Work It Wednesday: Get A Move On Part 2

We are loving the information found at Kid's Health.  We all know these days it gets harder and harder to get your little one to be active.  The more creative you can be, the better and their website has so many ideas to get your kiddo up on their feet.

Here's just a few ideas we found:

Move Like A...

As you and your child do chores around the house have them Move Like A (bee, dog, cat, etc).  Call out different animals each time and encourage your child to mimic that animals movement.  What a great way to make chores more fun!

Story Time

The next time you read your child's favorite story have them move along!  For example, if the people in the story are running, encourage your kids to run in place.  If the people in the story are dancing, start grooving!  You can also come up with your own action stories as you climb up trees, jump over puddles, and dance in the rain!

Trendy Tuesday: Spring is here

We have added pictures of our new Splendid Littles, Little Ella, and Cotton Caboodle apparel to our Facebook page.  We are adding new merchandise daily this week so make sure to check it out!

Mommy Monday: Tips from Charmaine

Today for Mommy Monday we wanted to share some Mommy tips from one of our owners and Kidville Dallas Mayor, Charmaine Tang.  Earlier this week Charmaine met with the Armstrong-Bradfield Preschool Association and shared some of her ideas on fun, easy, simple things to do with your kiddos!  Bonus: most of these ideas revolve around items you already have in your house!

The next few Mommy Mondays we will be sharing Charmaine's ideas!

PAINTING

·       Babies and Young Toddlers:  Finger painting with food! 

o   Baby food as a palette

o   Carrots, peas, chocolate pudding, yogurt

o   High chair, plate, slice of toast is your canvas

·       Toddlers:  Painting and Introducing the Unexpected! 

o   Washable paints

o   Use unconventional items – golf balls, corn cobs, cut-up sponges, cotton balls

o   Stamping - marshmallows, apple halves, lemons as stamps

o   Paint with hands and feet (we do this in our My Big Messy Art Class)

o   Have a dedicated space to be uninhibited or take the fun outside

·       Preschoolers:  Fine Motor and Creativity   

o   Incorporate different paints – glitter, watercolors

o   Introduce 3-D materials – popsicle sticks, pom poms, wood, clay, etc.

o   Collages are a blast – use construction paper, tissue paper, cotton, newspaper, magazines, stickers

·       Kindergarteners:  Their Own Interpretation   

o   Print real works of art and have your child make their own version

o   Jackson Pollack, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh, have fun with it!

o   Use favorite places and books are inspiration as well

·       Less Mess Ways to Channel Your Little Artiste   

o   Crayola dot markers

o   Melissa & Doug triangular crayons

o   Crayola window crayons

o   Large washable ink-pads

o   Rubbings – take leaves, colander, textured items and run with a crayon

o   Make an Art Box –personalize the box, include pencils, pens, markers, crayons, more

o   Every house needs an easel, dry erase board, paper rolls

Scissors and Scotch Tape Saturday: Finger Painting Canvas

Have your kiddos create new artwork for your walls this weekend!  Purchase a canvas of any size at a craft store (we like Discount School Supply) and tape off your child's name with painter's tape.

Lay the canvas on a drop cloth and let your kiddo finger paint until their heart's content.

Once the paint is dry, remove the tape and your child's name will still be there!

Another option, paint the entire canvas a solid color (lighter is better), then tape off your kiddo's name.  Have them finger paint over the tape with coordinating colors to the canvas.  When you remove the tape you will have a piece of artwork that goes along with any color scheme you choose.

Encourage your little artists to be creative and HAVE FUN!

Favorite Fridays: Kelley and Jake

Favorite Fridays

This week's Favorite Friday is our member Kelley and her son Jake!  These 2 are so much fun to have in classes and hanging out at Kidville.

Jake and Kelley's favorite things about Kidville are My Big Messy Art Class 

and our Indoor Play Village!

