Archive for the ‘Winter Wonderland’ Category

What an exciting two weeks of beating the winter blahs. I’ve had so much fun reading your comments and seeing snapshots into your winter experiences. I also wanted to say another thanks to SkylarKD for contributing a post to the Winter Wonderland.

And a very big thanks to the Winter Wonderland sponsors:

• Everyone Loves to Dance from Aaron Nigel Smith
• Personalized Gummi Labels from Sippy Stuff
• This Is Me Journal from This Is Me
• Dress Up Cape from yours truly at Because Babies Grow Up

Now for the winners! Lisa won Everyone Loves to Dance. Jeni won the Personalized Gummi Labels. Adventure Mom Janna won This Is Me Journal. And Hilary won the Dress-Up Cape and other accessories. Congratulations to all the winners. I’ve sent you emails; please respond to those email with shipping information so we can get your prizes to you.

I hope these posts help you enjoy the rest of the winter. I’m looking forward to February, Valentine’s Day and a visit from my mom. What are you looking forward to?

I love words. When I read, I am driven by the words on the page. As fast as I can absorb the words determines how quickly I turn the pages. This is fine for reading grown up books with few or no illustrations, but I tend to carry this over into my reading with the girls. I’ve really had to work at slowing down and looking at the pictures with them and answering the random questions that arise, entirely unrelated to the storyline, because of the illustrations. Even when I am trying consciously to allow time for studying the pictures, I still get caught up in the words. For this reason I now LOVE Chicken and Cat Clean Up.

Chicken and Cat Clean Up came to us from Scholastic for review. When Sammi first pulled it from the pile and wanted me to read it, I expected your typical picture book. But I was surprised when I opened the book and there were no words to read. I turned to the next page to see if there were words. None. I turned the page again. Hmmm. I was at a lost. So I went back to the beginning to figure out how to “read” this book to Sammi. But, Sammi’s observations and imagination came through to make this book a big hit.

We poured over the pictures on each page and looked for all the details that would help us understand the story. There is a little bit of print throughout the book, but almost all of it can be figured out through the illustrations. After we went through the book a couple of times, Sammi went off to her baby dolls to tell them the story over and over again. Then it occurred to me that this book was perfect for developing the early literacy narrative skill.

Storytelling is a part of developing literacy. When little ones understand the structure of stories, that they have a beginning, a middle and an end, they are better able to process the meaning of the words in the story. Retelling stories, or even making up their own, is great practice in developing literacy skills. I love to watch Sammi, and now Elli too, sit with a book and turn the pages as they retell the story to each other and their dolls. Sammi even has mastered holding the book facing away from her and “reading” it from the side. Elli is great at holding up the book and showing off the page to the whole room before turning the page and looking at the book herself again.

So, back to Chicken and Cat Clean Up. The illustrations are engaging, simple, but full of detail. The story is a bit of a page turner because you just wonder if it really could get any worse for poor Cat and then the ending is charming. I like this book not only for its strength in helping kids develop narrative skills necessary for literacy, but also because it created the opportunity for me to forget the words and lose myself in the illustrations. It really helped me experience literature from my little ones’ perspective; to remember what books are like when you can’t read; and how much joy there can be in that experience.

Use the code SSVDAY at Scholastic to receive 20% and free shipping if your order is $25 or more. This code is valid until Feb 1 (that’s Tuesday already!) This post is part of the Winter Wonderland Carnival. If you haven’t already, you can enter to win one of our great prizes from our fabulous sponsors. Please visit Join the Winter Wonderland and leave a comment. For an additional entry, you can also leave a comment on this post. We’ve also added this post to Adventu1re Mom Janna’s Feed Me Books Friday. Please visit to find other books to share with little ones!

What is your favorite story that you’ve heard your little one tell? What is your favorite story to tell you little one?

(Amber’s Note: We’re excited to have SkylarKD from Painting Pink Pajamas with us today. She and her little one, C, live in New Brunswick, Canada and are experts when it comes to making the most of the snow. Enjoy these tips!)

Creative Commons License photo credit: pjbeardsley

I’ll admit it; I don’t like winter very much.

I could happily hibernate for much of the season, but my February-born little girl is finally embracing her birth month and has been having a lot of fun in the snow this year. So, I’m trying to give us some more active time outdoors. Here are my tips on making winter more enjoyable for those of us who aren’t snow bunnies!

