Something New To Colour: Crafting with Kids

Mar 09 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Crafting with Kids, Parenting Resources

Some days, the usual appeal of colouring in their colouring books just doesn’t cut it with my kids and I want to make it special and different for them. The colouring books (of which we have too many, of course) are the same as they always are and the felts are the same, too. So, we look for something new to colour. This helps me out and helps the kids out, too. We wander down to the computer and set out , together, to find some images that the kids might like to colour. The kids decide what they want to search for and we search in Google Images for cartoon image of their object of choice. Once they see all the choices that are there, they pick which they would like to colour. I just print it out in grayscale, so that there is no colour, and set them up to go!

Today, we have a bee, a bear and a puppy!

** Don’t forget to enter Lizzie Bits’ Putumayo CD giveaway!! You have until Thursday night to get your entries in. You need to create a wordpress account in order to do so, but it’s simple enough to do. Good luck!!! **

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Putumayo Kids: What’s in your CD Player?

Mar 05 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Birthday Party Guide, Reviews

A couple years ago I was given a CD of children’s music for Christmas by one of my aunts. This particular aunt has children of her own that are now older and all the hand-me-downs that I have received from her have been awesome. The toys have been exactly what my kids would love to play with. The used books have been of the highest quality. I knew that this music was going to be good. So, we popped it into the CD player and, within seconds of the first tune starting, we were a-boppin’. That CD? Putumayo Kids -Animal Playground.

The Wee Hairy Beasties and their hilarious lyrics in the song “Animal Crackers” had us hooked. ”I’ve got ants in my pants. I’ve got butterflies. I’m cryin’ crocodile tears, from my puppy dog eyes.” I quoted that from memory-ha! The next song… even better. Asheba, from Trinidad singing “No More Monkeys”… I loved the beat, the lyrics and the kids were dancing up a storm. Song after song, Animal Playground did not disappoint. It was awesome. We learned about animals, enjoyed animal-themed music and enjoyed listening music in other languages. Animal Playground features music from all over the world by many different artists. It is an awesome album of great music. The very best part is… it’s not the only one!!

Lizzie Bits Baby Co (at #7 – 111 Oriole Rd, Kamloops) carries Putumayo Kids and we have visited Lizzie Bits and picked up a number of other albums, as well. Putumayo Kids has 18 amazing albums for kids! These are albums that you can all enjoy in the car. Justin and I sing along to and enjoy every. single. song. (even if we don’t know the lyrics because of the language or can’t understand the accent of the singer – who says you have to know what you’re singing?) We are so lucky to have this awesome music for our kids. The message is powerful: that the world is a wonderful and amazing place and that there are so many wonderful cultures out there that we can learn about and enjoy elements of. We have chosen to invest in this music because it brings culture into our home when we can’t necessarily go out and get it. I mean… a trip to the Caribbean or “Caribbean Playground”? The latter is much more affordable on my budget! We love listening to each and every album we have. Putumayo doesn’t only release “Playground” albums (fun and dance-it-up tunes), they also have a series of “Dreamland” albums that are more mellow music. ”Celtic Dreamland” is a down-time favourite in our house.

I only recently found out that there is also a whole (huge!) selection of albums that are geared at an adult audience. We borrowed “Women of Africa” from my aunt (yes, the same one that got us hooked in the first place) and fell in love with that, too. The experience of listening to a Putumayo album is a wonderful experience. You get to relax and enjoy a more adult variety of tunes, but that kids still enjoy listening to, as well. Lizzie Bits (at #7 – 111 Oriole Rd, Kamloops) is carrying a variety of these as well. I can’t wait to get my ears on our next Putumayo selection!

Putumayo World Music donates part of their proceeds of every album to worthwhile non-profit organizations around the world. Lizzie Bits is currently carrying the French Caribbean and the Caribbean Playground albums which, each, have 100% of their sales going towards the Red Cross. Go on into the store at #7 – 111 Oriole Rd (Valleyview) and check out the fantastic selection of Putumayo World Music albums that are being carried. These are an awesome birthday gifts. I’d recommend picking up a few to have just in case of last-minute gifts!

