It’s our 50th Friday Faves!
50 years of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. RIP Eric Carle, June 25, 1929 – May 23, 2021
Kicking off the unofficial start to summer with this sweet recipe. Thanks, Taylor!
When you step outside, nature is truly happy to see you.
Be nice to people, they might have a newborn baby.
Stock up on summer beach reads!
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
By Michele
Now that the weather is warming up we are itching to spend mornings, afternoons, and evenings outdoors although it’s not always possible to have a beach day or even head to the park. When you can’t make it to the park or the playground because it’s too close to nap-time, dinner or bath, make time to get out even if that means for just a few minutes right outside your door. If you have a lush outdoor garden, a patio, balcony, or a front step; there are ways you can play and move in any type of outdoor space. Here are a few simple ideas to get a bit of fresh air and movement with your little one.
-Stretch on blankets and try baby yoga poses.
-Roll on the grass or on a soft mat. Try rolling your baby into the sunshine then into the shade for an interesting sensory experience.
-Walk around the backyard or around the block and look at the trees, flowers and even the weeds.
-Crawl on the ground and look for bugs hiding in the grass.
-Make animal movements such as hop like a bunny, climb like a squirrel, waddle like a duck, and flap like a bird.
-Incorporate simple obstacle course movements while you are outside by walking on a sidewalk crack, jumping over a tree root, kicking a rock, and stepping on the door mat and jumping off. You can also use some simple items to create fun obstacle courses outside like a piece of string to walk along, yoga blocks or wooden blocks for balancing, blankets for tumbling on or crawling under, sticks for jumping over.
-Make a sensory bin of pine cones, bigger rocks, clean leaves, flower petals and more to explore. Just make sure to sit close to supervise.
-Play kick the ball, catch, tag, or hide and seek with your toddler.
-Use those sprinklers and baby pools to sit and splash. Add plastic cups, legos, or any water friendly toys you can find. If you have a small space, a plastic bin with water works great too!
-Simply run around and catch bubbles in the air.
Now, go play! Outside!
Here are five things we sobbed over/gasped and applauded/tugged at our heart strings/are fasting for/are drinking this weekend!
The ultimate dueling pianos. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
It’s National Pizza Party Day!
Head down the shore with this thirst quencher
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
By Chelsie
Think about a time you went on vacation. Or to visit a new city for work. Or moved to a new town. Did you just get in the car and go? Or did you prepare by learning about the place, researching places to eat, stay, what season you will go in, what the weather will be like, thought about what you should pack, etc? Of course you did! Now, think about taking your child somewhere they have never been before. “We’re going to get a haircut today!” They may have never been here and have no clue what to expect. For all they know, they could be going to get a new toy, not sit in a chair wearing a trash bag and have someone come at you with scissors. As parents, one of our jobs is to help our children learn about their world, including daily routines and new experiences. So, to set them up for success instead of tears and failure, use a social story!
A social story is a short story or series of pictures describing a real life event. They are used to prepare someone for the event big and small. A dentist visit, haircut, first airplane ride, going to school, the grocery store, sleeping over at Grandmas, etc.
There are plenty of books available to buy or borrow from your library that can be used as social stories. The most effective will be those with real life pictures. A social story is a factual story.
You can also make your own. Take or print out pictures of all the steps that your child will go through during this event. The front of the dentist office, a picture of the receptionist, nurse, chair you will sit in, the dentist, and a picture of another person (preferably someone the same age) having their teeth checked by the dentist. Always end with a picture waving goodbye to the office or dentist. For something like a dental appointment, airport, or something far away, you can borrow a book like this from the library or print out pictures from the internet, (you could probably even find a picture of your exact dentist!), and staple them together as a book. You can flip through the pages together describing what is happening in each one. A social story also helps a child to understand what behavior is expected in these scenarios; seeing children sitting on the bus instead of running up and down the aisle, people wearing masks on the airplane, buckling your seat belt, using a quiet voice, etc. All of these things can be portrayed in the story through pictures.
You can use a social story for riding the bus to school for the first time or a going on an airplane. No matter the activity, whether it seems like a minor event to you, for your child, it’s a new, big deal. And a social story becomes practice for the real thing. When the real event is taking place you can say things like:
“Just like in our book!”
“Remember when the little boy got to sit in the special chair?”
“Look! She’s wearing the same thing as the nurse in the book!”
A social story can make the new event seem a bit more familiar and help ease your child’s anxiety, as well as your own!
Now, go play!