My first tip for winter activities is: Dress warmly! I don’t just mean the kids, I mean the adults too; because if you’re cold, you’re going to get cranky. That means sweaters, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, warm socks, boots, and legwarmers, long johns or snowpants. Buy good winter gear that is appropriate for your location. Where I live, we can have cold snaps where the temperature goes down to minus 30 or 40 degrees Celsius with the wind chill factor (that’s minus 22 to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit), so warm winter gear is a must. I’ve had a good ski jacket for several years, and this winter I bought myself a pair of Columbia boots which have made a big difference to my outdoor enjoyment.

My second tip is: Be prepared! If you’re driving to your destination, throw extra mittens, hats and scarves in the car. It’s never a bad idea to have a change of clothes in the car, whatever the season – just in case! Bring a lightweight sled to tow toddlers, and shovels and buckets for digging in the snow. Bring snacks, or plan to make a stop for snacks (my gal loves hot chocolate after winter fun). And always put tissues in your pockets to wipe cold, runny noses! If you’re walking, fill your pockets or consider carrying a tote bag or small backpack.

Third: Try to see winter through your child’s eyes. Although I might complain about the cold, I love seeing my daughter run, laugh and giggle as she plays in the snow. She loves to skate (on her bobskates), ski (with her toddler skis), go sliding/tobogganing and just generally muck around in the snow. She has so much fun that it makes me have fun too!

Fourth: Accept invitations! Many of our fun winter times have been when we’ve joined friends, either simply for a walk, or a planned activity. Sliding/tobogganing is so much more fun with a group, and a winter hike and picnic with friends gives kids a glimpse into what nature looks like during this season (just remember to wear snowpants or bring a waterproof picnic blanket). Try silly games when you’re with friends: building forts, having a snowball fight, or mix it up and play snow Frisbee!

So that’s a bit of my advice. They’re all simple tips, but following them has made our winter more enjoyable this year. Have fun!

SkylarKD
http://paintingpinkpajamas.blogspot.com

photo credit: pjbeardsley

Which of Skylar’s tips will help you and your little ones enjoy the winter weather the most?

One of our favorite winter activities has been curling up on the couch with a blanket and a stack of books to read. Sammi has definitely moved into longer picture books. I’ve been surprised at how long Elli also sits still on my lap and listens as I read these long books.

We received a few more books from Scholastic in the fall to review. Sammi’s instant favorite was from the series Adventures with Riley and is called the Polar Bear Puzzle. The first time we looked at it I thought it was going to be a flop. It’s a fictional story with nonfiction facts dotting the pages and running through the storyline. I didn’t think Sammi would like the length of the story. Boy was I wrong on all counts!

She loved learning about polar bears. She loved the storyline and the mixed media illustrations. After we read the book, she poured over each page remembering what information went with each picture. If she couldn’t exactly remember, she’d have me read it again, but then she went back to exploring the book on her own. She has carried that book around the house, to the store and even to bed on occasion for the last few months. I really am surprised that she picked such a sophisticated book to love.

That’s a credit to the book, I think. It took a difficult concept—global warming and its effects on the polar bear population—and made it come to life for Sammi. It’s been great to reinforce the winter season by talking about animals that depend on the cold weather as part of their life cycle.

Another book we received from Scholastic that has been a lot of fun for the girls is Marsupials by Nic Bishop. The photographs in this book are such a treat. There’s a lot of information on each marsupial. Honestly we haven’t read every word of every page, but one main sentence is larger and contrasted from the rest of the page. It serves to give us the main feel for the animal and then we also read the caption for the picture. I love that Sammi and Elli, too, both love looking at this nonfiction book. It’s a great introduction to using books to find facts because it makes the information accessible in a brief sentence without losing the depth of what older readers would want to find as well.

This post is part of Winter Wonderland. If you haven’t already, please enter to win one of the great prizes from our sponsors. Just leave a comment on Join the Winter Wonderland. For an additional entry, you can leave a comment on this post, too.

What books has your little one loved that surprised you?

On those crazy days where it’s blizzarding, thundering or just plain blustery, it’s necessary to have an energetic outlet for little ones. Music seems to be the number one solution I hear from parents to help their kids get the wiggles out. A close second for me is playing dress up.

I love dress up because it appeals to boys and girls equally. We’ve had so many boys over to play and they love getting into the clown outfits that were handed down to us from Brent’s childhood. They even like to accessorize with capes, boots and hats. Sammi loves these outfits just as much. In fact, we ended up at storytime at the library one day with her in one of the clown outfits. She was so insistent and I just didn’t have the heart to say no! Here’s a fun video of Sammi and a friend dressing up as clown super heroes. Just too cute!