In addition to carrying these wonderful albums, Jenn at Lizzie Bits has graciously given me a copy of Putumayo Kids Animal Playground to give away to one lucky KamloopsParents.Com reader!! What do you have to do to earn a chance at the album? Just leave a comment saying that you read this review!! Make sure that you include your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win.

Want another chance? Go to the Lizzie Bits facebook page and become a member of the group to learn about great sales and new items in the store. Leave me a comment telling me that you are a member.

Last chance… leave another comment telling me an item that you saw in Lizzie Bits Baby Co’s online shop!

You can also enter the draw by e-mailing your comments to elizabeth@kamloopsparents.com

This random draw will close at 12pm (Kamloops time) on March 11th. The winner will be contacted by e-mail. This draw is open to Kamloops and local area (with 2 hours driving time) residents only. Good luck!

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Kidz In The Kitchen: Popsicookies

Mar 03 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Kidz In The Kitchen

My kids and I love to bake together. We all enjoy seeing how things mix together to make something new and yummy and-well, let’s face it- licking the beaters and the spatulas are a really important job! My kids measure and pour and mix and watch and taste. There are so many lessons to be learned in the kitchen! It’s a great “classroom” for teenagers, school-aged kids, preschoolers, toddlers and babies, alike. The hardest part about letting my kids help me in the kitchen is that the messes are sure to be three times more and the spills reach even farther. But, it’s all worth it in the end. My kids learn how important they are to me, that they can help get meals ready for us and they learn the skills that I want them to have as young people. And, hey… then they can also learn the valuable lesson of cleaning up!

Some of our favourite (well, most of them actually) cooking times are when we make cookies. We love baking cookies and all kinds of them. Often, I will double the batch and then ball them and freeze them ready-to-go. That way, if I need cookies for something, I already have a bag in the freezer that I just need to bake and… voila! Fresh cookies!

We like to add a little variety to our baking regime, too. The kids love to help get creative – whether it’s adding in new ingredients, new flavours of chocolate chips or simply… popsicle sticks!

A cookie on a stick, or a popsicookie (as we call them). Why not? It makes it just that much more fun and how yummy and pretty could you make it with a little icing to decorate?!

Here is the recipe for the delicious treats that you see here.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Popsicookies

1 cup and 1 cup chocolate chips

2 1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup margarine

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

Melt 1c of chocolate chips and let cool.

Mix flour and soda.

Beat margarine and cream cheese, add sugar and egg and the 1c melted chocolate.

Add dry ingredients and 1c chocolate chips (I used peanut butter – deeeeeelish).

Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10 – 12 minutes.

If you are making popsicookies, just shove popsicle sticks into the cookie before they are baked.

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Tuesday Tutorial: Chore Chart

Mar 02 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Crafting with Kids

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesdays with KamloopsParents.Com

On Tuesdays you will be able to try out some fun hands-on crafty activity with your kids. March’s activities will be created by Dawnica Flatt, a Stampin’ Up demonstrator, Early Childhood Educator and Mom of one little guy. If you have any questions, you can leave them as comments on this post, or contact Dawnica at dabsanddots@gmail.com

Enjoy!

This is a great project to make with your kids to motivate them to do their weekly chores and it helps you, the parent, stay organized! We all know that positive reinforcement helps motivate so why not try this project! The Calendar stamp set from Stampin’Up! is very versatile and can be used for so much more than just calendars.

Chore Chart Piece Setup

First take white 8 ½” x 11”cardstock and cut in half widthwise at 5 1/2” so that it is 8 ½” x 11” and stamp the Calendar stamp in a dark color. (Fig 1)

Next add 3 vertical lines to make a complete grid and label the days of the week. (Fig 2)

List chores on right hand column and assign a sticker for each chore. (Fig 3)

Take two different colored 8 ½” x 11”cardstock. Cut darker of the two lengthwise so it is 6 ½” x 11”. Cut the lighter peice lenghwise so it is 3 1/2” x 11”. (Fig 4)

Take leftover white cardstock and cut 6” x 2” then taking alphabet stamps, stamp CHORES. (Fig 5)

Assembly

Layer small peice of light colored cardstock on bottom of dark colored cardstock then using a hole punch, punch holes around the bottom three sides. (Fig 6).

