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Today We’re Gonna Party Like We Don’t Have A Bedtime…
(Channeling my inner Prince with that title, obviously. You’ve just gotta when New Years rolls around! It’s like, a law, or something).
You guys may have noticed that although I am a mom to more than one child, #thebigone seems to be the only one making any appearances here on the blog. Sure, #thelittleone pops up on my Instagram feed now and then, as well as my Facebook page, but truthfully, there’s only so much time for me to include the toddler in our fun when he’s still napping a total of 3-4 hours each day, and is usually asleep by 8 pm each night. Although we spend lots of time playing and reading together while #thebigone is attending first grade each day, another resolution for me in 2017 is to help be sure #thelittleone gets some new and fun hands on activities of his own.
I decided to start working towards meeting this goal right away, and put together a very simple, quick, and affordable sensory activity for #thelitleone, in honor of the new year. He turned 17 months old earlier this week, and is happily always on the move, and immensely interested in anything noisy or musical. I decided some New Year’s noisemakers would be a fun opportunity for him to explore some new sounds, as well as a bit of cause and effect.
[I’m just going to throw a little disclaimer in right here… noisy fun & crazy kiddo make for non-stop movement, so the pictures in this post aren’t going to be the best… But I figured, hey, the blurs prove he was on-the-go and loving this activity! And also, how cute is my kid?! That little tuxedo sweater?! I couldn’t not include the photos- so we’re just going to call them all action shots. Deal?)
I assembled the noisemakers earlier this week, and then my husband and I just gave #thelittleone free reign in the playroom to check them out. (Biggest benefit of holiday break was my hubs home to help run interference with the kiddos while I tried to work!) #thelittleone was immediately drawn to the sensory toys I had put together- he was digging into the little bin so quick I could barely grab a camera to capture the fun. He played with everything for a good 20 minutes (so essentially, 3 hours, in toddler-time), running around the playroom, shrieking happily and shaking his noisemakers.
Check below for a quick peek at how I put together these fun sensory toys, and then let me know in the comments… When you’re making resolutions, do any of them have to do with your children, or your personal parenting goals?
These noisemakers come together very quickly, and were made entirely with things I had at home, or found during a quick trip to our local dollar store. The materials I show here are just suggestions- you can use any variety of things just as easily, so be sure to check your own craft bins before heading out to make a purchase. You very likely have some perfect ingredients right under your nose!
- Plastic containers with screw on lids. I chose bright colors, because that screams ‘party’ to me, but color choices are up to you! As long as you’re watching your little one very closely whenever they play with these, it’s not necessary to glue the lids on, so you can empty and refill with different items as often as you’d like. Just be sure the lids do not come off easily while playing, which is why I prefer screw on to the plain pull-off lids. Be sure to store them out of reach when sensory time is over.
- Assorted ‘fillers’- I chose to stick with color themes, because the tendency towards matchy-matchy is strong in me, but really, this is very open ended. I knew I wanted a variety of items to produce varying sounds and add some visual interest, so mix and match is definitely a good way to go here. I included different combinations of:
- Perler beads
- Pony beads (round and heart shaped)
- Pom-poms (plain and metallic, because you know you need at least a little glitze for a New Year’s celebration!)
- Glow sticks
- Strings of beads, some cut into varying lengths
- Jingle bells (ours happened to be red)
- Other filler options to consider…
- Pipe cleaners, perhaps twisted in shapes (spirals sound particularly fun!)
- Shredded gift filler
- Short cuts of old tinsel Christmas tree gardland
- Buttons
- Rhinestones
- We’ve also filled other noisemakers with some basic kitchen staples, and gotten great results. Just be sure your lids are secure, the potential for mess increases dramatically here!
- Dried beans (varying sizes)
- Dry rice (varying grain sizes)
- Dried lentils (varying sizes)
- Dried quinoa and couscous
- Sugar and salt (those tiny crystals makes some fun percussive sounds!)
- I included some fun noisemakers and extra beaded necklaces, just to up the ‘New Year’s’ factor even more. They were a huge hit with #thelittleone, so if you think your child would enjoy it, in my opinion it’s definitely worth having a few extra. (Just be cautious and always supervise when a toddler has something long, like a necklace!)
Have you made any resolutions about things you’d like to do with your little ones this year? I’d love to hear about them!
Ready to get a little messy with your kiddos? Or maybe a little noisy? Fun sensory ideas can be found right here! -
You Say You Want A Resolution…
The last few months have held a lot of change and transition for my family… I launched this blog in November, with a VERY limited knowledge of anything computer-y, just having heard over and over from many friends and family that they thought I’d be a great blogger. So with a lot of encouragement from my husband, a new laptop, and a used copy of WordPress For Dummies, I jumped in with both feet and dedicated myself to finding some semblance of success with this new challenge.