They sure expended a lot of energy together and were more than ready for bedtime! The cape Sammi is wearing in that video has recently become her Snow White cloak. Sometimes the red cape Jack is wearing becomes a Little Red Riding Hood cape. I love how versatile the cape is in a dress up box. It’s a foundational piece, in my opinion, and belongs in every dress up box! It’s also super easy to make.

How to Make a Dress-Up Cape

• Cut one square of fabric 45 in x 25 in. Cut another strip of fabric of the same or contrasting fabric 45 in x 4 in.
• Hem the sides and bottom of the square piece of fabric.
• Using your sewing machine’s longest stitch setting, sew a running stitch across the (unhemmed) top of the square. You can sew a second line a little farther in the give the gather some stability.
• Mark the center with a safety pin. Gather the square using the running stitches you just sewed. Gather until the fabric measures 12 in across (6 in on each side of the safety pin.)
• Take the strip of fabric. Fold it in half lengthwise and press it. Then open flat. Fold the top half over to the crease (so it’s in fourths) and press the fold. Do the same for the bottom half. Then fold it all together so it’s like bias tape, which is basically how we’re using it. It should be 1 in tall now. Mark the center.
• Slide the gathered end of the square between the two sides of the strip, matching up the two center markers. Pin it securely in place making sure the top of the square goes all the way into the center fold of the strip. Then secure the rest of the square inside the strip with pins. Continue pinning the strip until you get to the ends. Turn the edges inside so that when you sew it there will be only smooth hems.
• Now it’s time to sew! Start at one end of the strip and sew down the short side and along until you get to the square. Continue sewing the square  and the strip together making sure that the front and back of the strip are sewn together. Then finish sewing the remainder of the strip and the other end.
• Now you have a finished cape with the strings to tie it on!

Sammi loved being a part of the process when I made this blue cape. From the second I started cutting the fabric she kept asking if she could wear it yet. Unfortunately for her, this cape is a gift. Fortunately for you, it’s a gift for one lucky entrant in the Winter Wonderland! I’ve also added a few surprises that are must-haves for any dress-up box. To enter, make sure you’ve left a comment on the Join the Winter Wonderland post. For additional entries, you can comment on this post, become a fan of Because Babies Grow Up on Facebook or Stumble any post in the Winter Wonderland Carnival (From January 18-January 31, 2010)

What are your favorite dress-up moments with your little ones?

We received the Gummi Label DIY in Shocking Pink from Sippy Stuff for review. I thought shocking pink was the most appropriate color since I am often shocked by how much Sammi and now Elli love pink! When the Gummi Labels arrived in the mail, we immediately opened them and put them on the girls’ sippy cups. Then I wrote each of their names on their cup and handed them out.

Sammi thought the whole thing was pretty cool. She loved having it on her cup and loved that it had her name on it. After lunch I filled their cups with water, as usual, and left them on the table for them to have whenever they wanted a drink. At dinner time, I ran around looking for their cups. I went into the play room and saw a few sippy cups but was able to identify the clean ones because of the Gummi Label. I liked that. It was an unexpected benefit of having the labels on the cups.

It has been a struggle for me to keep clean sippy cups on hand because they seem to go through so many in a day. But now that we’ve been using the Gummi Label, I always know which cup is from today and that helps us use fewer cups in one day. It’s also helped me be better at gathering up the day’s cups and get them in the dishwasher. I don’t know exactly how it triggered that cleaning button in me, but I’m happy it did!

The girls like having them on their cups so they ask for them. If I forget they run into the kitchen and show me where they are so I remember. They are easy to clean and to use.

As part of the Winter Wonderland, Sippy Stuff is offering a set of Personalized Gummi Labels to one winner! This giveaway is open until January 31 at 11:59 pm EST. To enter, make sure you leave a comment on Join the Winter Wonderland.  Then for additional entries you can do any of the following:

·         Tweet about the labels or the giveaway @sippystuff

·         Follow Sippy Stuff on Twitter at  http://twitter.com/sippystuff

·         Choose a favorite color and leave a comment on that color’s page.

·         Become a fan of Sippy Stuff on Facebook & leave a comment.

How do you organize and manage your little ones’ sippy cups?

Brent brought this recipe for marshmallow-y caramel popcorn home from work a few years ago. It has been a family favorite every since. It’s fast and easy and delicious. It’s not healthy, though But it does keep well in a bowl with a lid on tight. I like it because it’s not hard, crunchy caramel but rather soft, chewy caramel with marshmallows melted in. It definitely earns the name Yummy Popcorn!

You can print the picture of the recipe off and trim it down and it should fit nicely on a 3 by 5 card! It’s one you’ll want to keep to make again and again! We’re off to enjoy out bowl!

