! Melanie Hope Greenberg? Oooh, I love her. Leslie Margolis? She outlined one of the greatest truths ever.* I could go on, but I don't want to embarrass myself further. Sadly, I didn't take any photos inside because it was quite crowded.

On our walk to the Museum, we spotted a European Starling. These birds are considered an invasive species and are only here in the States because someone thought all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's plays should be living in Central Park. So now they have taken over. Sigh.

A few years back the museum added a modern entrance and lobby. I'm sure some people want everything to be traditional, but I think it works very well and I just love the outdoor plaza with it's amphitheater-like benches and grass strips.

 I didn't spend too much money.

The boys love the jumping fountain outside the museum. Its unpredictability is exceedingly entertaining.

After the fair we attended a wonderfully clever performance variation of Peter and the Wolf, complete with shark, badger, an ice cream truck and Darth Vader, (What? You haven't heard that version?) in one of the Museum's theaters. (Yes, I know the photo is blurry...)

*"I have this theory: you can love unicorns or you can love boys, but you cannot love unicorn and boys." From Girl's Best Friend: A Maggie Brooklyn Mystery.

So.... what's up with you?

Friday Conversation

On our walk to Kiddo's school this morning I noticed it was was recycling pick up day one particular block:

Me: I am amazed that every single recycling bag on this street has incorrect items in it! Don't people know that means the whole bag might be thrown away as trash and nothing will get recycled?

Kiddo: Does that mean they are 'idiots'?

Me: (trying really hard not to laugh) No, it just means that they don't follow directions.

Pounding Practice

I realize this is a terrible photo, but if you get a piece of Styrofoam in a package (Do not buy Styrofoam! -- Gah!) it's a great platform for pounding. Find some suitable objects -- we used golf tees and these ridiculous plastic tabs that come in dress shirt collars (can you say "wasteful")  -- and pound away.

P.S. If you ever receive a package packed with plastic "peanuts" you can return them to your local UPS store for reuse. Please do so!

I've linked this to Link & Learn at No Time For Flash Cards.

Transportation Tuesday

Strange as it may seem, tray of unused rice and a few cars keeps New Kid occupied.

Popularity Contest Countdown Smackdown! #10

Just for fun, until the end of the year I am going to entertain you with a countdown of favorite posts! And to jazz it up a little bit I will pit the most popular posts of 2011 according to you Google Analytics against my favorite posts of all time.

So, enough chit chat. To the contenders!

#10. The tenth most visited post this year is Easiest Toddler Color Sorting Activity Ever.

It's easy to see why this is in the top 10 because a) you are lazy like me want easy activities to do with your child and b) "color sorting activity" is a much searched for term on Google.

My #10 is The Sharing Ball, which I first wrote back in 2009 and then later shared (pun intended) as a Friday Do-over. I like to look back on my parenting strategies with a selective memory so I can pretend they were all effective and The Sharing Ball always makes the cut!



Which 2 posts will be #9? Stay tuned!

Weekend Snapshots

Are you here to join Weekend Snapshots? Terrific! The Rules are easy: link up a post which contains photos of your weekend or a day that felt like a weekend. Want to win my heart? Include a text link or my handy-dandy button (code in the sidebar).

This weekend I tried to put to rest one of my lingering projects. I partly succeeded.

I've been meaning to make pillows for our bench and sofa out of some fabric that was a bit of a splurge.

I'm not a very good seamstress and I have a very old machine. Straight seems are my specialty so pillow are pretty much the most complicated project I can undertake.

I didn't have enough stuffing, so the project remains uncompleted. Plus, I might shorten this one.

This yellow color is rather an unusual choice for me, but it reminds me of something else:

the blazing golden ginkos that are currently adorning our neighborhood.

Keep Reading Those Picture Books

The buzz on the book blog-o-sphere is that this is National Picture Book Month. Sadly, I think many parents stop reading picture books to their kids after they learn to read on their own. Why? Why would they do this? Why?

I'm not going to rehash what more eloquent people have said already about why we should read picture books (read this good post at Wendy's Wanderings, though if you are curious), rather I will focus on one aspect of picture books I think older children might appreciate even more than younger children: the artwork.

Here are three picture books best appreciated by the over 5 set.