[Side note, my greatest fear is failing publicly. So everything about this venture has been terrifying and nerve wrecking for me. I hope to find my stride and confidence soon though…]
The blog has basically taken over a ton of my time and energy, and I work a lot of late nights trying to learn something new, or schedule something that needs to be posted soon. So although I do have some very significant business-y goals for myself in 2017, I’m also aiming to find a bit of a better balance in the new year as well. One particular facet of my life that has significantly dropped off over the past several months is reading (even more than it did when we welcomed #thelittleone to our family, because let’s face it- it’s tough to stay awake, let alone concentrate when you have a new baby in your house).
[Wonder why I blog about children’s literature? It’s because I can actually finish those books… If I blogged about anything longer, it would probably take a year or two for me to finally make my way through a book and share it with you.
Ok, not really, I’m exaggerating… slightly.]In all seriousness though, I have a huge collection of books lining my shelves- in my office, living room, dining room, boxes in the basement- no joke, tons of reading is just begging to take place at my house. And 2017 is going to be the year that I invest that time in reading…
I was so inspired by my friend Vicki from Babies to Bookworms‘ post about starting 2017 with some life changing books that I decided to peruse my shelves for some of the books I’ve had sitting for a while and resolve to read in the new year. Here’s the first six books I hope to make the time to tackle… [I tend to be very into non-fiction, self-help sort of books. I’m warning you that you won’t find a lot of romance or science fiction on my bookcases, and this list very much reflects my tastes].
Push Back: Guilt in the Age of Natural Parenting
Amy Tuteur, MD
You likely can’t tell from this blog so far, but I’m a mama with a fairly crunchy side- a bit chewy, if you will. I’ve got a shelf full of essential oils and homeopathic rememdies, and I’ll strap some amber on my teething kiddo before I break out the Tylenol. But I’m also a mama with a limited budget (have you priced some essential oils lately?!) and limited time (researching parenting options is like jumping down a rabbit hole… 9 days later, I may reappear having read every article, blog post, & review available, and ready to make a choice. Maybe. Oh wait, here’s some new information I just need to consider first…). I’m hoping this choice, written by Amy Tuteur, is going to help me let go of some of my mom guilt, and allow me to sleep easier at night, knowing I have done the best I can within my own circumstances.
Movers, Shakers, Mommies, and Makers: Success Stories from Mompreneurs
Gibbs Smith Publishing
This will likely be one of the first reads I take on this year, as the cover, and photos inside are just so incredibly inviting. It looks like the perfect choice for a busy mama like myself who is hoping to find some degree of success with her small business in 2017, and I need that sort of inspiration to help me get (and stay) fired up about all of the hard work that is ahead of me!
The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections
Amanda Blake Soule
This choice is particularly interesting to me this year, as I think it’s fairly similar to the type of book my husband has been encouraging me to consider putting together in the future, after I’ve been blogging longer. We’re a pretty crafty household as well, so I know we’re going to get a lot of great ideas from this book, written by the mama who blogs at SouleMama– I can’t wait to check it out more closely soon!
Always Too Much and Never Enough: A Memoir
Jasmin Singer
I’ve always been a sucker for a good memoir, and if we’re being totally honest, there’s no way I could pass up one that prominently featured ice cream & jimmies on the cover! This one chronicles a woman’s journey with both body acceptance and fueling her body in a healthy way. I can’t think of a better memoir to break open in the new year, when so many resolutions center solely around quick fix weight loss solutions and unrealistic body expectations.
Adventures for Your Soul: 21 Ways to Transform Your Habits and Reach Your Full Potential
Shannon Kaiser
I can’t speak for anyone else, but after the last several years of craziness (deaths in the family, moving to a new home, welcoming a new baby, and more), my soul could seriously use all the help it can get. This book is talked about often, and rates highly with reviewers, so I’m looking forward to jumping in to it. Anything that promises to help me find ways to manage some stress and change my mindset is worth a look, in my opinion.
The Good Mother Myth: Redefining Motherhood to Fit RealityAvital Norman Nathman, Editor
As I mentioned earlier in the post, the mom guilt around here lately has been REAL. I am so excited to have pulled this little collection off my shelf, because I’m absolutely at a point when I could use a reality check about expectations and outcomes, and some inspiration to just brush off some of the guilt I struggle with as a busy mama. I’m thrilled that this is a collection of essays, because it means even on days when I’m too busy to make significant progress in one of the other books I’ve chosen, I likely have enough time to sit down and read an essay or two. (Maybe even in a bubble bath after the kids are asleep… cause, you know- destressing and reducing guilt, it’s a multitasking mommy’s dream!)
