Toddler Talk: High Five!

A few weeks ago, our theme in Toddlerville was 'What can your hands do?'- in previous weeks, we had a bit of an increase in using hands for pushing others to get what we needed instead of communicating. Mostly, this involved wanting a toy that someone else was using or wanting to play in an area where someone else was already playing....mine, mine, mine. Oh, toddlers.

This behavior is quite typical of Toddler types as they are in the midst of learning both language skills and the art of social interaction- but when we see an increase in the number of kids using hands as their primary use of communication, we need to find creative ways to address it.

One tool we prepared for the week's lesson we called 'High Five Hands'. A pretty simple idea to allow kids to think about what hands CAN do - Paper hands on sticks that the kids can hold and give High Fives to their pals instead of hitting them on the head or pushing them down. SIDENOTE: It's important to make many, many of these so all kids can have full access to one or two (as most children have 2 hands and want to hold one in each). Also, if there aren't enough for all, then we start fighting and pushing to have a turn, sheesh....and the helpful tool becomes part of the problem we are trying to eliminate. 

Ok here's the High Five Hands play-by-play:

I freestyled a toddler sized hand with paper and pencil to transfer to cardstock and use as a template (but tracing a real live toddlers hand would probably be much easier- I forgot to do such things before leaving work that day so had to improvise):

Then traced out many, many hands (also on cardstock):

Normally I would then staple a few sheets together for quicker cutting, but I didn't have a stapler. Improvisation #2...clips:

Many, many hands:

From there, my favorite. Laminating! I don't know why I love it so much. I just find cutting out laminated things to be relaxing and quite enjoyable:

After cutting out all the newly laminated hands (ahhhh, that was fun), I added a large popsicle stick to the back of each and secured it with some fun duct tape. I didn't really worry about how fancy it looked since I knew in my heart that these tools would get a lot of love (i.e....toddlers break things that are made of paper) from the kids:

I brought the High Five Hands to school and put them in a basket on the shelf for the lovely children to discover:

It didn't take long! They examined the new tools within minutes to figure out what to do with them- I gave a quick tutorial (by holding one and saying,"Hey, give me a High Five!") and the kids took it from there:

We will always have challenges related to toddlers needing things (right now) that they cannot communicate fast enough with words. Hitting and pushing with hands is indeed an effective method of getting what they need....it gets results! But, it's my goal as an educator to not only help the toddlers learn to use words to get what they need but also to begin to develop understanding about how to be a kind and caring human. We can be their model and guide to help kids find new strategies to achieve the same goal with practice, repetition and fun little paper hands:)

Toddler Talk: Art Review 2017

It's that time of year, folks! The 2nd annual Toddler Room Art Review. Last week, we showed the Toddlers two pieces of art work each day and asked them one simple question....What do you see?

The first day, just a few kids came over, took a look and shared their thoughts while others continued to play. But by the end of the week, almost the whole crew was gathered around to examine the works and were totally into it! I had to remind a few friends to sit down so others could see too....building a passion for art in toddlers is fun (and valuable!).

After 10 reviews, we typed up their observations and posted them in the hallway for the CCCC community to enjoy. Our toddlers had some pretty insightful thoughts about how each art piece 'spoke' to them....and such thoughts simply must be shared:

Are you ready????

Little artsy humans are so fantastic! Also...."She's huggin' a duck." 

3 Done and 1 To-Do.

So, lingering little annoying house projects. Anybody have them? I have had a few things on my list of to-do's for several months (maybe even years) that take very little time to accomplish but somehow are impossible to complete.

I finally reached a point where I could stand it no more and told myself that another weekend would not pass until said tasks were done. 

And I did it! I know, I was kind of surprised that I actually listened to myself and for realz followed through. I even sacrificed my Sunday afternoon nap for one of them....that's a big deal. Sunday afternoon naps are kind of my favorite thing.

So I present the 3 Done's:

#1: The spice cabinet (cue dramatic and suspenseful scary musical interlude):

I forgot to take a 'before' picture of this adventure but it looked pretty close to something like this...

Can you relate? Things I found...an almost full bottle of Grapeseed oil expired in 2012, 2 empty jars of black pepper, several nearly empty (and expired) bottles of fancy vinegars and an Onion Powder from 2009!!! Not to mention that most of the other spices that I use on a daily basis were past expiration by more than a few months. Sheesh....how embarrassing. In addition, I had to constantly move spices out of the way to find the one I needed. 

Time for a complete overhaul. I tossed all expired spices, oils and vinegars (which was pretty much everything) and restocked with the basic spices I use most- I splurged a little and went with Penzey's across the board because they are amazing and I just wanted to. 

Then, while at Menards for a different project, I picked up a few organizational racks to make each spice visible and accessible for all my future cooking needs. $6 each I think, plastic, simple. 30 quick minutes of work, and boom:

Organized, functional and NOT EXPIRED. I feel so spicy and free.

#2- Hair Appliance storage:

On any given morning, I use 1 to 3 different appliances to prepare my hair for the day. My bathroom cabinet is less than awesome at organizing stuff as it has no drawers and just one big, open space. Blah (someday I am going to update the bathroom...it will be glorious. But that day is far from today.)

