A day for jokes, laughter, and foolishness. Could life be more fun? Have some silly fun with your little one on this foolish day. Here are some ideas....
Bring out the party hats and noisemakers for a silly breakfast. Serve pancakes topped with whipped cream and sprinkles (it's only one day, shake it up a bit)!
Buy some soap crayons and allow your little one to decorate the bathroom!
Hang some large pieces of white paper or rolls of wrapping paper (white side facing out) on the patio walls and let the kids fingerpaint!
Serve a backwards dinner: start with dessert, then have the entree (again, doing this only one time isn't going to hurt anyone).
Hit the toy store or local drug store, and purchase several "goofy" gift items: waxed lips, fake teeth, lollipop rings, silly sunglasses, fake moustaches, magic tricks, candy in shaped of other items (candy hamburgers, pizza, etc...). Put together a gift bag of silly, inexpensive surprises for your little one for the day.
April Fool's!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Focus on the beauty of a Spring rainbow and work on color sorting and gluing skills with this colorful activity!
What You'll Need: A box of Fruit Loops cereal; white card stock; rainbow coloring page; crayons
Adults: Start by printing one or all of the rainbow coloring pages or drawing your own rainbow onto a piece of white card stock . Then, color each stripe of the rainbow lightly in the following colors: blue, red, orange, yellow, and green.
Now, pour out some of the cereal on the table. Help your child sort the cereal by colors: blue, red, orange, yellow, and green. Then, have your little ones glue the cereal pieces onto each corresponding stripe of the rainbow.
Allow the rainbows time to dry and then hand them the crayons and let them color the remainder of their Springtime masterpiece!
Rainbow Page 1: 5 colors
Rainbow Page 2 : 4 colors
Rainbow Page 3 : 4 colors
What You'll Need: A box of Fruit Loops cereal; white card stock; rainbow coloring page; crayons
Adults: Start by printing one or all of the rainbow coloring pages or drawing your own rainbow onto a piece of white card stock . Then, color each stripe of the rainbow lightly in the following colors: blue, red, orange, yellow, and green.
Now, pour out some of the cereal on the table. Help your child sort the cereal by colors: blue, red, orange, yellow, and green. Then, have your little ones glue the cereal pieces onto each corresponding stripe of the rainbow.
Allow the rainbows time to dry and then hand them the crayons and let them color the remainder of their Springtime masterpiece!
Rainbow Page 1: 5 colors
Rainbow Page 2 : 4 colors
Rainbow Page 3 : 4 colors
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
Spring is officially here! Which means very little for our family because we live in Colorado. This means Monday could be sunny and 70, Tuesday we could be under a thunder storm warning, and Wednesday could bring a blizzard. So, in honor of the crazy Colorado Spring weather, Mom of the Month will be focusing on weather for the next few weeks. We'll have weather-related crafts, experiments, and even recipes for you and your family to enjoy.
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
This activity is great for little ones who are first learning to cut.
Here's what you'll need: clear contact paper rolled out and cut into 8x11 pieces (you will need 2 pieces for each raindrop you wish to make), raindrop template, a pair of children's scissors, light and dark blue tissue paper (adults cut into long 1 inch strips)
Give your child the strips of tissue paper and the scissors and allow them to cut the strips into random pieces.
Carefully peel off the backing on one piece of contact paper and lay sticky-side up on the table (you may need to tape down the corners with some scotch tape to keep it from rolling up).
Have your child randomly stick their blue construction paper pieces to the contact paper.
When finished, carefully peel the backing off of the other piece of contact paper and lay sticky-side down on top of the piece with the construction pieces attached (sticky sides of contact paper together).
Trace the raindrop template onto the contact paper and cut out the raindrop shape.
Hang raindrops in a window so the light shines through.
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
This activity is great for little ones who are first learning to cut.
Here's what you'll need: clear contact paper rolled out and cut into 8x11 pieces (you will need 2 pieces for each raindrop you wish to make), raindrop template, a pair of children's scissors, light and dark blue tissue paper (adults cut into long 1 inch strips)
Give your child the strips of tissue paper and the scissors and allow them to cut the strips into random pieces.