Because I am really committed to accomplishing this resolution this year, and because I really know how I work best in terms of accountability, I created a printable progress chart that I can hang in my office as a visual reminder of where I am in my progress. [Yes, I know it’s nerdy. No, I really don’t care about that.] My personal goal is to read (on average) 2 books a month, making my overall plan 24 books in the year 2017.
Coincidentally, 24 is also the minimum number of nights per month #thebigone needs to read at home in order to pick a prize from his teacher’s prize chest at school. So I’m thinking this printable will translate well into a way to track summer reading, etc. Two birds, one stone, win-win, all that jazz.
If a free printable is what you need to keep yourself on track with your own reading plans this year (or those of your kids), you’re more than welcome to use mine. I plan to color in one volume each time I finish a book, so I can quickly track my work on this particular resolution.
How about you? What sort of resolutions did you make for the new year? What goals have you set for yourself for 2017? I’d love to hear about them in the comments, so please feel free to share!
Printable progress log, comin’ atcha!
If you’re trying to decide what you want to read first this year, here’s some more great ideas!
Love printables to plan, organize, and get creative? Look no further!
PS. Are you following me on Instagram yet? If you’re not, this is the perfect week to click over and follow along! Through the end of the week, I’m participating in an awesome ‘Take Better Care of Me’ New Year Goals giveaway, and I’d love for you to have a chance at winning all the goodies! Good luck!
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Craft a Birdfeeder Scene Inspired by ‘The Twelve Days of Winter’
As promised yesterday, today I’m sharing a cute craft that we’ve been putting together over winter break week. This was inspired by one of the books I mentioned in our list of 8 great reads to share on winter days- The Twelve Days of Winter: A School Counting Book, by Deborah Lee Rose, illustrated by Carey Armstrong-Ellis. This cute little craft is geared towards slightly older kids, but youngsters could easily participate in parts so they have a hand in the creation. There’s some drying time involved between steps, so it’s a great idea to start the project anticipating some breaks.
We decided to do a few different sizes of this project, because we like trying out varying supplies when we’re creating something brand new. You can choose to use whatever combination of ideas works for you, and go as simple or as complicate as you’d prefer to get.
We used three different glass jars with lids, in varying shapes and sizes. Ours are a combination of thrift store bargains, and craft store deals, but you could easily upcycle most jars you have at home. The only real guidance I would offer is to be sure you use a fairly plain jar- anything with a lot of embossing or quilting on the glass is going to make it very difficult to peak in at your little scene.nWe used a sponge brush and some white acrylic paint to sponge some ‘snow’ over the bottom of our jars, and a bit up the sides, to create some snowbanks. You don’t have to be terribly neat or precise in this step, making it great for kids to complete successfully. We set the snowy jars aside to dry.
One prominent gift from their teacher in The Twelve Days of Winter: A School Counting Book is a birdfeeder in a tree, and we wanted to create a feeder that had a similar look to the one depicted. We found some cute little glass enclosures for very cheap in a late December sale, and knew we could make them work. The small plastic containers you get from quarter machine prizes could also work very well- I don’t know about anyone else, but #thebigone has accumulated a ton of them from getting his grandfather to buy him teeny tiny toy dinosaurs. We used a few different materials to fill our feeders… Brown glass seed beads, brown mixed glitter, and some textured brown fabric were all glued in, and then we glued the feeder domes to the bottom of the feeder. [Brown kraft paper, torn pieces of brown paper, or white paper with brown crayon on top are all great options that you likely have available at home]. We set them aside to let them dry.
Using the free printable I created, we colored some winter backdrops for our jars. We used both colored pencils and crayons while working on ours, but markers or paint would also work just as well. The printable features the winter scene in three different sizes, so you can choose which option works best for the jar you plan to use. Once we were happy with our coloring, we cut out the scenes.
After making sure our snowy paint was totally dry, we rolled some strong scrapbook adhesive all over the back of the winter backdrops, rolled them up a bit, and slid them into the jars. A clean, dry sponge brush helped us reach in and press the backdrop into place. We wanted to add a little winter wildlife reminiscent of the scene from the book, so we glued some small foam birds we had found very inexpensively in the floral department of the craft store to the bottom of the jar. (If you choose a very tall/narrow jar, tweezers or tongs may be helpful in attaching the birds). For our larger jar we decided to include some animals intended for a holiday village scene, purchased during a late December sale for a huge discount. You could also choose to just draw them onto your winter backdrop, or extend the project even further by sculpting your own little animals out of clay! After we let the glue dry, we could peak up and around our snowbanks at the animals playing in the snow.