This post is part of the Winter Wonderland Carnival. To enter the giveaway for one of the amazing prizes donated by our sponsors, please visit Join the Winter Wonderland and leave a comment. For an additional entry, you can also leave a comment on this post.

What are your favorite easy treats?

We talked about making a snowman and other ways to enjoy the snow on Wednesday so I thought today we could bring that inside and make some snow-themed crafts. The snowflake craft is loosely based on a craft idea I saw in an Oriental Trading Company catalog. The snowman craft evolved from some snowman foam stickers we bought around Christmas time.

Snowflake Craft

I was trying to think of a way to help Sammi make a snowflake. The two problems I saw were 1)the paper couldn’t be folded too many times or she couldn’t cut through it and 2)the design couldn’t be very complicated. So, I folded the square just two times and then I drew some straight lines with a pink marker for her to follow. I was impressed that she actually stayed pretty close to the lines and in the end, it looked like a snowflake!

Then we traced her hands on pink paper with a pink marker, of course it had to be pink! Then I sprayed the back of the snowflake and hands with spray adhesive. I positioned the snowflake and hands on the blue paper myself, but these are things an older toddler or preschooler would love to do. Then I copied this poem onto the hands.

My hand is like a snowflake-
Unique in every way.
Please keep it close to your heart,
For I’ll be grown someday.

Here are two patterns you can print out for your little ones to try cutting their own snowflakes:

1. To print, click on the image to enlarge it.
2. Print from the browser’s print option.
3. It should print the width of an 8.5×11 piece of paper.
4. Fold on the dotted lines leaving the pink marking showing for your child to use as guides when cutting.

Snowman Crafts

I made these postcard size, but you could easily leave them as cards so little ones can write a letter on the inside and send them of to someone. All you need is paper, we used cardstock for its thickness and texture for water coloring, water colors (I recommend Crayola because the colors are so bright and it washes out nicely), brushes, spray adhesive, wax or parchment paper.

Snowman Sticker Craft

We had friends over and everyone water colored their own card. This photo is of the water coloring done by a 5 year old. I loved how she made a rainbow! After the paint dried, we added the snowman and snowflake stickers. Easy to do but has depth to it making it look more complex. Very impressive

Snowman Craft Using Wax Paper

For this card, I cut two snowmen out of wax paper. Then I used a temporary spray adhesive on the back and positioned them onto the card. The we water colored over the top of it. Once the paint dried, we removed the wax paper and it was perfectly white underneath. Then I went back and added embellishments with water color.

This post is part of the Winter Wonderland Blog Carnival. You can enter to win prizes donated by the Winter Wonderland sponsors by visit the first post in the carnival here. You can also earn an extra entry by commenting on this post, too!

What winter crafts do you like to do with your little ones?

I love journals. It’s the writer/storyteller in me that just goes wild when I get a new journal. As much as I enjoy opening a blank book and writing away, I love journals with prompts even more. I think I have a suppressed love of filling out forms. I don’t know where it came from, but it surfaces about tax time each year So I was really excited when Carrie Lundell agreed to feature her This Is Me journal as part of the Winter Wonderland carnival.

Aside from the prompts in the journal, I was drawn to Carrie’s slogan: Scrap the Scrapbook and Preserve the Personality! I have never been a very good scrapbooker and as the girls have gotten older and busier, I’ve fallen farther and farther behind in getting pictures in albums. Carrie’s slogan broke through my fog created by feelings of guilt and being overwhelmed and shone like the bright sun on a new day. I was pumped to share this journal with Sammi.

And Sammi did not disappoint! She was so excited that we got a book just for her and that she got to draw and write in it all by herself. Carrie had suggested reading the parent’s guide on the last page before beginning. So with an antsy preschooler at my side, I flipped to the back and scanned. The layout made it easy to ready quickly and absorb the tips so that in just a few moments I was ready to share the journal with Sammi.

I had her start by drawing her self portrait on the first page. In hindsight, I think I should have warmed her up to drawing herself before drawing on the actual first page. She grabbed her favorite color, pink, and scribbled away. After that, I gave her a piece of paper and talked about drawing herself and got a very adorable, 3-year-old’s perspective on what Sammi looks like to herself. I’m tucking that portrait in the pocket at the back of the book to keep to show her she did really draw herself, not just crazy pink lines.