Carefully peel off the backing on one piece of contact paper and lay sticky-side up on the table (you may need to tape down the corners with some scotch tape to keep it from rolling up).
Have your child randomly stick their blue construction paper pieces to the contact paper.
When finished, carefully peel the backing off of the other piece of contact paper and lay sticky-side down on top of the piece with the construction pieces attached (sticky sides of contact paper together).
Trace the raindrop template onto the contact paper and cut out the raindrop shape.
Hang raindrops in a window so the light shines through.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Naughty Little Leprechauns!
My great friend Tina inspired this wonderful St. Patrick's tradition in our home. It's a great way to have some fun with your little ones!
Leprechauns are a rowdy little bunch, and they love playing pranks. So, throughout the day, create little "pranks" that have been pulled by those pesky little leprechauns: pile all of the stuffed animals on the bed, put the couch cushions on the floor, turn over the chairs at the kitchen table. Whatever silly, fun little pranks you can come up with that will bring out the laughter!
Later in the day (after nap, after dinner, after bath), the pesky leprechauns who've been wreaking havoc all day will surprise your child with a special treat. Leave a trail of gold coins (real gold dollars or chocolate covered). At the end of the trail lays a fun "green" treat. My son will be getting a green gift bag filled with green pencils, a green silly straw, a green ball, a leprechaun cup, a green toothbrush, and green M&Ms. Go big, go small, just go for fun!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Leprechauns are a rowdy little bunch, and they love playing pranks. So, throughout the day, create little "pranks" that have been pulled by those pesky little leprechauns: pile all of the stuffed animals on the bed, put the couch cushions on the floor, turn over the chairs at the kitchen table. Whatever silly, fun little pranks you can come up with that will bring out the laughter!
Later in the day (after nap, after dinner, after bath), the pesky leprechauns who've been wreaking havoc all day will surprise your child with a special treat. Leave a trail of gold coins (real gold dollars or chocolate covered). At the end of the trail lays a fun "green" treat. My son will be getting a green gift bag filled with green pencils, a green silly straw, a green ball, a leprechaun cup, a green toothbrush, and green M&Ms. Go big, go small, just go for fun!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Sweetest St Patrick's Treats
Whip up some sweet and tasty fun with these eye-catching rainbow cupcakes featured in Disney Family Fun Magazine. Easy to make and even more fun to eat! Decorate the tops with rainbow sprinkles or gold-covered chocolate coins.
For another sweet, but less sugary, dessert treat, try the pots of gold for your favorite little leprechauns, also featured in Disney Family Fun Magazine.
No time to bake? No problem! Keep it simply festive. Add some green food coloring to vanilla pudding, vanilla yogurt, milk, eggs, pancake batter, the possibilities (and giggles) are endless!
This is also a good time to start collecting items to surprise your little one on St. Patrick's Day. At our house, a magical little leprechaun stops by for a visit and wreaks some havoc around the house, but also leaves behind a special treat. More on this magical leprechaun visit tomorrow, but it's a good idea to start prepping now.
Suggestions: Several "gold" dollar coins (available at banks) and/or gold-covered chocolate coins; a variety of silly green treats and toys (available at the $1 Store) like green cars, green bouncy balls, a green cup, green pencils, shamrock stickers, green bendy straws, green M&Ms, green toothbrush, green bracelet or ring or necklace, green hair ties, etc...
For another sweet, but less sugary, dessert treat, try the pots of gold for your favorite little leprechauns, also featured in Disney Family Fun Magazine.
No time to bake? No problem! Keep it simply festive. Add some green food coloring to vanilla pudding, vanilla yogurt, milk, eggs, pancake batter, the possibilities (and giggles) are endless!
This is also a good time to start collecting items to surprise your little one on St. Patrick's Day. At our house, a magical little leprechaun stops by for a visit and wreaks some havoc around the house, but also leaves behind a special treat. More on this magical leprechaun visit tomorrow, but it's a good idea to start prepping now.
Suggestions: Several "gold" dollar coins (available at banks) and/or gold-covered chocolate coins; a variety of silly green treats and toys (available at the $1 Store) like green cars, green bouncy balls, a green cup, green pencils, shamrock stickers, green bendy straws, green M&Ms, green toothbrush, green bracelet or ring or necklace, green hair ties, etc...