Tasty Thursday: Rainbow Poptarts

Are your kiddos tired of the same ol' thing for breakfast?  Do you want your little ones to eat more fruit?
Well these Rainbow Poptarts found at the Family Kitchen Blog are perfect for you!

What you need:

• 8 raspberries, diced
• 1/2 peach, peeled and diced
• 8 mandarin oranges, diced
• 1 kiwi, peeled and diced
• 10-12 blueberries, diced
• 6-8 blackberries, diced
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 uncooked pie crust
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
• dash of almond extract (optional)
• 2 tablespoons half & half or whole milk
• red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple

What you do:

• Mix together the sugar and cornstarch and sprinkle it over your fruit.
• Cut the pie crust into four equal sized rectangles, approximately 3″x 4 1/2″ inches. 
• Spoon the raspberries, peaches, oranges, kiwi’s, blueberries, and blackberries in layers in the center of two of the rectangles.
•  Place the second rectangle of dough gently over the filling and use a fork to press the edges of the poptart together. 
• Transfer carefully to a baking sheet. 
• Bake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the poptarts are golden brown.
• In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk or cream. 
• Transfer the icing into 6 small, ziptop bags. Drop food coloring into each bag, tinting the icing red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. 
• Work the food coloring into the icingby smooshing the bag with your fingers until the icing is evenly colored.   

Snip a small portion off the corner of each bag. Pipe the frosting over your cooked poptarts in rainbow order.

This recipe makes 2 poptarts!  Enjoy!

Work It Wednesday: Get A Move On

Work It Wednesday!

Move Together

Look at me! Look at you! 
Look what our bodies can do.
Dance! Dance!Run! Run!Moving our bodies is so much fun! 
We can jump. Jump! 
We can hop. Hop!  We can wiggle. Wiggle!  We can stop. Stop!  We can twist. Twist!We can tap. Tap!We can stomp. Stomp!We can clap. Clap!
And we can sit...sit 
And we can rest...rest
So that we can be our very best.
We whisper. We breathe.
We smile and then,
We start to move all over again! 


We found this poem on the great website Kid's Health.  This site features the Healthy Habits for Life Resource Kit which has some great ideas about healthy lifestyle for little ones.  You can print the resource kit (around 100 pages) on their site but we will be featuring different excerpts on our Work It Wednesday posts.


You're probably thinking, "Gee that poem is cute and all but how the heck do I use it to I get my couch potatoes up and moving?"  Well here's your answer:

Read this poem together with your children and when you come to an "action word" have them demonstrate it.  For example when you say "We can jump. Jump!" encourage your kiddos to jump as high as they can! Once you've gone through this a few times, have your children make up new action words.  Encourage them to be as silly and as active as possible.  The more times you read this poem, the more active your kids become!

Trendy Tuesday: Bari Lynn Bling

We love our bling and know that your girls do too!  

Come in and grab these Bari Lynn crystal bangles.  

They're stackable and come in every color to go with any outfit!

Pick yours up today!

Mommy Monday: 101 Things...

Mommy Monday

Sometimes it seems like we get stuck in a rut with our little ones.  The same routine: eat, play, nap, eat, play, nap, etc..... it can start to get a little old.

Well NOT anymore.  Thanks to the Counting On Me blog for showing us there is so much more to do with our toddlers!  Use the following list, get creative, really try to step out of the box!