Next weave ribbon through the holes to hold the two pieces together to form a pocket. And attach CHORES layered on colored cardstock Put charts and stickers in pocket (Fig 7 and 8 )

Hang from fridge or bulletin board (Fig 9)

The stamps and paper used in this project are from Stampin’ Up! If you would like more info about these products or my stamping opportunities, visit my webpage at www.dawnica.stampinup.net

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Spring Break Programs

Feb 25 2010

Posted by Elizabeth as Adventures in Parenting, Parenting Resources, What's Going on in Kamloops

Spring Break is around the corner and there are lots of programs available for school-aged children that will be out of school for the week.

Here are some of the programs available:

March Break Day Camp at the Museum with the Museum Educator

March 8 – 12th, 9am to 4pm, $125 per week or $30 per day. Register for one day or the whole week.

March Break day camp at the Museum with the Museum’s Educator covers a whole week jam-packed with activities to explore around town along with a ‘home base’ at the Museum for crafts, games and exploration.
Pre and post care is available (additional cost) from 8:30 am – 5 pm. Space is limited.

Kamloops Museum and Archives – 250.828.3576

To Register: 250.828.3500 #143182

XPlore Sportz

March 8th to 12th, 8:30am to 4:30pm, $150 for first child, $130 for second child of the same family

Participants are asked to bring their own lunch. Participants get to spend the days learning untraditional sports that are lead my high level coaches. We invite guest speakers in to share their skills and experiences with out campers. These guests often include Olympians, the Kamloops Blazers, Olympic hopefuls, high level coaches, and other sport experts. With an emphasis on Olympic values, our campers have fun and learn about the importance of sport and physical activity. The camp will be held at Lloyd George Elementary.

To Register: 250.828.3500 #146682

Western Canada Theatre’s Stage One Theatre School 2010

March 8th – 12th, Ages 8 – 18

The Henry Vandenberghe Memorial Fund is available to students in financial need with a strong interest in the arts.

Call 250.372.3216 for more information

Spring Art Camp at the Kamloops Art Gallery

March 8th to 12th

Ages 4 – 6, 10am to 12pm, $63

Ages 7 – 12, 1pm to 3:30pm, $125

Extended care available

Call 250.377-2400 for more information

Cliffside Climbing Gym

Leaping Lizards Ages 6 – 12

March 8th to 10th, 9am to 12pm, $65

March 11th to 13th, 9am to 12pm, $65

Call 250.372.0645 for more information

Spring Break at the Kamloops Wildlife Park

March 8-12, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily

This camp will focus on the Arctic. Camps are for kids age 6-12.

Monday March 8 – Arctic and Magnetic Poles
Tuesday March 9 – All about Snow
Wednesday March 10 – Animal Adaptations
Thursday March 11 – Human Adaptations
Friday March 12 – Global Warming and Why We Must Care

Call 250.573.3242 ext. 228 for more information.

Kamloops Gymnastics and Trampoline Centre

March 8th to March 12th, from 8:30am – 3pm, $35/day, discounts for the whole week and for online registration.

Rockstars: 5 – 6 years, Rockstars will play outdoor games (weather permitting); please remember your outdoor shoes.

Gymstars: 7 – 13 years, Gymstars will swim every afternoon; please remember your swim suit and towel.

Please bring two snacks and a lunch (nut free please).

Call250.374.6424 for more information and to Pre-Register (required)

If you know of another program that I have missed please, contact me and I will add it. Thanks!

Also, keep your eyes peeled… on March 4th there will be a post dedicated to some great Spring Break activities for you and your family!

Drop in at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre

March 8th to 12th from 1 – 4pm, cost: regular pool admission.

Ocean Pacific invites children ages 7 and up (and sized right for the equipment) to drop in and try out SCUBA, Snorkel, and Kayak! There will be fun games and prizes, as well.

Mon – Fri Laps and Leisure 6:00am to 11:00pm

Mon – Fri Deep End/Waterslide 1:00 – 4:00pm and 6:30 – 9:00pm