Winter Sports Safety

There is so much to be enjoyed in the outdoors during the wonter months.  Children are especially excited to spend the day playing in the snow and having fun. Here is a link to some helpful tips for you to make those activities safe for them.

January 2013 Books and Craft

January books and craft~ January usually brings lots of snow here in the northeast U.S. so here are some great books to enjoy.

Baby Snow Animals by Jane Katirgis
Who Grows up in the Snow? by Theresa Lonenecker
A snowy Day by Lola M Schaefer
Snow Globe Family by Jane O'Connor
White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
Sally's Snow Adventure by Stephen Huneck
Snow by Uri Shulevitz

"Sno" Dough Recipe Mix 2 cups of corn starch with 1/2 cup of vegetable oil with a spoon in a small bowl. After combined, work together with your fingers. It will "crunch" like real snow and have a wonderful texture that holds together and packs like real snow. It can be a bit messy since it can crumble, so make sure to work with it on a big piece of foil or paper for easy clean up. Use rolling pins and other clay tools and you can make designs in it as well. It isn't sticky and will not make hands messy so have fun playing in the "snow."

Product Recalls December 2012

Follow this link to read the list.

December 2012 Christmas Books and Craft

Christmas Books For Kids:


Old Favorites
Madeline's Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans
Charlie Brown's Christmas by Charles M. Schulz
Home For Christmas by Jan Brett


Some You May Not Know
Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia M Scarry
Most Mizerable Christmas by Mick Foley
The Life and Adventure of Santa Claus by L Frank Baum
The North Pole Dog Division by Stacy Bardsley


Ornament Craft
This one is easy and very inexpensive! I purchased cookie cutters from my local dollar store. I got three in the set. I traced them onto scraps of Christmas paper that were purchased for scrapbooking. I cut them out and helped my granddaughter tie some silver string through the cookie cutter and then glue the paper onto the edge. She made cute ornaments in just a few minutes. Since cookie cutters come in so many different designs, the possibilities are enormous. To change it up, you can use fabric which an older child can cut, or even scraps of wrapping paper. The name and date can be added if the ornaments are to be used as gifts for teachers or others that care for your children. Have fun!

Dangers of Magnetic Toys

They look like fun and can be easy for little ones to handle, but magnets can be deadly for kids. Read more about it here.

Safety Recall Nov. 2012

Here's the list...I'm checkin' it twice. Gonna' find if it's unsafe or nice!!

Holiday Buying Guide 2012

Since I taught elementary school for many years, I often have parents ask what they should look for when buying holiday gifts for young children. I have some guidinglines to help you choose wisely.

For Babies and Toddlers:
When buying books, look for board books or washable cloth since they will take a beating. Images should be colorful and not crowded on the page. Simple images are the best and flap book where kids can lift to peek are really fun. Toys should let kids explore colors, shapes and music. Foam blocks and simple puzzles are also great.

Preschoolers:
Kids like stories that tell about the things they see every day, both in the home and in their neighborhoods. Animal stories are very appealing and kids are starting to enjoy humor as well. Toys are this age are starting to have more than 1 piece, often using cause and effect motions. Simple games are fun, especially if they foster cooperative rather than competitive play. Beginning art materials are appropriate now also, especially washable markers and lots of big pieces of paper, window and bath crayons, and soft clay.

Kindergartners and First Graders:
Beginning readers are easily found for kids this age. Children learn a lot about reading while watching you run your finger under the words as you read, and seeing you read top to bottom and when you turn pages. Now they can predict what will happen, and talk about their favorite character or favorite part of the story.
Non fiction books are especially helpful, since the children can more easily predict the words they might see and what facts the story will be teaching. Toys at this age should follow their interests. Many of them will require multiple steps and following directions. Games will require taking turns and some memory skills. At this stage, children will need to recognize numbers, letters and symbols to play. Don't forget to look for games on-line as well. Continue with arts and craft activities, introducing safety scissors, washable glue and watercolor paints.

As always, don't forget to follow the safety age recommendations required to be listed on all games and toys.
They are there for a reason...and you risk harm to children by letting them play with toys that have small or moving parts that are recommended for older children.
Check here every month for products that have been recalled.