101 Things To Do With Your Toddler:

1. Color
2. Blow Bubbles
3. Play Hide-and-Seek
4. Peek-a-Boo
5. Play Chase
6. Do Finger-plays
7. Sing a song
8. Collect rocks in a basket
9. Make an obstacle course out of cushions and/or furniture
10. Make a fort out of cushions and sheets
11. Go for a Walk
12. Make a Car out of a Box
13. Read a book
14. Go to the park
15. Finger-paint
16. Play with Play-Dough
17. Toss Bean bags into a Bucket
18. Play the shell and pea game
19. Dance to music
20. Download games for toddlers from the Internet
21. Practice putting things in and taking things out of boxes and bags
22. Make a temporary slide out of a table leaf and your couch
23. Roll a ball back and forth on the floor
24. Scoop dirt or sand into a child's bucket (or use a serving spoon and bowl)
25. Practice climbing by stacking boxes on top of each other (only with adult supervision)
26. Put on a puppet show
27. Go fishing with a yard stick and yarn
28. Make a Horseshoe game
29. Make a Shape Puzzle
30. Play paper basketball
31. Run through a Sprinkler
32. Play with a bucket of water and a sponge (PLEASE WATCH CHILD AT ALL TIMES!)
33. Make a Drum out of an oatmeal box
34. Play with a kazoo
35. Wash windows together
36. Bang on Pots and Pans with a spoon
37. Brush each other's teeth
38. Play dress-up with stuffed animals and your child's clothes
39. Stack canned or boxed food on top of each other
40. Let child stack mixing bowls inside each other
41. Make a playhouse out of a large box
42. Let child play with a sticker sheet (make sure your child doesn't eat them!)
43. Put stickers on fingers for finger puppets
44. Play a musical instrument together- i.e.recorder, piano, etc.
45. Go on a Smelling Hunt
46. Frost Cookies
47. Plant a flower or vegetable plant together
48. Roll a tennis ball into an empty trash can or bucket
49. Draw on a mirror with dry-erase markers
50. Play hide and seek together- trying to find a stuffed animal or other object
51. Have a splash party together in the bathtub
52. Put a leash on a stuffed animal and walk around the house
53. Record each other on a tape recorder (great for scrapbooks or journals!)
54. Make and try on paper hats
55. Give a piggy-back ride
56. Play "Horsey"
57. Talk into an electric fan (it distorts your voice)
58. Play tug-of-war with a blanket
59. Collect flowers (felt, artificial, real...)
60. Make a camera and go on a Safari
61. Play games with frozen juice lids
62. Disconnect your phone and pretend to make phone calls to relatives
63. Leave your phone connected and really make phone calls to relatives- let your child talk too
64. String large beads onto or along a shoelace
65. Squirt each other with squirt bottles
66. Glue shapes onto paper
67. Make sock puppets
68. Make paper puppets
69. Fill an old purse with toys
70. Use a paper towel tube as a megaphone
71. Make binoculars and go "Bird Watching" or "Stuffed Animal Watching"
72. Put snacks in different fun containers (paper sacks, empty canisters, etc.)
73. Act out a story from a book
74. Walk on a balance beam- use a 2x4 placed on the ground
75. Draw with chalk on the sidewalk
76. Sketch an outline of your child on the sidewalk or paper with chalk
77. Paint child's palms with tempura paint and blot on paper. Makes a great card for loved ones!
78. Put lipstick on child and kiss a mirror
79. Make a puddle on cement and splash barefoot in it
80. Let child decorate and eat an open peanut butter sandwich
81. Make a toilet paper barricade for child to go under, over, or through
82. Do the Hokey Pokey
83. Make a super-hero costume out of household items
84. Do Knee-Bouncing Rhymes
85. Play "Red Light, Green Light" saying "Go" and "Stop"
86. Make a shoe-box train for stuffed animals
87. Make a pillow pile to jump on (keep it clear from any hard surfaces, including walls!)
88. Make an easy puzzle with felt and Velcro
89. Make bracelets or collars for stuffed animals out of pipe cleaners and jingle bells
90. Learn numbers from a deck of cards
91. Play the matching game with a deck of cards
92. Make a domino chain
93. Have a picnic in the park, backyard, or living room!
94. Play dress up in Mommy or Daddy's clothes
95. Make a tin cup telephone and talk to each other in it
96. Make a nature collage
97. Mirror each other
98. Make a "Mummy Mommy" with toilet paper
99. Make a tape recording of short music selections and instructions to move in different ways
100. Make and walk along a toilet paper trail
101. TAKE A NAP!

