Night at the Movies

We've made an extra effort this November and December to make memories at home.  While we've had fun out and about, too, there is something especially comforting about snuggling in at home together. 

Brian had the idea to re-create a movie theater experience!  It was far cheaper for our family of seven than going out,  we could attend in our PJs, and the little ones could go to bed mid-movie if need be. 

We popped some popcorn and put it in rolled down paper lunch sacks.  We put a small assortment of candy in bowls.  Brian gave each of the kids an Uno card to use for a ticket, and then we invited each one to wait in line to place an order at the kitchen counter. 

At this point, it little mattered what we watched (though they loved that, too)! 

How are you making memories this December?

Puppets at Christmas

I love how much my kids love to create and do art projects so I make an effort to surprise them with a new idea every few weeks.   I know many moms, though, struggle to bring out the art supplies or find the time (or energy) to wax creative... and that's okay!  Remember, nobody is having fun when you are losing your cool!

Maybe this Christmas, instead, you could try a creative activity that does not require glue, Play-Doh, glitter, or anything messy. 

I printed  free Christmas ornaments from Wild Olive on white cardstock, but instead of inserting hooks to hang them on our tree, I hot-glued popsicle sticks onto their backs to create a set of fun little puppets.  I printed both the Nativity set and the Santa set, though we play with them separately.  (It just doesn't seem right for the shepherds to be in the same story as the Nutcracker.)

These were so fun, easy, and inexpensive that I made a few extra sets to give as small gifts.

This, though, is a win-win for everyone.  Sure, the puppets will take a minute to assemble, but most of the work is done for you and the fun part is watching imagination come to life.

Size Sorting Busy Bag

Want an easy learning activity that you can pull together with things you have around the house? 

Begin by saving a variety of plastic or metal lids-- from the milk jug, the pizza sauce, the yogurt, the peanut butter jar, etc. Choose four or five in graduated sizes. Arrange them from smallest to biggest and trace the outline of each on a sheet of heavy paper.   You can label the paper like I did (or not!). 

Give your child the lids and the paper and have them match the sizes. 

It's a simple as that. 

Do you have any simple learning ideas?

Baking With Kids

You know, even though I want my children to learn to cook, and even though I love that they want to learn, most of the time I still would rather do it myself.  I'm faster alone and I'm a lot tidier, too.  Having little ones join me in the kitchen is one way to make me totter on the brink of losing my cool.  In other words, I do usually maintain my sanity, but it's not always easy. 

Here are a few of the techniques I employ to make sure that we all enjoy our kitchen time together: 

• Slow down!  I encourage the kids help when I'm not needing dinner on the table in 20 minutes.  When we have the luxury of time, I am more open to showing them how to crack an egg or measure the oats. 

• Give the child(ren) a specific job.  For example, I'll mix the dough myself, but ask a child to cut out the biscuits and put them on the pan.  Or...ask a child to man the mixer while I add ingredients.  Or...have someone  set the oven timer after I put the chicken in the oven.
  
  
  
  
  

• Let the child take charge of a box mix recipe.  If I'm cooking or baking alone, I almost always cook from scratch, but I keep a few box mixes in the house for the kids.  The instructions are simple and they're hard to mess up!  

• And sometimes I simply say, "No, I don't need help right now, but I'll let you lick the beater (or have a bite of dough) when I'm done. No one ever complains about that!

~*~*~*~*~*~

As a special week-of-Thanksgiving treat, I'm sharing one of our family's favorite autumn cookie recipe.  I bet they would make good Christmas cookies, too!

INGREDIENTS:
1½ cups sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
2¾  cups flour
1 t. baking soda
2 t. cream of tartar
½ t. salt

additional ¼ cup sugar
3 T cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream 1½ cups sugar and butter until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla, and beat well.  Add dry ingredients and blend well.  Roll ½ teaspoonfuls of dough in mixture of additional sugar and cinnamon.  Space balls 1 inch apart on cookie sheets.  Bake 8-10 minutes. 

A Number Gobbling Busy Bag (with free PDF download!)

Sharks and boys seem to go together.  That's what makes this busy bag so perfect for Benjamin, my 4-year-old who dislikes the idea of sitting down to do school, but loves the idea of an activity or game! 

The Number Gobbling Busy Bag teaches counting and number recognition and introduces preschoolers to the concepts of 'greater than' and 'less than' with a fun, hands-on game. 

Younger children count the colorful stars on each card and choose a shark to eat the larger amount. 

Older children switch to cards with written numerals and choose a shark to eat the larger number. 

 

Would you like to print one for your preschooler?
Click here for your FREE download!

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Busy bags are an excellent way to engage toddlers and preschoolers while the older children are doing schoolwork or homework.  They are also a way to occupy children who need to be quiet during church or at the doctor's office.  I am gradually introducing new busy bags into our morning school time with my 2-year-old and 4-year old. 

Would you be interested in hearing  about some of our other busy bags?