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Find Gold at the End of This Rainbow
St Patrick's Day is only a few days away, but you can start the festivities now! Although this can be messy activity, it is loads of fun! And there are several variations on this art project, but this one's been the most successful for me.
What You'll Need: light blue construction paper; washable finger or tempera paint in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white; a pencil; A LOT of baby or hand wipes
1. Start by using the pencil to lightly draw 6 curved rainbow lines on the construction paper,
2. Dip your child's pointer finger in the red paint. Have them follow the top rainbow line with their finger, adding paint if necessary. Wipe your child's finger with the wipes, then do the same with the orange paint. Continue this process with each color in the order listed above.
3. Have your child make a fist. Paint the outside part of their fist with the white paint. Dab the white paint fists at the end of each rainbow or all the way across the bottom to male clouds.
For another variation of this same art project visit the Kaboose website.
What You'll Need: light blue construction paper; washable finger or tempera paint in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white; a pencil; A LOT of baby or hand wipes
1. Start by using the pencil to lightly draw 6 curved rainbow lines on the construction paper,
2. Dip your child's pointer finger in the red paint. Have them follow the top rainbow line with their finger, adding paint if necessary. Wipe your child's finger with the wipes, then do the same with the orange paint. Continue this process with each color in the order listed above.
3. Have your child make a fist. Paint the outside part of their fist with the white paint. Dab the white paint fists at the end of each rainbow or all the way across the bottom to male clouds.
For another variation of this same art project visit the Kaboose website.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Mardi Gras Parade
Party time! Everyone loves a parade! So get out your musical instruments, dress up in purple, green and gold, put on your beads and your masks...and strike up the band! Put on the jazz and dance up a storm! Looking for some more crafts to do with your kids? Then make your own instruments!
Drums: Wrap an empty coffee can or oatmeal with one of your child's own paintings or drawings. Grab some wooden spoons and drum away!
Tambourine: Take 2 paper plates and have your little one color or paint the outside. Fill the plate with a few dried beans, dry rice, or small pieces of dry pasta. Glue the edges together. Once dry, shake it, shake it, shake it!
Silly Shakers: This one couldn't be easier. Fill your tupperware containers or water bottles with dried beans, dry rice, or dry pasta. Close the lid and you have the easiest noise maker ever!
It doesn't matter if it's homemade perfection, tupperware simplicity, or store bought. Just play the music and get moving! Mix your parade with your dinner party, and you've got a great family evening! Happy Mardi Gras!!!
Drums: Wrap an empty coffee can or oatmeal with one of your child's own paintings or drawings. Grab some wooden spoons and drum away!
Tambourine: Take 2 paper plates and have your little one color or paint the outside. Fill the plate with a few dried beans, dry rice, or small pieces of dry pasta. Glue the edges together. Once dry, shake it, shake it, shake it!
Silly Shakers: This one couldn't be easier. Fill your tupperware containers or water bottles with dried beans, dry rice, or dry pasta. Close the lid and you have the easiest noise maker ever!
It doesn't matter if it's homemade perfection, tupperware simplicity, or store bought. Just play the music and get moving! Mix your parade with your dinner party, and you've got a great family evening! Happy Mardi Gras!!!
Monday, March 7, 2011
French Quarter Feast
Fat Tuesday is the final day of the Mardi Gras celebration. And do we really need an excuse to have a special meal and celebration with our family? Pull out those pasta bead necklaces and homemade masks, as well as any leftover party hats, beads, streamers, horns, and decorations from past parties. Trust me, Mardi Gras is all about being over-the-top, so go to town with this! Then prepare our super simple meal and dessert below and have a family feast on Tuesday evening! On the menu: Jambalaya buffet and King Cake.
The King Cake is a New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition. The tasty, usually cinnamon laced bread is covered with icing and sprinkles in the traditional purple, green, and gold. A trinket is hidden within the cake. The person biting into the piece with the trinket becomes the king for the day, and is often held responsible for hosting next year's celebration and making next year's cake.