Scissors and Scotch Tape Saturday: Eye Spy Bottles

Scissors and Scotch Tape Saturdays! 

Eye Spy Bottles

These colorful baubles are fun to make and will keep your kiddos entertained for hours!  

They are GREAT for road trips!

We found this idea over at Pink and Green Mama and all of these photos are from her project!

 First, start with a bottle that from your recycle bin.  

Next find trinkets in a variety of colors to go into your bottles (erasers, army men, buttons, birthday candles, dice, paper clips, feathers, pennies, etc...anything goes).

Make a list of all of your trinkets and what color each one is.  If you want to get fancy you can take color coordinated pictures like these:

This step will come in handy later when your kiddos actually play the Eye Spy Bottle games.

Next, fill the bottles with your trinkets and Rainbow Rice super glue the lids shut!

Here are some different ways to enjoy your Eye Spy Bottles:

1. Pick a color group and see how many trinkets you can find (this is where the lists or pictures will come in handy)

2. Make up a silly story (like Mad Libs) using the trinkets you find:

Once upon a time there was a shiny penny

that had a pet birthday candle.

Her best friend was a green army man.

3. See who can be the first to find everything on your list

Get creative and see how many games you can play with your Eye Spy Bottles!

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!  We hope you've enjoyed all of your 

Valentine's Day goodies and crafts, we sure did!

This week's Friday Favorites is our member Becca and her sons Bryce and Drake.

(Drake moves so fast in our Indoor Playvillage that we couldn't get a good picture of him)

Becca is famous around Kidville!  

Her family has taken several classes, had a Kidville Birthday Party 

participated in the Parent Education Series, and she is a frequent shopper in the Kidville Boutique.

Here's what this mom of 2 has to say about us:

"Kidville is truly a one-stop shop.  It's so great to have a place that I can take my kids to play, learn, shop, and even get their hair cut.  We utilize every part of Kidville and we love it!"

Tasty Thursdays: Bagel Smiles

Tasty Thursdays!

Bagel Smiles

We found these on a great site, Recipe Goldmine and fell in love with how cute they were!

These bagels are a fun and creative way to get your little ones to eat more vegetables.

What you'll need:

Whole wheat bagels (cut in half)

1/4 cup Ranch dressing

1/4 cup whipped cream cheese

Bagel face decorations:

Cheese slices (we like American)

asparagus spears

cucumber slices

cherry tomatoes (halved)

shredded carrots

red bell pepper

raisins

What to do:

Toast bagel halves

Mix Ranch dressing and cream cheese together; spread evenly on bagels

Have your kids get creative with their bagel smiles:

Use broccoli and shredded carrots for the hair

bell pepper strips for a scarf

cucumbers and raisins for eyes

cut the cheese slices into hats

Make a game out of it.  See who can make the silliest face, who can make their bales look like mom & dad, who can do the best self portrait.  Be creative and have fun!

Work It Wednesday: Strike a Pose

In this day and age, with iPads, iPods, gaming systems, etc, it's often hard to get your kiddos to do something active.  Well why not be a great example?  Instead of heading to your scheduled yoga class at the gym, grab your little one and "ohm" together!

We found these great poses from www.parents.com which is always a great source for any of your mommy needs!


Pose #1 - Two Trees

Start standing side by side, feet planted, toes facing forward.

Bend your right knee and slide your foot up the inside of your left leg and rest it on your calf (for more advanced Yogis you can rest it on your thigh).

Now raise your arms like branches towards the sky and spread your fingers.
Hold for 5 seconds.

Lower your arms and legs and repeat on with the left foot.




Pose # 2 - Froggy Jumps

Start with feet shoulder width apart and hands pressed together with elbows pointing out.

Slowly lower your lower half to the ground.

When one of you yells "Ribbit" the other one has to jump as high as they can.