We used some string to hang our feeders from the lids of the jars. You could very likely use hot glue to accomplish this task quite quickly, but I basically have no fingerprints left because I am so terrible with a hot glue gun. So I chose to go to the slower route, and used a big dollop of craft glue to hold the string in place. Longer waiting time, but worth it for my fingers!
Once our glue was totally dry, we were able to fully assemble our little winter wonderlands. These jars are absolutely charming, and will look great displayed throughout the winter for years to come. If you and your kids decide to try this craft, I would love to see how yours turn out, so please share photos via email or social media.
I share some more great ideas for winter fun right here!
And don’t forget to check this board often for tons of ideas to build upon the books your family is reading together!Free printable is waiting for you right here!
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Warm Reads for Wintry Days
I will be the first the admit that I really do not like winter weather. Driving on snow and ice is nerve-wracking for me, my feet absolutely can not stand to be forced into thick socks and boots, and seriously, don’t even get me started on wet clothes or runny noses. I have a tendency to spend winter days hibernating at home as soon as the snow starts to fly, which can lead to some stir crazy kiddos on occasion. One of our go-to activities to beat the boredom when we’re inside is reading- big shock there right? Seriously though, #thebigone has attempted to force #thelittleone to cuddle with him approximately 97 times over the past 24 hours… Reading together on the couch on a cold day is pretty much the best way to maximize brother-cuddle-potential. Fuzzy blanket, great books, fleece jammies- can’t beat that combination.
After doing our Snowbots
craft earlier this week, we decided to stick with a winter theme and pull together a small selection of our favorite wintry books, both old and new. Some have received #thebigone’s seal of approval, and others are so new to our family that he hasn’t even had a chance to look at them yet- but I have, and loved them!
We’ve also got a craft coming up on the blog tomorrow inspired by one of these great picture books, so be sure to check back and see what sort of artsy stuff we’ve been up to the last several days.
In no particular order, here are our favorite wintry reads to pull out when the weather gets blustery… [And we live in upstate New York, so blustery weather is common like, 10 months out of the year, unfortunately].
Natasha Wing & Amy Wummer’s The Night Before the Snow Day was seriously a no-brainer purchase for our home library. We love the entire series with it’s characteristic ‘night before Christmas’ rhythm, and this was no exception. It’s a perfect book for any household where kids are crossing their fingers, turning their jammies inside out, and wishing real hard for that elusive day off from school!
I was a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder from childhood on up, and could not get enough of her adventures with Ma, Pa, Mary, and Baby Carrie. Winter Days in the Big Woods (My First Little House Books) is the perfect compromise for younger readers, who may not have the focus or attention span needed for the longer chapter read-alouds of the traditional Little House readers. #thebigone loves these books, and is just about ready to move onto the longer editions, but still reaches for these versions often. And who can blame him? There’s something so magical about imagining you’re tucked inside a log cabin, toasty by a fire while Pa plays his fiddle & Ma sews.
Do Like Kyla (Orchard Paperbacks) is a book we’ve had at home since #thebigone was quite young, but it’s only recently became a favorite. After having spent time volunteering with #thebigone’s classmates this year, I’ve come to appreciate the narration in the book, which is written quite authentically from a young person’s perspective. I also love seeing the enamored younger sibling trailing Kyla on a winter day, knowing that given the chance, this is exactly what my boys would do as well. (#thelittleone imitates everything his big brother does, sometimes to the point of making me a little insane!) This is a great choice for an older sibling with a loving little tag-a-long.
Lynn Plourde’s Snow Day is a fantastic book for younger audiences. The whimsical and novel text features some fun words to listen to (plumpy, sniggle, dance-a-prance), and it pairs perfectly with Hideko Takahashi’s vibrant & cheerful illustration. A quick, lyrical read about a family enjoying their snow day together, it’s a great choice for days when everyone’s getting in on the reading cuddles.
If you enjoy having parts of books sung to you (often loudly, occasionally off-key), The Twelve Days of Winter: A School Counting Book is the book you need in your home library. Kids love the familiarity of the structure, especially so soon following Christmas and the ubiquitous counting carol. I’ve read several similar tales to #thebigone’s class (The 13 Nights of Halloween and A Pirate’s Twelve Days of Christmas most recently), and the kids love chiming in with what’s coming next. Even those still working on reading independently can easily contribute to a read-along with this book, so it’s ideal for boosting confidence.