Visit our website for recipe instructions and ideas to make this a fun and festive family supper.
For more information, recipes, histories, party tips, and ideas on Mardi Gras, visit Infoplease.com or the official Mardi Gras Madness page.
The King Cake is a New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition. The tasty, usually cinnamon laced bread is covered with icing and sprinkles in the traditional purple, green, and gold. A trinket is hidden within the cake. The person biting into the piece with the trinket becomes the king for the day, and is often held responsible for hosting next year's celebration and making next year's cake.
Visit our website for recipe instructions and ideas to make this a fun and festive family supper.
For more information, recipes, histories, party tips, and ideas on Mardi Gras, visit Infoplease.com or the official Mardi Gras Madness page.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mardi Gras Masks
It wouldn't be a Mardi Gras celebration without colorful masks to go along with those fabulous pasta "bead" necklaces. Making masks takes very little effort but can be loads of fun for your little ones.
What you'll need: Plain eye masks (purchase from party or crafts stores) OR some of these printable mask templates printed on card stock and cut out by an adult; green, purple and yellow markers, paint, glitter, sequins, feathers, beads, or whichever adornments you have around the house; glue; yarn or lengths of elastic; staples or tape (optional); straws (optional)
Once you have purchased or cut out the masks, allow your little ones to be as creative as they want in decorating the masks. The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold, but allow them to be as creative as colorful as they wish.
Ready made-masks will already have an elastic band to attach to your child's head. You can do the same on a mask template by punching small holes in the outer corners and threading elastic or yarn through and tying in a large knot. Or you can tape or staple the yarn or elastic. Using yarn is probably easiest, since you can then tie it onto your children's heads and adjust it to fit. Or, affix a straw with glue or strong tape to one side of the mask and make it a handheld mask.
Worn with yesterday's Mardi Gras pasta bead necklaces, these masks can make a fun and festive addition to a delicious Mardi Gras meal or a fun family parade around the block or house on Tuesday. Stay tuned tomorrow for simple instructions to make your own parade drums and for a tasty (and easy) Cajun menu the whole family will enjoy on Fat Tuesday!
What you'll need: Plain eye masks (purchase from party or crafts stores) OR some of these printable mask templates printed on card stock and cut out by an adult; green, purple and yellow markers, paint, glitter, sequins, feathers, beads, or whichever adornments you have around the house; glue; yarn or lengths of elastic; staples or tape (optional); straws (optional)
Once you have purchased or cut out the masks, allow your little ones to be as creative as they want in decorating the masks. The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold, but allow them to be as creative as colorful as they wish.
Ready made-masks will already have an elastic band to attach to your child's head. You can do the same on a mask template by punching small holes in the outer corners and threading elastic or yarn through and tying in a large knot. Or you can tape or staple the yarn or elastic. Using yarn is probably easiest, since you can then tie it onto your children's heads and adjust it to fit. Or, affix a straw with glue or strong tape to one side of the mask and make it a handheld mask.
Worn with yesterday's Mardi Gras pasta bead necklaces, these masks can make a fun and festive addition to a delicious Mardi Gras meal or a fun family parade around the block or house on Tuesday. Stay tuned tomorrow for simple instructions to make your own parade drums and for a tasty (and easy) Cajun menu the whole family will enjoy on Fat Tuesday!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Mardi Gras Necklaces
Mardi Gras is in full swing in New Orleans. So why not take this opportunity to have some super-silly fun with your little ones for the next few days! And what is one of the first things that comes to mind for Mardi Gras? Beads! Kids love wearing lots of bright, colorful, noisy beads. So hit up your local hobby, craft, or dollar store for handfuls of cheap beads. Or, try this alternative (and old school) craft...a pasta necklace!
What You'll Need: pasta with hollow center (macaroni, penne, rigatoni, etc...), yarn, scissors, colored markers and/or paints.
1. Pour the pasta out on the table and allow your little one to color the pieces with markers or paint them. Allow time to dry.
2. Measure out and cut pieces of yarn to fit loosely around your child's neck. Help your little one string the pieces of pasta onto the yarn.
