Here are 5 things we
read/watched/listened to/ate/drank/laughed at/cried over
this week.
The cutest ghost you ever saw!
Separates or Seamless? Superheroes attire change with the times.
I’ll be trick or treating my own house throughout the night for this cozy cocktail.
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
Election Day is 1 week away and this may be the most popular and important election of our lifetime and possibly also our children’s lives. Teaching your child about the election process and our civic duty to vote may sound like a big mission for little ears but it’s a lot easier than you think to break it down to a level they will understand. To start, here at Play to Grow we believe that everyone is equal and important. We teach our children about the importance of empathy and respect for everyone, no matter their skin color, age, gender, disability, religion, culture, etc. We also provide examples and opportunities or ways to help dismantle the oppressive systems our society has perpetrated against people of color.
3 Steps to bring voting to the playground
With these three steps you are on your way to raising curious, confident, engaged citizens who understand their right to have their voices heard and know how to do so in a respectful manner. So tomorrow, hold a mock election and let us know what you are voting for. We are going to vote on Halloween movies for Saturday! My pick is Casper.
Now, go vote!
Here are 5 things we
read/watched/listened to/ate/drank/laughed at/cried over
this week.
“In 20 years, our country will be run by people homeschooled by day drinkers” I mean, it’s not wrong.
THE kid friendly comfort food for fall.
As if you need a reason to make coffee.
Start here for your holiday shopping.
When was the last time you sat on a swing?
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
This Halloween, like much of this year so far, is looking very different than we had initially planned. However, that will not deter us from making it memorable for our children and ourselves. We are planning to enjoy all of the spooky fun the holiday has to offer within the safety of our own homes by planning a Halloween themed adventure in the backyard complete with treats and lots of tricks (and by tricks we mean spooky sensory play). So let’s get started!
Treat Scavenger Hunt: Place treats around the backyard, the house, or just in the living room for your toddler to find. You could also take photos of the places or items where the treats are hidden (couch, play kitchen, bookshelf, toy dump truck) so that they know where to go to find their “treat”. Treats can mean anything you want, not just candy! We will be finding some sweets but also a new book to read, some new sidewalk chalk, stickers, even a roll of washi tape because…why not?
Wagon Hay Rides: Do you have a little red wagon? Put some hay inside, or cozy blankets and pillows and giddy-up. Go around the block or around the yard; it doesn’t matter. Your child will sit back and enjoy the ride! Don’t have a wagon? Use a stroller, bike trailer, or pull your child slowly on a blanket around the family room.
Pumpkin Roll: This is so simple but loads of fun. Grab some pumpkins, real or craft, and play! Roll them down a slide, make a ramp from some old cardboard, or just roll them down a hill. For babies, let them kick the pumpkins with their feet while lying on a blanket or push them with
their hands while lying on their tummy.
Autumn Leaves: Babies and children alike love this simply activity. Throw the leaves up and watch them come down on your head, your hands, everywhere! You can even buy fake leaves at the craft store or dollar store and play inside over and over again. Sing “Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down. Autumn leaves are falling down to the ground!” to the tune of London Bridge.
Peek-a-BOO: We have written about this perfect playtime activity before; so why not enjoy it on Halloween too? Use a white blanket or muslin cloth on your head like a friendly ghost. Let your toddler “scare” you with a “BOO” while you jump and gasp in a silly way. They will scream with delight at this game. You can also play while looking in the mirror together. Add some face
paint to make silly scarecrow faces on yourself and your child and watch their fascination. Just keep the wipes close by in case they get spooked.
Haunted House: Build a fort, but make it spooky! Add some pumpkin lights or battery candles, some felt ghosts flying overhead and a pumpkin or two. For babies, simply turn down the lights in the evening and let them watch the pumpkins light up or the candles flicker around the house.
Spooky Sensory Stations
Try one, or all, of these sensory play ideas with your baby and/or toddler. Even preschoolers will enjoy the spooky fun! Just make sure for any child that may place items in their mouths, you are monitoring for safety. You can also make most of these stations “taste safe” with a few modifications.
Pumpkin Carving Classic – Scoop out a pumpkin and carve it into a jack-o-lantern. Even babies can get involved by putting their hands in the the pumpkin goo (sans seeds).
Witch’s Brew – Use food coloring and water to make a bowl of “witchy water”. You can add items to the brew, like plastic bugs or frogs, or even pompoms, for toddler play. We also like the variation of using dried green lentils to make a witches stew. Then add dried black beans or black eyed peas to make it look spooky. Play by scooping it into bowls or mini cauldrons. For babies, use a small amount of colored water on a tray or cookie sheet to splash. Add the green lentils and black eyed peas to an empty clear bottle with a tight fitting lid for shaking!
Monster Stew – Another take on the “stew” is to cook long noodles and add some food coloring to the cooked pasta like green or purple. Then place the cooled noodles in a large bowl for exploring. Place some plastic bugs, frogs, bats, or whatever spooky items you can find for your toddler to add to the “stew”. For babies, over-cook the noodles so they are extra squishy or
place them inside a sealable plastic bag with the bugs and bats for baby to explore safely.
Spider Webs – Take the spider web decor and stretch it around a tree, the fence, a chair; whatever you can find! Add plastic spiders and let your little one pull them off or put them on: whichever way they want to play is the key! You can also “trap” some of their toys to rescue from the spider’s web. For babies, use some string to make a web along the top of a basket or
bin. Add some soft toys or squishy balls inside the basket so they have to reach between the string to pull out the toys.
Goblin Goo – You will need ziplock bags, clear hair gel, food coloring, and googly eyes. Place the “ingredients” in the bag, seal it up, then squish! (you can also double bag to prevent leaks)
We hope these ideas have inspired your own Halloween adventures!