I had been storing them (hair dryer, round brush dryer and flat iron) in a basket under the sink when not in use. But each time I needed one (or 3), I had to wrestle with a tangled mess of cords and always knocked over some bottle of something in the process...maddening, I tell you. And messy:

And if I'm totally honest, most days they all just lay strewn about the counter and toilet. 

But, do you know what's dangerous (and painful)? Stepping on the prongs of the cord at 5 in the morning when it's dark and you're tired and it's on the floor and you forgot it was there.

Enough! Another quick and inexpensive solution- metal hanging basket + cord hook:

Guys, it's a bathroom revolution up in here. And another annoying house project checked off the list. 

#3- The Raspberries:

My raspberry plants are in their 2nd year of life and have produced a modest yet delicious harvest. But, dude, they were quickly becoming quite unruly (as raspberry plants are known to do). My tomato cage set up from last year was no longer cutting the mustard and a better solution had to be found. Some pals of mine have an amazing system in their back yard involving metal u posts and wire....I was determined to duplicate.

For reference, here's the before:

Ahhhh! It's like an alien creature from outer space! Help me!!

Another trip to Menards, a little sweat (and a few tears- I totally hit my hand with the hammer as I was holding the post to drive it into the ground. Note to self: Use the proper tool for any given job. Lesson learned.), some wire strung across from post to post in three tiers and I was in business:

Future bountiful harvests are certain to be in my raspberries' lives...and in my mouth.

And 1 'To-Do': 

I'm pretty sure that my garage door feels sad that it's not pink like the other exterior doors on the house- so next project on the docket is to make the garage door feel pretty like it's friends. Stay tuned....here's the before for future reference:

Just a little encouragement to knock some of those pesky little projects off your list....you can do it! Give yourself a pep talk and a deadline and make it happen. You will feel so happy when you can step back and see the difference a little time and energy can make- and then you can enjoy that Sunday afternoon nap in total peace:)

Crafty Corner: Paper Flowers? I Do.

Hi. It's been quite awhile since I've written a blogpost...sometimes a girl just needs a break from all of life's responsibilities, ya know? (even though blogging is totally a self imposed sudo-responsibility and nothing horrible actually happens if a week goes by unblogged. Except for the fact that my type A brain feels a little itchy and scratchy when I allow myself to not follow thru on a task I had previously set myself to complete...long story short, it's time to blog.)

At the end of July, I had the honor and pleasure to be a member of Team #forevermathews. My lovely friend D was wed to her lovely husband T. I had many important duties to uphold for this blessed event such as Bridesmaid #3, hairstylist for a cutie Junior Bridesmaid, wedding details consultant (as I am currently a Wedding Coordinator by trade), ceremony worship song singer, flower pinner, random errand runner and most importantly a passionate vocal declare-er of D's radiant bridal beauty (and man...was she ever beautiful!)

I also had the pleasure of creating some of the decorations for the ceremony and reception. As many of my best crafting thoughts come to me in sleepy dreamland (or the fleeting moments between awake and asleep), my first idea came to me in the midnight hour....seeing some big fabric flowers with ribbons draping down that could be attached to the ends of the pews and the staircase. I wasn't exactly sure of how to accomplish this, so I headed to the craft store to see if the plan could unfold with some fabric-y inspiration. Well, I got there and there were ZERO suitable fabric options to choose from within the color scheme that D had chosen (orange and grey). Hmmmmmm. 

Ok, no need to panic....I just had to think of a new gameplan. And that plan was paper! In a sweet coincidence, I happened upon a big old stack of orange  clearanced cardstock on an endcap and bought it all (along with another stack of different orange patterned paper that I would figure out what to do with at home). I got to work and came up with a prototype that I was satisfied with and presented it to the Bride for final approval- she gave me the thumbs up so I moved forward with mass production (we needed 20 total for both ceremony and reception).

The Process- Part 1

I cut out 3 cardboard flowers of varying sizes and traced them out on the orange paper, alternating the paper patterns by flower size:

Then cut some strips of vellum to place in between the petals (attached on the back with double sided tape):

Flipped it over and rolled each petal inward with my handy sharpie marker rolling tool:

And repeated the process with the next sized cut out: 

And finally the largest cutout (no vellum strips on the back of this one):

Stuck them all together with more double sided tape:

And added some 'accessories':

The Process- Part 2

Now, for the ribbons to attach to pews and railings. Thought #1- Sewing them onto the paper flowers somehow? 

Thought #2- Or hot glue?

Thought #3- MAGNETS!

Yesssss! This was going to work! I could feel it in my bones! I cut the ribbon to size (after measuring out the needed length at the church on an actual pew):

Marked out where the ribbon would cross to make a loop that fit around the top of the pew:

Sewed 3 of the edges where the ribbon pieces met and then slid a round magnet inside:

And then sewed up the final side, along with a grey accent ribbon sewn to the bottom edge:

Next, I taped another round magnet to the back of the paper flower so the two magnets would stick together and be best friends:

Worked like a charm!

For some reason, I don't have photos of the rest of the flowers all set up along the pews or down the staircase railing....or at the reception (probably because we were having so much fun on the wedding day and were too busy to document such things)...but you get the idea. They turned out great and the Bride was a happy camper:)

Also, I forgot to mention that on the wedding day, a cute fuzzy cow was ever present- there's a story but it's complicated. So instead of explaining further, just enjoy the cuteness- his name is Moos: