A Special Yet Surefire Way to Find Out What Your Little One Thinks of You!

Posted on May 7, 2012 by admin

It may be cliché, but kids do indeed “say the darndest things.” Capturing their innocent, unfiltered thoughts by scribbling notes in a scrapbook or journal, video taping,… can be priceless. So what better gift for an occasion like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day?

We created a free “Mommy/Daddy! According to…” printout that you can fill in with your child, put in a nice frame and wrap for a keepsake gift. Your child’s answers will touch your heart and have your family laughing for a long time to come.

We made versions for all of the special grandparents out there too!

Like this post to download our “Mommy/Daddy! According to…” printouts.

Better Than a Greeting Card!!!

Posted on January 16, 2012 by admin

Whether it’s a birthday, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, a pregnancy or any special occasion… What better way to deliver your message than on your little cutie?

My husband’s 40th birthday is tomorrow. Since I knew he would be especially excited if our little man could wish him a happy birthday–I made him into a “card.” I used fabric crayons to decorate his onesie. You could use any child-safe fabric paint/markers, iron on letters or embroidery. I am excited to put him in his onesie under his pajamas tonight and when Daddy gets him up in the morning he will have a special birthday surprise.

Helpful Hints:

✴If you are doing a two-sided design, do one side and then iron it on (or follow the steps to make your designs permanent) before starting the second side.

✴Put the item of clothing over a book for a hard surface on which to work.

✴Wash the clothing item first to remove any chemicals and preshrink the fabric.

Sarah

Celebrate Old Rock Day with “Fancy Rocks”

Posted on January 6, 2012 by admin

Who knew? Old Rock Day is celebrated on January 7th of each year. What may seem like a fairly silly national day is actually a wonderful opportunity to get outside as a family to explore, learn, and enjoy making a long-lasting craft your child of any age will treasure.

In our family we like to call the activity below “Fancy Rocks,” but please make up your own names (and share them with us!)

Materials:
✴ variety of playfully designed napkins (based on your child’s age & interests)
✴ rocks (no bigger than a grapefruit)
✴ Elmer’s Glue
✴ bowl
✴ paintbrush
✴ plastic/paper cups

Steps to Finding and Creating Your Rocks

1^st Go on a nature hunt to collect rocks

2^nd Give the rocks a “bath” (if they are really dirty pour some hot water over them before bringing them inside so you don’t clog your drain)

3^rd Place them on a towel to dry (or you can use a blow dryer, which little ones think is funny)

4^th Mix Elmer’s Glue with a little bit of water until it is thin enough to spread over a napkin and rock without ripping the napkin

5^th Choose one of your rocks and using a paintbrush, cover with glue. Next wrap a napkin (the napkin should be opened up so it is as thin as possible) around the entire rock (depending on the size of the rock and napkin you may need to rip/cut the napkin)

6^th Using a paintbrush, cover the entire napkin with glue. You can immediately put a second coat on

7^th Carefully place covered rock on top of a plastic cup to dry

8^th Clean up—make sure you get the kids to help and wash the paintbrush immediately so the glue does not dry

You now have “Fancy Rocks” you can use in all sort of ways:
– paper weight
– door stopper
– pet rock—give it a fun name, write a story about it, measure it…
– make a rock collection
– give it as a gift

✴ Depending on your child’s age you may want to discuss rules about rock (no throwing them, carry them with two hands so they don’t fall on little toes—you name it!). Communication and setting these types of expectations ahead of time is part of our Excited 2 Learn philosophy.

Family Holiday Project: Wood Rudolph Lawn Ornament

Posted on December 23, 2011 by admin

Over the past few years my daughter and her Grandpa “Gup” have shared a treasured holiday tradition—putting together our wood Rudolph for the front yard. It’s an original, hand-made project that has been in our family for about 20 years and she loves being a part of it, evidenced by the fact that every time she goes outside she gives it a kiss and says, “Hi!” We’d like to share this craft with you and your family so that you can enjoy it all winter as much as we have. With adult supervision and guidance it’s a perfect family project to try out this weekend (and for years to come!)

Materials:
✴ Wood (see below)
✴ Staple gun or little nails & hammer
✴ A nose (a circular piece red felt, flashing red nose, red plastic cover, spray paint a 1/2 of a tennis ball)
✴ Scissors
✴ Branch pruner
✴ Pocket knife
✴ Wood saw/Hand saw

Just a few years ago!

Wood pieces: (these measurements do not need to be exact)

BODY- 18 to 24 inch round piece of fire wood (4 to 6 inches diameter) Use a wood saw to cut four 1 inch holes (at least 1 inch deep) in the bottom of the body for the legs and one in the top for the neck.

HEAD- 6 to 8 inch round piece of fire wood (4 to 6 diameter). Saw two 1/2 inch holes for the antlers.

Go on a nature hunt and collect five larger sticks for the legs & neck (1 inch in diameter). Cut the the four legs to be 16 to 20 inches. Then find two antler shaped branches (1/2 inch diameter).

EARS & TAIL- Cut with a pocket knife pieces of bark—white birch works very well. You can also use cardboard if it is easier.

Assembling:
✴ Put legs in body & make sure it stands properly. Depending on the bend you will have to twist them around to get Rudolph to stand up straight. You may even want to trim them a little shorter. We have also been known to just stick the longer leg into the ground, which works for a nice anchor if the ground isn’t too frozen.
✴ Attach the neck to the body and then the head to the neck.
✴ Attach the 2 antlers.
✴ Attach the 2 ears to the head and the tail to the body with a staple gun or nails.
✴ Attach the nose.
✴ Tie a ribbon around Rudolph neck if you wish.
✴ Enjoy!
The great thing is that because you don’t use glue, the same reindeer can be taken apart, stored and reassembled every year. Although this project has been done in our family for two decades we re-made this particular reindeer a few years ago, but we’ve only had to replace the ear and tail since.

✴Again, this is a project to do with close supervision (but for young children it may be best to have all the parts pre-made so they don’t need to be around dangerous tools.)

Amanda

Excited 2 Learn

Personalized Wrapping Paper: Getting Kids Involved in Holiday Gifting!

Posted on December 22, 2011 by admin

If you’re like us, you probably still have quite a bit of wrapping left to do before the weekend. One way we’ve started to multitask this holiday season is to involve the kids in customizing our wrapping paper. It’s easy, fun and a whole lot cheaper than buying roll after roll of gift wrap.

Head to your local craft/office supply store and pick up a giant roll of plain white paper. Wrap your gifts using double-sided tape so the tape does not interfere with your child’s creative flair—most markers will not adhere to tape. We’ve found dot markers end up looking the most vibrant and are easy for kids even as young as one to use. Other possible materials include:

✴ ripped paper & glue sticks
✴ stickers
✴ glitter pens
✴ stamps & ink pads
✴ finger paint
✴ sequins

Pick your child’s materials carefully based on their age, familiarity with the supplies, and how closely you will be supervising him/her because some may stain or be choking hazards. As your child is busy creating a masterpiece you can get some much-needed wrapping done—a win win!

To share a laugh with loved ones and add an extra personal touch, ask your child a few questions about the person each gift is for. Then use a Sharpie to write a quote or two on the wrapping paper as well. It has been a big hit in our family so far!

Amanda and Sarah

Excited 2 Learn