Now, go play!
Michele and Chelsie
Here are five things we listened to/ate/loved/tried/made this week:
Headphones or surround sound, calming music for all.
Homemade Hamburger Helper, stepped UP
Pick your palette for family photos
Ask yourself these two questions every night.
Halloween Neighborhood House Tour
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie and Michele
With the holidays around the corner, where we would typically be greeted with grandparent visits and new toys (and toys and toys and toys) we thought it would be a good time to touch base on encourage turn taking and sharing. While this year may not pose a large gathering around the tree or visiting cousins and friends, that means even more of a reason for you to help your child practice these skills at home, so when there is the opportunity to play with others, they have the language and skill set to do so.
TIPS AND STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE TURN TAKING AND SHARING:
Helping children to share takes time, patience and some coaching and encouragement from you! Toddlers are learning about themselves, their individuality and their ability to possess things. Therefore, sharing is difficult at this age because they are learning that things can belong to others, their language skills are not sophisticated yet, and they do not have a clear understanding of time. However, with a bit of practice, your child will learn to share, and be ok with it!
Three quick tips to help your toddler to share:
Model: Show your child what sharing means by sharing your own time and things with them. Play on the floor with them and show them how to share in the moment. Offer choices to make sharing easier. During play dates, make sure there is plenty for everyone but keep a lookout for those opportunities when sharing and turn taking occurs. Then call it out and celebrate it!
Language and Feelings: Give your child the language to help facilitate their understanding of taking turns. For example, “I would like a turn.” and “I am not finished with this yet.” are tools that your child will learn with practice and then use to problem solve. Talking about your child’s feelings will help him/her to recognize their own feelings. Over time this will lead to their understanding and ability to recognize the feelings of others. i.e: “Are you afraid you won’t get a turn on the swing?” “Ryan looks sad. Do you think he would like a turn with your truck?”
Make it Concrete: Sharing is an abstract concept so begin with turn taking and waiting. Offer choices: “It’s Maggie’s turn with the truck. Would you like to play with the car until she is finished?” The waiting game: “You are waiting for your turn. Let’s count to ten!” “Let’s play with the doll until the timer goes off. Then it’s Joey’s turn!”
* Remember: Learning to take turns and share is a process and each child develops at his/her own pace. Keep practicing when the opportunity arises but feel free to let your child keep their beloved stuffed animal away from their cousins during the holidays . Or, if need be, distract your child with something else if it’s too difficult to wait their turn during a play date. The goal is to encourage and show that it feels good to share!
Now, go play!
Here are 5 things we
read/watched/listened to/ate/drank/laughed at/cried over
this week.
“Enjoy ya family, enjoy ya friends” A little throwback to celebrate the return of SNL.
Another food link, because sweater weather has got me wanting comfort food.
“He was like an angel who wanted to help me. It was a very emotional moment for me.” An actor, about a stray dog. 😀
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie and Michele
Looking for a few simple ways to honor and celebrate Indigenous People’s Day with your baby or toddler? We have a simple list of ideas to spark your curiosity and creativity so that you may celebrate with your family now and for years to come.
Read the book Cradle Me by Debby Slier which celebrates the Native American tradition of carrying babies on cradleboards. The images of Native American babies cuddled and cozy will delight curious minds. Then use your own baby carrier (or arms) to cuddle your little one and
take a walk to explore the change of seasons.
Gratitude is an important spiritual part of tribal culture and the practice of expressing gratitude with your child can become a simple yet powerful addition to your day. Begin by talking about what you are grateful for everyday day and it will quickly become a habit. As your child grows,
they will express their gratitude as well. Read the picture book, We Are Grateful by Traci Sorell and go on a gratitude scavenger hunt (try this one too! <–featured on our IG) to find people/objects/nature/colors that bring joy.
Indigenous tribes have a rich history of storytelling passed down through generations about their history, beliefs, and traditions. Storytelling is a perfect activity for all ages and there is a wealth of beautiful Native American stories to tell your child throughout the year. You can find many
authentic stories online or choose a book that illustrates a Native American legend. Then tell familial stories to your child about their own heritage, history, and traditions.
Watch Molly of Denali on PBS with your toddler and preschooler. The show’s central character is an Alaskan Native girl who, along with her dog and friends, goes on adventures in Alaska. PBS also offers insightful articles, links, and information for parents to further discussion and understanding of the episodes.
Commit to a change that benefits Mother Earth. Indigenous people have honored and respected the environment for thousands of years and are committed to saving it: we should too. It’s ok to start small; the important thing is to commit and continue. This fall we are going to commit to eliminating single use plastics in our home.
Continue to read, research and learn about Indigenous Tribes and share your love of learning with your child. Knowledge of other cultures brings understanding, empathy, acceptance and appreciation of all people. Start with learning which Native American tribal land you live on and learn about the tribe and their people. Many indigenous tribes have websites with information, history, stories, upcoming events, and ways to donate.
https://nanticoke-lenape.info/
Here are some more interesting, informative, and helpful resources:
Native American Children’s Books
Native American Stories
What is Indigineous People’s Day?
Is it Columbus Day or Indigineous People’s Day?
Indigenous Knowledge Undervalued
Winning the Fight Against Plastic Pollution
Now, go celebrate!
Michele and Chelsie
Here are 5 things we
saw/read/enjoyed/cried over/laughed at/ate/listened to
this week.
What to do with all of those apples from the farm? Apple Nachos!
How do you keep twins a secret, for NINE MONTHS?
If the sweater is described as “oversized cozy”, I’ll take one in each color please.
He thought he would never play piano again. This video gives us all the feels.
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie and Michele
Play to Grow 