Keep your hands pressed together and toes pointed!

Return to squat position and repeat 10 times!



Pose #3 - Kissing Turtles

Sit facing each other with legs apart, knees bent, and feet flat on the ground.

Place your arms underneath your knees with palms flat on the ground, behind your heels.

Lower your head as close as you can to the ground - just like a turtle!

Make kissing noises to each other as you come back up.

Repeat 5 times.


For more yoga poses click here!

Trendy Tuesdays: Splendid Stripes

Welcome to Trendy Tuesdays!  Each Tuesday we will feature 

new items in the Kidville Boutique 

so you can make sure your fashionistas have the latest duds!

Stripes are going to be HUGE this Spring 

and Splendid Littles has some fabulous options for your kiddos!

Oasis Stripe Dress available in sizes 2T-6X

Oasis Stripe Set available in sizes 2T-6X

Oasis Stripe tunic and legging available in sizes 2T-6X

Come in to the Kidville Boutique and pick up these great finds and MORE!

Mommy Monday: Monster Spray

Welcome to Mommy Monday!  Every Monday we will feature tips and tricks for moms and maybe throw in some humor too....cause as a mom humor is a must-have!

Is your child afraid of monsters?  Then you need Monster Spray!

We found this on Pinterest and thought this would be a great way to 

help your little ones conquer their fear of 

big, hairy, scary MONSTERS!

All you need is a Febreze bottle with the labels peeled off.  

Visit your local craft store and stock up on monster stickers and decals.  

Let your little monster decorate the bottle with all of the scary stickers and 

label it MONSTER SPRAY!

Each night before bed have your kiddo go on a Monster Hunt.  Spray all around their room, in their closet, and underneath their bed for monsters (bonus of the Febreze: your child's room will smell great). 

 Let them keep the bottle on their bedside table in case they wake up in the

 middle of the night faced with this guy:

Happy Monster Hunting!

Scissors and Scotch Tape Saturday: Valentine's Day Crafts

Welcome to Scissors and Scotch Tape Saturdays!  Each week we will feature a arts & crafts ideas that your little one will LOVE.

The day of hearts, flowers, candy, chocolates, and little cupids is almost here!  

Here are several ideas for Valentine's crafts for the little sweetheart in your life!

Butterfly Valentines 

Skip to My Lou has an adorable FREE printable Valentine.  

Add a lollipop of your choice and VOILA!  Cute and tasty Valentines that will set hearts a'flutter.

Finger Puppets

What you'll need: 

Scissors, red, white, and pink poster board, glue

How to make:

1. Cut out a three-inch paper heart and a one-inch paper heart from red (or pink) poster board.
2.  Make two finger holes in the top of the large heart.
3. Draw a face on the smaller one.
4. Overlap pointed ends of the hearts and glue these together.
5. Accordion-fold strips of paper and glue these to the heart for arms.
6. Place your fingers inside the holes and manipulate these heart puppets. 
7. Kids will enjoy working the puppets alone. Make up a story together about this Valentine puppet or sing a favorite song.

Little Lovebug

We got this idea from Adventuring Smiths.  So cute!

What you need:

- Paint: Red & Pink (or white to mix with red to make pink) 

- White Paper 

- Marker

 - Paint brush 

- Paper towels 

- Pipe cleaner 

- Glue

Directions:

1. Paint your child's foot red.  

For the wiggle worms, is quickest and easiest to spread the paint with a paper towel.

2. Press foot down in center of paper and wash foot.

3. Paint child's left hand with pink paint and press onto left side of footprint.  Wash hand.

4. Paint child's right hand with pink paint and press onto right side of footprint.  Wash hand. 

5. Let paint dry completely.

6. Cut pipe cleaner in half and shape into antennae.

7. Glue in place on top of the footprint.

8. Have your little one draw a face on your love bug.

9. Don't forget to have them sign and date it as well.