When you feel ready to tackle your silliest Spanish accent, Skippyjon Jones Snow What is the perfect book for your family to check out. We’ve been big fans of Judy Schachner’s mixed up Siamese cat for years (known affectionately as Mr. Kitten-Britches to his mama- adorable!), and this volume did not disappoint. If Spanish accents and crazy Spanglish-hybrid words aren’t your thing, we were able to find this book on CD, which gives the kids a chance to listen and read along while fluent reading is modeled to them (and I can accomplish a quick chore around the house. Score!)
Outside is one of those books I mentioned that we just added to our collection, and it’s so new that #thebigone hasn’t even had a chance to take a look at it yet. I picked it up because I was so infatuated with Deirdre Gill’s incredible, fanciful illustrations of a young boy’s adventures in the snow. I know the dragon in particular is going to catch my oldest’s eye, and I’m hoping he’ll see a lot of himself in the boy’s imaginative winter play. This is a book you definitely need to thumb through in the store, at the very least, because the artwork is just gorgeous.
Another book from a series of perpetual favorites for us, There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! always proves to be a hit. Lucille Colandro & Jared Lee have found the magic formula for causing hysterical giggles every single time, and while I thought it was just my kid, several volunteering sessions in his classroom later, I have come to find that all the kids can not get enough of this series. (Spoiler alert, the secret to the fun is always vomit. You’ve been warned!) There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! is a great, quick read with a unique illustrative style, and it’s perfect for a silly afternoon with your little ones.What winter books do you and your little ones love reading together?
In case you’re curious, I’ve always got great ideas for books to add your home library right here!
And don’t forget to check back tomorrow for another fun art project inspired by one of the books featured here!
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If You Liked ‘Snowbots’, Here’s 5 More Robot Books for Young Readers!
After wrapping up our fun Snowbots
Simple, straightforward rhyming text and charming, bright illustrations make Robot, Go Bot! (Step into Reading Comic Reader) perfect for emerging readers.
The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot is a fun, modern twist on a classic fairy tale, with detailed & expressive illustrations that will capture anyone’s attention.
A sweet tale of an unlikely friendship between Boy and Bot, kids love to see the way this pair takes care of each other. Whimsical illustrations make it that much more fun of a read.
Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover (Candlewick Sparks) is the perfect early chapter book for a robot-loving early reader. The text is straightforward without being insultingly simple, and the pictures are fun without being ‘babyish’. Bonus, it’s part of a series, so if your child decides they enjoy it, you’ll be able to keep the reading going with the other volumes.
Last, but never least, we are loving Robo-Sauce. It’s from one of our favorite author/illustrator teams (Adam Rubin & Daniel Salmieri) and it does not disappoint. #thebigone’s favorite part is using the fold-out page to turn the whole book into a robot- how cool is that?! Definitely a great option for any fans of Dragons Love Tacos or Secret Pizza Party.What robot books would your family add to the list? Let me know in the comments- we’re always on the lookout for great new reads to check out!
I’m always looking for great book ideas for my kiddos… some lists I’ve come across can be found here!
More activities to the Snowbots craft mentioned above are here, and perfect to help young readers with comprehension and making connections.
Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post (at no additional cost to you), which allows me to continue providing free content on the blog.
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Winter Day Craft Fun With Snowbots!
What’s better than robots? If you ask my six year old, not much… so he was pretty psyched to discover the book Snowbots
The book chronicles the snowy day fun of a bunch of colorful robots. It features bright, whimsical illustrations, and uses a huge variety of less common vocabulary to describe their cold, wet adventures… Words like metallic, supersonic, and quick-firing will present some novelty for younger listeners to hear & process, as well as some new challenges for older readers to sound out & comprehend.
Now that all of the Christmas decorations are starting to get packed up again, I thought it might be fun to make some winter themed door hangers inspired by the book… #thebigone’s going to be pretty sad to see his Darth Vader Christmas door knob hanger be stored away until next year, and I thought some cute Snowbots
We used some pre-made craft foam door hangers in shades of blue to mimic the outdoor scenes illustrated in the book. You could easily cut your own out of cardboard, cardstock, or sheets of foam, but this soon after Christmas, I was personally going for easy. While at the craft store, we chose a sparkly white felt to represent the snow in our scenes, but any sort of white paper or fabric would work just as easily… use your imaginations, and ask your kids what looks the most snow like to them!
