Playroom August 27 2012

BonBon Break

LEARNING OFF ENERGY ::: Moving Smart


The other day, a proud, loving, enthusiastic mom told me, “I like to let my child run around and burn off energy.”

Sigh.

You might be surprised to hear that this statement, well-intended though it may be, is a pet peeve of mine. In fact, I’m so peevish about it, I’ve decided to share a few thoughts on the matter.

To “burn off” means to “exhaust, deplete, waste, get rid of.” And, of course, when it comes to little ones, that usually means getting those ants out of their pants. Now, in my line of work I certainly understand antsy kids, and appreciate any parent wise enough to spot the signals and let their kids loose. But it’s the adult logic that bugs me…

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About Gill: Founder of MOVING SMART Ltd, co-author of MOVING TO LEARN, and a teacher of teachers, parents, and young children, Gill is a child development expert with a unique focus on the role of movement and play in the natural process of children’s cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. For more insights into why kids do what they do and what you can do about it, please read Gill’s Moving Smart Blog.

Follow Moving Smart on FacebookTwitter and Pinterest.

RAISING BOYS WHO WANT TO READ ::: No Time for Flashcards


How do we as parents lay the foundation for our children, especially our boys to love reading? How do we get active toddlers interested in sitting to read? And how do we show them that even if reading is hard it’s worth the effort?

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owentook005-2About Allison: Allison McDonald is the founder and editor of No Time For Flash Cards a blog all about learning through play, creativity and good books. She is a mom of two, former preschool teacher and life long fan of glitter. You can connect with her and her community of readers on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest too!

HOW TO WORK WITH CARDBOARD ::: ikatbag


Cardboard is one of the most versatile crafting materials – it’s strong, it’s flexible, it doesn’t require fancy tools, it’s often free and when it falls apart, you can toss it back into the recycling bin! Start with a cardboard box or a flat sheet, a little imagination and some inspiration from the kids to create a toy that will give your little ones hours of open-ended play.

Read LiEr’s tips to working with cardboard and see more than 50 cardboard projects she’s made with and for her children.

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About LiEr: LiEr is a retired Physics teacher who now stays home with her three daughters, age 4, 5 and 7. She enjoys sewing and making things out of corrugated cardboard. She is married to a software engineer, whose sense of reality has saved her from attempting, and failing at, some very daft crafts. She learnt to sew from her mother, aunts, and grandmother, who was a tailor. She can’t remember where she’d learnt cardboard stuff.

Find her regularly on her blog ikatbag, sporadically on Twitter and far too often on Pinterest.

HOW TO VISIT ART MUSEUMS WITH KIDS ::: Mama Scout


Contrary to popular belief, having children does not mean you can not enjoy cultural activities anymore. This article offers five tips for visiting art museums with children that will make visits engaging and fun. With just a little forethought, parents can spend an afternoon taking in an art exhibit with their kids without fear of being kicked out of the museum!

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About Amy: Amy Bowers blogs at Mama Scout about big, creative family living. Featuring open ended projects, inspirational essays and resources, she aspires to give families the courage to create the life and adventures they want with their children. She is offering her first month long e-course, Mama Scout Lab in September.

You can connect with Amy on FacebookPinterestEtsy, and Twitter.