Here are five things we are counting down for/drooling over/thanked it wasn’t our kid/applauded/is in our cart this week…
Future astronaut in your house? Catch this space shuttle launch from your backyard.
Yesterday was national apple pie day. Are you a classic pie or do you like this quarantine version?
4 year old Noah accidentally purchased Spongebob popsicles from Amazon. $2,618 worth of popsicles. Popsicles.
Step it up Elon, your SNL stint didn’t help much.
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
By Michele
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. – Plato
When you think about music, your favorite music genre, or maybe even a favorite song, it will bring memories to the forefront of your mind, feelings to your heart, and a beat to your feet. It doesn’t matter if you are a fan of Rhianna or the Ramones, Sinatra or Swift; music in all its forms is amazing to listen to, dance to, sing a-long with and, most of all, to share with your baby! Studies have shown that exposing your child to music at a young age helps with brain development in a variety of areas such as language and reading skills, math, memory, self awareness, and social and emotional skills. Not only that, music brings us joy and a deeper connection to each other, our families and our culture. You have most likely already used music to soothe your tired baby or to encourage your toddler to clean up their toys. Making music part of your day in any and all forms is an easy and amazing way to enhance your child’s development. You don’t need a fancy sound system or a curated playlist. The radio and Pandora stations are great for background music during playtime. Silly songs are terrific for helping our little ones do all sorts of things from diaper changes to teeth brushing and rhymes and finger plays are perfect for waiting at the doctor’s office or in a line at the grocery store.
During playtime…play a variety of different musical styles in the background. You never know what might pique your child’s interest. Children’s stations are great but don’t feel like it has to be just “children’s” music. Choose a different genre each day and see what makes your baby bounce! Clap your hands to the beat and talk about the instruments
you hear. Your baby will be listening too!
Music can be a tool….to calm or excite. Need to get the wiggles out before bed? Use a fun dance playlist. When the last song is over its time to get in the tub. Play something relaxing during dinner time so there are less distractions and more eating. Are the kids crying and cranky? Try Rockabye Baby! lullaby renditions of Prince, Bowie, Snoop Dog and more. It will chill out everyone in the house.
Use music to move…bodies and minds. Music is great way to get your baby to move. Purchase a set of simple instruments like shakers and drums or make your own shaker with leftover plastic eggs or an empty plastic water bottle with some rice or beads inside (make sure to securely tape it shut) and use cardboard boxes, buckets or pots as
drums. Then play some upbeat music and watch your kiddo groove! Music can also be a great motivator. Use music to move your child’s body and mind by singing songs for changing diapers, getting dressed, cleaning up, potty time, brushing teeth and more. The sillier the better! Your child may help out too!
Connect through music…by listening together. Share music from your family’s culture or simply listen to your favorite music and sing, dance and play together. You will be creating long lasting memories and emotional connections to your little one that will bring them joy for a lifetime.
Now, go play!
Here are five things we chuckled at/ate for sure/agreed with/gave two thumbs up for/tried our hands at:
If Dad gave a press conference
Step up your Taco Tuesday game with sheet pan nachos.
What mom’s really want on Mother’s Day
Elli made a “get-to-know Willem” video for her brother, Willem’s new first grade class. Sister of the Year for sure.
To celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage month, try some origami self care!
Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele
We are celebrating this week by embracing Mexican culture and learning about the history of Cinco de Mayo. Today we are turning up the mariachi music and mixing up some of this guacamole from Chef Claudia Sandoval (Season Six winner of Master Chef). Kids love to help in the kitchen and it’s a lot easier than you think! Have them wash produce, mash up the avocado, mix in the ingredients, or have older toddlers practice safe cutting of vegetables.
INGREDIENTS
• 4 Large Hass avocados, ripe
• ½ Cup (90 g) chopped tomato
• ¼ Cup (35 g) minced onion
• 1 Tablespoon minced jalapeño chile (to taste, or none at all if your little has a sensitive tongue)
• ¼ Cup (10 g) chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• ½ Teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ¼ Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1 ½ Tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste
PREPARATION
Slice the avocados lengthwise around the pit and carefully remove the pit. Using a large spoon, scoop out the avocado flesh and place it in a large bowl. Using the back of a fork, mash the avocado until slightly smooth but still chunky. Mix in the tomato, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro. Add the salt and pepper, followed by the lime juice. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Serve immediately.
If your child is hesitant to try new foods, try serving it “deconstructed”. Provide each of the ingredients separately, whether on a plate, in small bowls or just on their tray table. Seeing all of the ingredients, maybe some of which are familiar, can be more inviting.
Now, go play!
Play to Grow 