#thebigone always sees robots as bright & shiny (and really, who can blame him?!), so we gathered an assortment of reflective materials to craft our own Snowbots
I liked the idea of tackling robot creation in terms of basic geometric shapes… seeing squares, rectangles, triangles, etc. as smaller parts of the whole machine. This tactic can help kids (and let’s be honest, some less crafty adults) tackle what might otherwise seem like an overwhelming subject to create. It also allows a little math practice, while you identify and talk about the shapes you each see. (And sneaking a bit of math into a fun project, especially during winter break, is always a good thing!)
For older kids with increasingly stronger scissor skills, they can easily cut their own robot pieces out of the assorted materials. Younger children will likely do better using pre-cut pieces, taking the focus for them off of scissor work, and onto both gluing & the artistic task of arranging the pieces. To keep this project super low mess, you can pre-cut the shapes from peel & stick craft foam, so that glue is omitted entirely- you may have the paper backings floating around your craft after for a day or two, but they’re certainly easier clean up than sticky glue! You may even be able to find peel & stick foam shapes already available, making this a super easy set up craft for you.
Our finished Snowbots
Christmas may be over, but our winter fun definitely isn’t… Grab some ideas for excitement here!
Picture books provide such incredible opportunities for learning AND fun! Happy reading!
Keep scrolling for the monthly book club Winter Themed round up!
Winter themed book club craft round up happens here!
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Sometimes Your 6 Year Old Wants A Tattoo Gun From Santa…
I volunteered in #thebigone’s class earlier this month for their big holiday celebration. Along with some other moms, I helped the first graders decorate gingerbread houses & men, and then I spent some time reading holiday stories out loud to small groups. In our holiday discussions that morning, I heard about some of the most wished for items on the kiddos’ Christmas lists, and came to the realization that my child’s list was a bit more, shall we say, unusual than that of his peers. While his classmates were requesting fancy electronic toys or beautiful dolls from Santa Claus, my son was writing a whole other sort of list, (which inspired some of my book selections at the library as well).
#thebigone wrote his list to Santa completely independently one morning, and when I came downstairs to read it, my reaction was a combination of both surprise and amusement… Given his way, 2017 would likely have been a banner year for our family- #thebigone was hoping to receive some exciting wild animals, learn to play a new instrument (thank you to The Wiggles for being such Australian inspirations… what 6 year old isn’t requesting a digeridoo from Santa?!), and learn a new trade [‘stay on tattoo giver’ made the list. Yup. A machine to permanently mark their own skin is a must-have for all first graders this December.]
Luckily, Santa thought things through a bit, and the cheetah was not delivered, nor was the tattoo gun. (The digeridoo is a different story. My in-laws like to give the people what they want at Christmas!) I knew the tattoo gun was likely inspired at least in part by the fact that both his father and myself each have more than one tattoo, and it gave me the perfect reason to check out some of the books I’ve been eyeing at our library recently…Perfect for parents like myself, who may feel a bit trapped between their previous young, hip (ok, hip-ish is probably more accurate) life, and this parenting gig, where you sometimes feel sort of old and often feel kind of lame.
Tell Me a Tattoo Story is honestly just one of the most beautiful books I have seen recently. Eliza Wheeler’s illustrations are soft & muted, giving a hazy, dreamy sort of feel to the picture book. Allison McGhee’s text is simple and sweet, narrating the conversations between a young boy and his dad, as dad relays the deep meaning behind each tattoo he has chosen. As someone with several tattoos, chosen for their personal significance to the events in my life, this tale resonated with me strongly. (And I’ll be completely honest, it has me totally itching for a new tattoo- ’cause, you know, pretty!)
Side note: Curious about my ink and the meaning behind it? You can find a blog post from years ago, when my earliest few tattoos were featured on Tattoosday right here!
My Dad Used to Be So Cool has been a fairly popular choice in children’s literature lately- I’ve seen the bright, bold cover and graphic illustrations featured on several blogs and varying social media feeds since I started blogging last month. Another perfect read for parents who swear they did once know what cool was, the illustrations of this former punk rock sort of father steal the show- simple and clean, with blocks of intense color. Keith Negley’s depiction of dad’s hard rock days is priceless- especially for any parent who wasn’t a stranger to rock shows back in their day.
Knowing that Santa Claus was unlikely to pull through on the delivery of a tattoo gun, I created a reasonable compromise for #thebigone. I drew up a tattoo coloring sheet, inspired by both Tell Me a Tattoo Story and My Dad Used to Be So Cool, and I’m sharing that free printable with you here on the blog. Honestly, I designed it with the six year old in mind, but I had a great time with it myself, and I think this is one of those coloring pages adults and kids will equally enjoy.