The Three Pigs. Even though New Kid wants me to read this book, only an older child (and adults, too!) can appreciate its meta-brilliancy and the subtle changes in artistic style. This is true for many of Wiesner's books, such as  Flotsam, which is truly meant to be studied. Not for nothing does Wiesner have three Caldecott golds (plus a silver).

Jumanji. Perhaps a bit surreal for the preschool set?

Along a Long Road. This might seem an unusual choice, but even though the graphics are bold and the text simple enough for my 2 year old to enjoy over and over (and over), I can tell that my 6 year old appreciates it more. Kiddo sat down with the book and explored the winding, continuous road (which never ends even through the end pages and book cover) and the reader's changing perspective of the bicyclist. This book is on the just-announced 2011 New York Times Best Illustrated Books list.

So what about you, if your children can read, have you slowed down on your picture book reading? Why or why not?

And just out of curiousity,  have you ever noticed how at library story time the adults are just as fascinated with the books as the children?

I'm linking to What My Child Is Reading and Book Sharing Monday.

Friday Do-Over: Threading Pipecleaners

Here's a blast from the past: a super easy pipecleaner threading idea. If you need more simple entertainment ideas check out my Indoor Activities for Kids page. First published 2/05/08.

As usual, Mom is late with the Unplugged Project. Mom got out the bag of pipe cleaners without any real plan in mind, just a vague idea of showing Kiddo how they can be manipulated. At first Kiddo made some twisties by twirling (sort of) the pipe cleaner around a spoon handle but then Mom got the idea of lacing and got out the hole puncher. The hole puncher was a bit too difficult for Kiddo to use on his own, so he set up where he wanted the hole in the paper and he and Mom squeezed the handle together.

He really liked poking the cleaners through the holes and so for a little light entertainment, Mom also got out some straws which were great for pushing the cleaners through. (That also kept him entertained by himself for a while) All in all, Mom was a little loosey-goosey with this week's project; we'll see what happens with collage: maybe she''ll get her act together.

In addition, this tunnel made an appearance.

Are you on Google+?

So, I have constantly debated how "social" I want to be with the blog. I really can't let it end up being a time suck and since I don't have a smart phone I don't have an internet IV drip hooked up to me (yet). Consequently, I am always forgetting to link my posts to Twitter and I never went public with a Facebook page. (Do you want one, or do you care? Do people really follow blogs via Facebook? I'm so out of it.)

Anyhoo... for some reason I just created a Google + page for this blog, so if you are interested, add it to your circles.

Who will be the first?

Hooray for Me!

One of my posts was featured on the front page of the book page at Blogher. Check it out here. Hooray!

Overflow -- Results

There were quite a few responses to last week's Overflow post, so let me just answer a few lingering questions which -- no doubt -- are keeping you up at night.

• There are 146 library books in that photo.
• The limit per card at Brooklyn Public Library is 99 books.
• We have three library cards.
• I did not check them all out at once!
• I rarely have fines because BPL has this brilliant system in which they send you an email 3 days before any books are due and so I have the option of either returning the books or simply renewing them online. I have several books which I have renewed over 40 times. However, we still have a high turnover of books.
• I also do not lose books. This is an advantage of living in a small apartment.
• The two baskets you see are supposed to be the library book baskets. Ha Ha. Now the bench houses most of our library book collection.
• We do, in fact, read them all. Most of them we read several times. I believe I have read Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site 12,076 times. But I'm not keeping track or anything.
• We don't have a car, but I have a very sturdy backpack and a stroller for transport. I also now tell Kiddo he can only check out what he can carry in his book bag (this hasn't really reduced our load, however)
• Yes, I make a sizable donation to the library every year since I estimate I save about $10,000 every year by not purchasing all the books we read.  I hope you consider doing the same.

We really, really, really love to read.

Weekend Snapshots

Time again to play Weekend Snapshots. The Rules are easy: link up a post which contains photos of your weekend or a day that felt like a weekend. Include a text link or my handy-dandy button (code in the sidebar). The best thing? Everyone's a winner.

This weekend was low-key. It was filled with the following:

cars, trucks, buses and trains

autumn gorgeous-ness

a downy woodpecker sighting.