Back to Sleep Campaign Still Going Strong

Review the current facts and research on the benfits of laying infants on their backs in their own empty cribs for safe sleep here.

Thanksgiving 2012 Books and Craft

Books for you to enjoy:
For younger children- The First Thanksgiving by Sarah Treu
                                  Thanksgiving Is... by Gail Gibbons
                                   My First Thanksgiving by Tomie dePaola
                                   Pilgrims by Mary pope Osborne (non-fiction)

For older children- Thanks You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie     Halse Anderson
                             Squanto's Journey by Joseph Bruchac
                             1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O'Neill Grace

Craft- Coffee Filter Turkey:
Supplies- coffee filter
markers
card stock or construction paper in brown and yellow
glue
scissors
wiggle eyes (optional)
First, lay one coffee filter flat. See first photo
Second, color the center and edges randomly with water based markers. Photo 2
Third, fold into a pie shape. Photo 3
Fourth, dip the point and edge into water
Fifth, wait until the water has absorbed into the entire filter, mixing the colors.
Sixth, after the filter has completely dried, draw shape of a turkey head and body, legs and beak from construction paper and use glue to adhere. Eyes can be draw and added or use wiggle eyes. Photo 4





Halloween 2012 Books and Craft

Great Books:
Ages 3-5
Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
Happy Halloween, Mittens by Lola Schaefer
Clifford's Halloween by Norman Bridwell
Halloween Night by Marjorie Dennis Murray
Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Ages 6-8
Violet's Halloween by Georgie Hackford
103 Hilarious Halloween Jokes by Scott Allen
Haunted Halloween by Alex Willis (chapter book)

Bathroom Tissue Pumpkin Craft
You will need:
1 roll of bathroom tissue
orange and green tissue paper
black construction paper
scissors
tape

Directions:

1-Lay the roll of tissue on it's side on several layers of orange tissue paper. Roll in one complete turn to measure how much paper you will need to cover the roll completely. Cut out the piece allowing at least two inches on either side.
2-Cover the roll and tape the ends down. Fold over the sides of the tissue, pressing the edges into the cardboard tube at both ends.
3-Cut several pieces of green tissue in rectangle shape. Choose one end and cut into a point. Twist a few pieces together at the blunt end and tape then into one end of the roll. Leave the pointed end sticking out to form leaves.
4-Cut eyes, mouth and any other features you desire out of black construction paper. Use tape to place on the "pumpkin."
5-Make several with different faces and use them to decorate your mantel, windowsills or table. They are cute, nonbreakable and can be disassembled and put back to bathroom use when the holiday is passed.

September 2012 Product Safety Recalls

Follow this link to see what items have been recalled.

October is Fire Safety Month

Now is the time to discuss fire safety with the kids in your household. Despite the obvious rule of never playing with lighters and matches, fires are started every year by unsupervised kids playing with these items, often with tragic results. Even though adults know these dangerous things should be kept out the reach of children, they often are not, so take time to warn kids about the hazards. Remind them of the dangers of hot items on the stove and in the oven. If  indoor ceramic heaters are used, tell them about the dangers of keeping things too close to them. Candles are so attractive, but they are so very dangerous. Make sure children know never to touch them or put other objects close to them. Along with this, don't forget to review what to do if they see a fire or hear the smoke detector go off, especially at night. Practice the "get low and go" rule by crawling to the door, in order to avoid deadly smoke as well as "stop, drop and roll" if ever their clothes should catch fire. Have a designated meeting place outside in a safe place away from the house and remind them NEVER to reenter the house to retreive any item or pet. Let them practice making a 911 emergency call on a play telephone and show them where it is on your cell phone. Make sure they know their address and ask them to repeat it throughout the year to practice. If possible, have a few neighbors houses designated as places to go to make the 911 calls if no cell phone is available. All these things take only a few minutes of your time, but can make the difference between life and death. 
Here are a few websites for more information and games for kids to play to help them learn fire safety.
Fire Safety for Kids, and the United States Fire Administration.