Grab your free printable below and start customizing some beautiful tattoos with your kiddos!
Art & writing activities based on children’s books are an incredible way to boost comprehension and retention- get some ideas here!
So, my kid had some pretty weird requests for Christmas this year- how about yours? What was on their lists that made you scratch your head and say ‘huh?!’? And more importantly, what was the oddest gift they actually opened this weekend? I’d love to hear your experiences (seriously, can anyone out there top digeridoo?!)- please share them with me in the comments below!
Digeridoo, anyone?!
So beautiful, a must-see!
I’m not a dad, so that means I’m still cool… Right? Guys?
Looking for some more tattoo coloring fun? Here’s a few great options for all ages…
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Our (Semi) Top-Secret Gifts this Christmas
This post is labelled (semi) top-secret because only half of the recipients have received their gifts… If you think a Christmas gift may be coming your way from my family in the next few days, consider yourself warned!
2016 is quickly drawing to a close, with Christmas just a few days away. Like many, I’m anxious for a new year and a fresh beginning. Although 2016 brought many highs to our lives, it also brought significant loss in my husband’s family and my own. Each year, the kids and I generally create a DIY gift of some kind for their grandparents, great aunt, etc. I tend to do a lot of gifts based on handprints, I think because I know their little hands will only be this little for a short while.
As I started to think about what we could create to give to our family this year, I knew that this Christmas would be very different for us. My husband lost 3 grandmothers over the course of 2016, and I lost my grandfather. Our families are all continuing to adjust to this new normal and live with the losses, but those first holidays without a special friend or family member can be extra difficult.
My in-laws are very fond of cardinals, and the symbolism they hold. The appearance of a cardinal in your yard is said to be a visit from the loved one you have lost. I know many people who take special note of cardinals in their yards, pleased by the message of hope & reassurance they bring.
I decided to do an adaptation of a handprint craft I have seen many, many times on Pinterest- so many times, I couldn’t even guess who to credit as the original source. I used a few coats of blue acrylic paint to cover small canvasses (we used 8 inch x 8 inch), and let it dry completely. Then I used 2 tones of red acrylic paint to create my children’s handprints, and allowed those to try entirely as well. Next, I used brown acrylic paint to add in the trees, and when that was dry I used white acrylic paint to add the snow. Orange acrylic paint was used for the beaks. After fully dry, I used a black permanent marker to draw the black tips on the heads, and the dark portion of the eyes, as well as outline the beaks. I dipped the non-bristled end of a thin round paintbrush in white acrylic paint, and dotted it on to create the white highlights in both eyes.
I wanted to include a version of a cardinal poem, so I did a little searching and came across one that I adapted to fit our needs. There was no author attributed to the original, so I’m not sure who to credit for that either, unfortunately. I included a drawing of a cardinal, and printed them out. I used colored pencil to color in our cardinals, trimmed down the poem, and used strong scrapbook adhesive to affix the poem to the back of each canvas.
I also wanted to create something small to add on to the gifts, so I chose to make a very simple little ornament that fit the theme, and came together in minutes. I used some clear glass baubles, and removed the tops. I gently rolled a flexible, 3-dimensional cardinal scrapbook sticker, and pushed it carefully into the ornament. Using a paintbrush (the eraser end of a pencil would also work well), I gently pushed the cardinal sticker into place and made sure it was good and stuck. I put some fake snow into the ornaments, along with a few little snips of fake greenery, to give it a more wintry feel. For one last Christmas-sy touch, I threaded a small red jingle bell onto the loops before reassembling the ornaments. Once a ribbon or hanger is attached, the ornaments are ready to go on a tree.
I completed the gifts with some adorable glittery red cardinal wrapping paper that I found at Target. (Hey, I love a themed gift! What can I say?) As I said above, half of the gift recipients have opened their cardinal presents already, and they were thrilled with them- lots of tears while reading the poems.
The first holiday season following a significant loss can be extremely challenging and emotionally draining. Sometimes all it takes to help people get through them a little easier is the reasurrance that their loved one is remembered and missed by others. These simple homemade gifts are the perfect way to make sure that anyone you know who is dealing with loss this winter knows they are not going through it alone.
If you are facing the holidays without someone special, please know that people are thinking of you, and also remembering your loved one fondly.
Do you have a special way to remember a lost loved one during the holiday? I’d love to hear about it in the comments, if you feel comfortable sharing.
More handprint craft ideas for all seasons are collected for you here!