We worked through the first few pages. I turned the prompts into questions I asked Sammi and then wrote down her answers. Some of my favorite are that her favorite thing about being 3 is going to preschool. But she doesn’t actually go to preschool! I haven’t found a program that has space so we’ve visited a few, but I’ve mostly decided to do preschool activities at home. Another favorite is that if she could have any pet, it would be an elephant. And then she drew this adorable picture of the elephant. It’s hard to see, but her elephant has seven legs and a tail. She was very pleased with the long trunk she drew (top left).

While we could get any book and so some of the same things, I would choose this keepsake journal for a few reasons. First, I love the design. It’s professional but appealing to kids. Second, the prompts are already there and, after flipping through the book, there are ideas I never would have thought to include. One last reason, because it’s already formatted and bound in a book, I’m more likely to finish it with Sammi over the course of the year and then keep it for her to look through in the future.

As part of the Winter Wonderland, Carrie is offering one This Is Me journal to a BBGU reader. Make sure you comment on the Join the Winter Wonderland post to enter the giveaway. You can also comment on this post for an extra in the giveaway. This giveaway is open until January 31 at 11:59 pm EST.

What memories have you preserved that are special to you know? Would they have been forgotten if you hadn’t done something to preserve them?

I love the first snow of winter! I love the first morning we wake up and there is frost covering the grass. The novelty of winter is exciting. But, come January, I’m feeling a little blah with the cold and often inconvenient weather. I’ve noticed, though, that the girls see the snow with new eyes every time. They rarely tire of going out to play. Most of the time I don’t want to hassle with it, but when I embrace their enthusiasm for the outdoors we have a fantastic time. Here are some ideas for outside activities in the snow and when there’s no snow.

Enjoying the Snow

Build a snowman! We get excited about building a snowman by singing Once There Was a Snowman while we gather winter clothes for the snowman. When we lived in Utah and had lots of snow, we would also make chairs out of snow and the girls loved climbing in them.

Make a snow angel! When Sammi was just 7 months old we had a pretty good snowfall. I bundled her up in her pink snow outfit and plopped her in the snow on our back porch. It was THE cutest snow angel to date that I’ve ever seen. The pic doesn’t do justice, but I couldn’t just leave her in the snow to take a picture! (She could have moved and ruined the snow angel!)

Sledding! The first time Brent took Sammi sledding was last year around Christmas. She was hesitant at first, but Brent wrapped her securely in his lap and down a little hill they went. She loved it and wanted to go again and again. Brent’s fondest winter memories are when his mom would drop him and some of his siblings off at the park and they would sled for a couple of hours at a time.

Enjoying the Lack of Snow

Watch your breath! On a cold morning, bundle up and head out. We have been fascinated by seeing our breath. Sammi and Elli both have noticed the cloud of air on a cold morning. We talk about how it comes from inside our mouth or nose and that makes it warm. In the cold winter air, the warm air from us looks like a cloud. Sammi got the idea that she was making the cloud appear. It was a great little science lesson.

Go for a walk! I love to wrap the girls up in blankets in the stroller and walk around the streets surrounding our house. They love being outside and getting the fresh air, but they are still warm under the blankets. I appreciate getting out and moving as much as they do. We usually talk about how things look different in the winter: trees, grass, animals (winter coats), etc.

Relish the sunshine! Even in Utah we had sunny days in the middle of January or February. Here we have them a bit more often. So when it’s sunny, even if it’s still a bit chilly, we dress appropriately and head outside to soak in the sun. We’ve had fun kicking or throwing balls around in the backyard. We’ve also gone to the park and played on any equipment that wasn’t wet or muddy.

No matter what you do, it’s terrific to get outside in the winter. It’s good to experience the cold, briefly, and let little ones understand first hand why gloves, hats, scarves and coats are important. For us, that has reduced a lot of fighting over getting bundled up. We went to the park yesterday. And while it was wet and Elli somehow managed to plant her dirty shoes right on my chest, spending time outside, being active was just what the girls, and I, needed.

It is recommended that children of all ages get at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. I know this winter has seen a drastic decline in the girls physical activity and I don’t know that we’re hitting that target. A lot of our activities are sedentary: reading books, crafts at the table, cooking meals, etc. I’m so glad for the great music we’ve discovered recently because that has really helped us get moving when we are indoors. Here are some additional ideas (year round) for indoors and outdoors activities to fill that 60 minute goal.

Comments on this post count as extra entries into the Winter Wonderland Carnival’s giveaways: Everyone Loves To Dance by Aaron Nigel Smith, Personalized Gummi Labels by Sippy Stuff, This Is Me Journal and a Dress-Up Cape from BBGU! Make sure you read about all the ways to enter the Winter Wonderland Carnival!

What are some of your favorite winter outside memories either from your life or your children’s lives?