I've been thinking about this blog lately, and I've decided to change it's direction a bit.  I still want to share all the fun things you can do with your toddler and your preschooler, but I find myself wanting to chat about more than just crafts and games.  

As a working mother, I don't get to do as much with the boys as I'd like to.  My day starts at 5am and we don't get back home until 7pm on my workdays.  That means I barely see them.  I don't like it, but it is what it is.  I work longer hours each day so that I can work a shorter week.  My commute is brutal (I spend nearly four hours a day commuting when you factor in the drop off/pick up time for the kids - I drive and take transit)  and there is no immediate end in sight for this.  My office is downtown, I live in the suburbs and I can't change work locations.  I have a job that I love and it makes financial sense for me to stay at.  And I think I'm not alone in this - there are plenty of other Moms in the same boat.

When you have a busy life and spend time away from the home, there are challenges.  There are also precious moments, spontaneous things happening, and lots of things to share with other parents.  I'd like to do that here.  Talk about what's important, what works, what maybe didn't work so well, and ensure that great ideas for family fun get shared with those that read this blog.

I haven't been able to write the newsletter, and I'm not sure that I'll be able to keep it up, but I will continue to write this blog.  It'll just be a little more 'newsy' and 'chatty'.    Kind of like having a conversation with a good friend.    When I find something I think is a great product, I'll tell you.  If I find a great recipe, I'll share it.  A fun family activity - you guessed it - I'll write about it.  I'll try to include pictures of things you might like to see, and good descriptions of those I can't get a photo of.

I hope you'll stick with me while I stretch my wings here - and I hope that you'll share, too.  Your comments are most welcome - and if you have great ideas to share, please don't be shy!!

Here's to a new beginning!

I wanted to share with you a great site that gives you lots of information if you are out and about with your wee ones.  It's called Wee Welcome and I've been to a few of their events and had a great time.  I also like that you can connect to each other through this (playgroups!) and share your opinions, blog and more.  I highly recommend it - and it's by a Canadian Mom, which is fabulous!  Lots of great contests, too.  Check out a Mama Mingle in your area - not one there, I see they are always looking for Mama's to join their team.

sign up via this link:

 http://www.weewelcome.ca/en/referral/7777851c

Or head over to weewelcome.ca

talking on the 'telephone'

This is a great little toy for your child - but you do have to supervise since it involves a length of string.  I remind my little guy that there is 'no putting it around your neck!'.

Project ingredients:

string
two paper or plastic cups
felts or crayons
scissors (for Mom or Dad)

Have your child colour the cups - this is a good sibling activity as they can each have one.  Once they are done - poke a small hole in the bottom of the cup.  cut your string to the length you wish - 4 or so feet should be good.  Push it from the outside to the inside of the cup and pull through until you can grab the end.  Tie a fat knot in it and pull the string back to the bottom of the cup so the knot holds it in place.  Do the same with the other cup.  They can speak into the cup or listen into it.  It's a old fashioned "telephone".

A Magic Wand - Rainy Day Fun

First off, I'd like to suggest an idea for active play on a rainy day.  My community has a recreational program - a leisure guide that comes out from the Parks and Recreation Department.  I noticed there are some drop in activities and today we will be going to one of them. It's a tot play activity where they take one of the gyms at the rec centre and pull out the mats, some gymnastics equipment, balls, hockey sticks, ride on toys etc. and the kids - all little ones - can go wild.  They can slide down the big slide made out of triangle mats, walk the balance beam, ride a toy, run, jump, play ball.  It's a great way to burn off energy indoors for the price tag of $4.50.

We are having a 'Mommy Day' where my toddler and I are having some one on one time and I know he'll love this.  We'll head over to Boston Pizza for 'bugs and cheese'  after (I'll just have a tea) and then off to play a little more together.  We don't get a lot of time for just the two of us, and I think this will make it a special day.