Still looking for some ways to make this Christmas special? I’ve got you covered! -
Holiday Math With A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas was a favorite holiday book at my house growing up. My dad can be a bit of a Scrooge around Christmas, but A Charlie Brown Christmas always seems to put him in the holiday spirit. He has always enjoyed reading the book, watching the movie, and even listening to the soundtrack with his kids & grandchildren. I’m guessing there may be a bit of his own childhood nostalgia playing into his affection for the Peanuts gang. Whatever the reason, I’ll take it! Read on to see how this classic Christmas favorite inspired some simple math learning for my boys!
READING A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
My boys have really enjoyed getting to read stories about Charlie Brown, his trusty beagle Snoopy, and their buddies. #thebigone in particular has especially liked pairing all of the holiday book and movie specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas. I have great childhood memories of special Charlie Brown cookie cutters, and Christmas tree ornaments. I’m so happy that both my parents and I are able to share that with my own little ones. The story of A Charlie Brown Christmas is very well known, so I’ll spare you a rehashing of the plot. I will say that if by some chance you haven’t read it before, I encourage you to check it out. Charles M. Schulz’ classic is truly timeless, and will not disappoint.
MATH INSPIRED BY A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
I put together a simple set of printable pages to reinforce counting skills for young children. Kids can color the trees and doghouses. Next they can decorate by adding the same number of lights or ornaments listed next to the drawing. We used some stickers and shiny foam shapes to decorate our sheets, but you could also choose to just draw on the pictures as well. Peeling and sticking is great for fine motor skills in little ones, but holding crayons or pencils to draw has it’s own benefit as well.
You can grab your printable pages below. While your children work, I suggest a little Vince Guaraldi Trio playing in the background. You’ll be all set to help your kids work on math skills while you keep the Christmas spirit flowing. (Dance breaks to groove like the Peanuts characters are optional, but strongly encouraged).
>>> A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS MATH PRINTABLE PAGE 1 <<<
>>> A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS MATH PRINTABLE PAGE 2 <<<
What are your favorite holiday books from childhood? Have you had a chance to share them with your children yet? I’d love to know which ones are hits at your house so let me know in the comments!
Essentials you may need…
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Queen Of Christmas Alphabet List
Growing up, my twin sister was a huge fan of Mary Engelbreit’s. She loved her artwork, so she had many of Engelbreit’s books. My sister was sadly killed in a car accident when we were 25, before I had children. As a result, I’ve always tried to find small ways to introduce her interests and passions to my children. I want #thelittleone and #thebigone to have some small idea of the aunt they won’t get to meet. Of course, when I saw Queen of Christmas, I knew it would be a perfect book for me to share with my kiddos.
READING QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS
This story features Ann Estelle, Engelbreit’s ‘queen’. Ann Estelle puts some serious time and effort into creating a fairly epic (and lengthy!) Christmas list. Ultimately, as in many holiday tales, Ann Estelle learns an important lesson about the true meaning of Christmas. Engelbreit’s bright, cheerful illustrations bring the story to life, and truly steal the show in this picture book. My boys and I enjoyed checking out Ann Estelle’s extensive wish list, and poring over the whimsical drawings in the book together.
MAKING A CHRISTMAS ALPHABET LIST
#thebigone is six years old. His first grade class has been concentrating on independently sounding out and writing words lately. Queen Of Christmas inspired a great way for me to get him thinking about spelling and practicing his letter formation. The printable pages of the Christmas alphabet list I created give your child 26 opportunities to think about phonics and writing. They will use the alphabet prompts to create a long list, just like Ann Estelle’s. #thebigone added some color to the letters with crayons. Engelbreit’s art is so colorful, he felt his should be also.
Younger kids who aren’t quite to the independent writing or spelling stage yet can work with you to identify the letters & their sounds. They can draw a picture of what they would put on their list instead of writing. Drawing still helps to strengthen all of their pre-writing skills. Plus, a creative outlet is always a good thing! Be prepared for some crazy ideas… #thebigone’s Christmas alphabet list includes a ‘Yedy’ [yeti], ‘Dobe the hose elf’ [Dobby the house elf, for all you Harry Potter fans out there], and an ‘Umeracin flag’ [American flag]. I let him spell everything independently, to make sure he was really thinking about the letters and their sounds.
>>> A-F Christmas Alphabet List
G-M Christmas Alphabet List <<<
>>> N-T Christmas Alphabet List
U-Z Christmas Alphabet List <<<What did your kids put on their versions of ‘The List’? I’d love to know, so leave me a note about it in the comments!
Essentials You May Need…