3. Tue the yarn together in a knot and string around your necks.
Make as many as you want, and keep them nearby for a big family celebration Tuesday night!
Stay tuned for more fun Mardi Gras plans: mask making, homemade drums, Mardi Gras parade, easy to assemble and bake King cakes, and a fun Fat Tuesday menu idea.
Craft supplies to have on hand: construction paper, yarn, paints, markers, glitter, glue, sequins, empty oatmeal or coffee cans
Grocery items to have on hand: can of cinnamon rolls (like Pillsbury), white icing, colorful sprinkles, jambalaya mix, turkey sausage, shrimp, chicken
What You'll Need: pasta with hollow center (macaroni, penne, rigatoni, etc...), yarn, scissors, colored markers and/or paints.
1. Pour the pasta out on the table and allow your little one to color the pieces with markers or paint them. Allow time to dry.
2. Measure out and cut pieces of yarn to fit loosely around your child's neck. Help your little one string the pieces of pasta onto the yarn.
3. Tue the yarn together in a knot and string around your necks.
Make as many as you want, and keep them nearby for a big family celebration Tuesday night!
Stay tuned for more fun Mardi Gras plans: mask making, homemade drums, Mardi Gras parade, easy to assemble and bake King cakes, and a fun Fat Tuesday menu idea.
Craft supplies to have on hand: construction paper, yarn, paints, markers, glitter, glue, sequins, empty oatmeal or coffee cans
Grocery items to have on hand: can of cinnamon rolls (like Pillsbury), white icing, colorful sprinkles, jambalaya mix, turkey sausage, shrimp, chicken
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Happy Birthday, Dr Seuss!
Happy 107th Birthday to one of our favorite children's book authors! Have some awesome fun with your little ones to celebrate his birthday! Here are some simple ideas for some at-home fun!
1. Read! Read! Read! Choose from the many books written by Seuss, or just read some of your little ones' favorites together (which we know you do anyway).
2. Visit your local library for story time!
3. Have a Seussical feast! One idea: green eggs and ham! Cook up some scrambled eggs and add a few drops of green food coloring. Then make a "green" ham sandwich on the side: just add a few drops of green food coloring to the mayo, mustard, or ranch dressing and of course include several green lettuce leaves.
4. Make a Cat in the Hat Pizza (originally featured in the March 2007 Parents magazine)! Purchase a roll of Pillsbury Pizza dough, a jar of pizza sauce, and some grated mozarella cheese. Unroll the pizza dough and cut off a 1/2 inch section at the bottom. Roll and stretch out the dough to create the bottom rim of the hat. Keeping the rest of the dough in a rectangular shape, place it atop the rim. Now, pour the pizza sauce over the entire "hat". Finally, using the mozzarella, create the "stripes" on the hat, leaving 1 inch spaces of just sauce between each mozzarella stripe. Bake following the directions on the pizza dough package. Serve with a side of veggies.
For more information on Dr. Suess, as well as great ideas for games and activities you can do with your children, visit the Seussville website .
1. Read! Read! Read! Choose from the many books written by Seuss, or just read some of your little ones' favorites together (which we know you do anyway).
2. Visit your local library for story time!
3. Have a Seussical feast! One idea: green eggs and ham! Cook up some scrambled eggs and add a few drops of green food coloring. Then make a "green" ham sandwich on the side: just add a few drops of green food coloring to the mayo, mustard, or ranch dressing and of course include several green lettuce leaves.
4. Make a Cat in the Hat Pizza (originally featured in the March 2007 Parents magazine)! Purchase a roll of Pillsbury Pizza dough, a jar of pizza sauce, and some grated mozarella cheese. Unroll the pizza dough and cut off a 1/2 inch section at the bottom. Roll and stretch out the dough to create the bottom rim of the hat. Keeping the rest of the dough in a rectangular shape, place it atop the rim. Now, pour the pizza sauce over the entire "hat". Finally, using the mozzarella, create the "stripes" on the hat, leaving 1 inch spaces of just sauce between each mozzarella stripe. Bake following the directions on the pizza dough package. Serve with a side of veggies.
For more information on Dr. Suess, as well as great ideas for games and activities you can do with your children, visit the Seussville website .
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