The other day he wanted a magic wand.  He was using a long stick that has a string/feather on the end for the cats.  Not such a great thing as he was nearly poking everyone in the eye.  So I checked the recycling bin, pulled out some cardboard, added a wooden spoon and voila!  We now have a star, stapled (and then taped as he kept pulling the staples, off, lol) to the top of the spoon.    It might say cheerios on one side - but he choose the writing side out and is happy with it like that.  It's been working it's magic ever since!

Egg Carton Caterpillars

This project is a classic.  I remember making them as a kid, too.  The concept is simple and easy for any age.  You just adjust your decorating objects according to the age and ability of your child. I've posted a picture here for you to see one of our recent examples. 

Supplies

• Egg carton - preferable cardboard  (if you re-use styrofoam, it doesn't colour/paint properly but glue works great)
• paints, crayons, felts (any or all)
• glue stick
• bits of feathers, paper, scraps of material, pompoms, string, buttons, beans, pasta - anything you can glue on
• stickers if your child is a bit small for easily using glue
• pipe cleaner (a twist tie will work if you don't have a pipe cleaner)
• scissors (for you to cut out the egg carton - safety scissors for older children to cut bits and pieces)

Cut the egg carton lengthwise to create a body.  Poke two small holes at one end at the top. Cut your pipecleaner in half, fold a little 'knot' at one end and thread through from underneath to create an antenna.  Repeat for the second hole.  (see picture for placement)

Let your child use their imagination to decorate their caterpillar.  There are no limits to how fancy they can be.   This little project is a great way to use up all kinds of recycled objects.

If you have a few children and only one carton, make the caterpillars little by cutting the long pieces in half - a three 'cup' caterpillar instead of a 6 'cup' one.  Just tell them they are baby caterpillars.

Little Mice are Nice!

Every child loves to get their hands dirty (ok, just about all of them, I do know some who prefer to be clean, lol) and this is perfect for that.  Not too messy, but fun.

For this project you will need the following:

stamp pad or paint on a plate
paper
pen, pencil crayons

Use the paint or stamp pad to ink up their thumb and press it on to the paper.  Do as many prints as you like, but leave space around them to finish the picture. Once the stamp/paint is dry enough, use the pen/pencils to draw tails and little ears, a nose, whiskers etc. and you've got thumbprint mice! 

If your child is interested - see what else you can create from thumbprints and fingerprints.  A puppy with a thumb body and fingerprint head?  A butterfly with four prints together for wings?  Let their imagine take hold and see where you go with it.

Welcome! - Supplies for Fun-Making

Welcome to the Toddler Times and Preschool Play Blog!  In order to help you get ready to have fun, I'm going to start a list of things to hang on to in order to have supplies on hand for 'fun-making'.   Having a bin of 'stuff' can really help on those rainy days when you want to create with your children.  This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I will add to it as I think of things so feel free to check back to this first post whenever you like.  You will also get a supply list when we share projects.

Things for your  FUN MAKING BOX:

toilet paper and paper towel rolls
empty jars with lids
the lids from frozen juice containers (round, no sharp edges)
egg cartons
bits of string
odd buttons
coloured tissue paper (great when you have leftovers from gifts)
wrapping paper
glue sticks
white non-toxic glue
safety scissors
tape
stapler (they make stapleless ones now, too) - good for little things
crayons/felts/colouring pencils/chalk
boxes of different sizes
scrap paper
charms, pretty threads, elastic string etc. - often comes on  packages like candy, card boxes
ribbon bits
construction paper, scrapbooking paper bits (your leftovers)
punch out shapes from coloured paper
cardboard pieces - both corrugated and inserts from packages are great
foam trays - washed in hot water with soap.
stickers, foam shapes  ( I keep a lot of the junk mail ones that you get - address, name, picture ones)
popsicle sticks
toothpicks
small plastic containers with lids if possible
coffee cans with lids
old cards
used stamps
stamp pads and ink (or paint  pads for littler ones)
sponges
paint and paint brushes
dry beans, peas, lentil etc.
dry pasta
string
shoelaces