Brainstorming: End of Year Gifts for Teachers

I like to give something small and unique to my boys' teachers at the end of the school year. In the past, they have given little handy desk kits (post-it notes, paper clips, pen, etc all done up in a decorative tin), pens, home-made cards for all occasions, crocheted bookmarks with a gift card.... something useful with a personal touch has been the goal.

So, I am starting to think about what to do for the teachers this year... a few of the ideas I am considering are:

• a door-knob reminder pouch - something to hang on the door knob where they stash those things thay must. not. forget. on the way out the door! 
• i-tunes gift card - could be for personal or school use as the teachers are all getting i-pads for their classrooms
• crocheted pencil jar for their desk
• Something from Discovery Toys, to spread the joy... like one of these options, all available here:

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Wiz Kids game could easily be played in the classroom (and everyone can participate at the same time!)....

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Mosaic Mysteries and Playful Patterns would both have many uses in the classroom for play as well as for math and art classes....

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Games on the Go offers a slew of games in one box (and, as each game is on a separate card, Games on the Go would also make a great classmate gift - one card/game per child with a little note and my child's phone number, to stay in touch over the summer!)....

... Decisions, decisions ;-)

Fun Toy: Tricky Fingers

I was at a Craft and Vendor Fair on the weekend, for the first time, with my toys!

It was a fantastic afternoon.... many, many children were attracted by my "wares" and parents were equally as interested! I mean, seriously, why wouldn't they come see my table? Discovery Toys are SO colourful and attractive you can't help but be drawn to them.... and you can tell they are well made! Like I tell everyone, as a mom I am looking for toys that are SAFE and FUN that help my kids LEARN.... and that, my friends, is exactly what a DT toy delivers!

But, as exciting as all that was for me, it was not want I wanted to talk about today.... I wanted to let you know about TRICKY FINGERS.

GET IT HERE!

When I first saw this toy, I wasn't really sure about it.... however, since it came in the mail, and I have been playing it, I totally get why it is one of DT's best selling toys! It is addictive!

So, basically, you get two of the marble-filled cases and a set of cards with a grid/pattern on them. The goal is to get the different coloured marbles in your case to copy the pattern of the coloured circles on the card. You can play it solo, or challenge yourself against a friend to see who can complete the grid the quickest!

This toy was one  of the ones I displayed on the weekend, and I was thrilled by the diversity of people who played it! Two little 6 year old girls kept coming back and playing it over and over again! A tween boy was also quite taken by it, and I had Moms and grandparents playing it too - one fellow even wanted it to take to the cabin!

You can get Tricky Fingers and other toys form DT's Clever Connectors collection here. 

Remember to....

Play Every Day!

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” 

– George Bernard Shaw

Earth Day Fun Ideas!

Hello Everybody!

Tomorrow is Earth Day!!!!! I was looking online for some things to do with my boys to celebrate, and thought I would share what I found with you :-)

This is gorgeous! Makes a great gift for Mom or Grandma (Mother's Day is just around the corner!).

I love the simplicity of this one - easy to find the supplies and time!

Another one that is easy to find the materials for....
...And who couldn't use some colouring book storage?

Cupcakes!
I will definitely be doing this after school tomorrow! The PERFECT Earth Day Dessert!!!!

ENJOY YOUR EARTH DAY!!! 

REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE... EVERYDAY :-)

A Perfect Bouquet!

How CUTE is this idea???? I simply must do one for me, and for each of the grandmas.... I may even jazz it up a notch, and do them on a plate at Clay Cafe instead of just paper.... though even on paper, framed, it would make one helluva Mother's Day Gift ;-)

I got it here. 

Words of Wisdom

The shock of yesterday's horrific events in Boston have yet to wear off. I think it will take a long time for all of us... such a senseless act! How could somebody AIM to harm people? To hurt children? My heart aches.

The boys have noticed the news.... at 8 & 10, it is hard to keep such things from them. I struggled to explain and comfort them at the same time. Then. later, I was on Facebook and came across this image..... Oh, Mr. Rogers, you still have answers!

From Today's Parent on Facebook here. 

Hammer Away

I had a visit yesterday from my Aunt and my sweet little cousin, soon-to-be-two Amy. Amy was fascinated by all my Discovery Toys items.... but this may have been her favourite: Hammer Away! Her immediate reaction was "Oh! Wow!" and she proceeded to explore... putting the balls through the holes,smacking them in with the hammer; matching up the colours.... when she realised the balls were coming out on the bottom she said "I did it!".  I can't WAIT for her next visit!

find it here

DT's Discovery Dough

Who doesn't love play dough? It's fun, it's squishy, it smells funny....

Here is an easy play dough recipe from Discovery Toys. This one uses the Measure Up Cups, each size corresponds to an actual measurement (#12 = 1 cup, #6 = 1/2 cup, etc), so your kids can use them to help you make any kid-friendly recipe! Plus, the Measure Up Cups stack really high, and the designs imprinted on them are great for stamping on play dough and cutting it out - TONS of FUN!

To get your own Measure Up Cups, order online here.

Lalaloopsy Paper Bag Puppets

Sometimes, I come across something uber-fun, like these cute little Lalaloopsy Paper Bag Puppets and I wish I had more kids!. Scratch that - it happens often, not sometimes, LOL. These are unlikely to spark interest with my two pre-tween boys....but maybe you have a kid or two who would like them ;-)

find the print outs here

You can find a ton of Nick Jr. inspired crafts on their website here. 

iCrochet ;-)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOOOVE to crochet. I have just spent most of the morning looking at patterns online (while my kids CLEANED their playroom and bedroom! O.M.G.!!!). Here is the link to the site I was drooling over today: grandmotherspatternbook.com.

A lot of the items posted on Grandmother's Pattern Book are vintage, afghans, dresses and the like. I usually don't make stuff like that - cute little hat sets, like this one that I made for my cousin's daughter, are more my style. But, I love looking online for inspiration - I can lost in it for the entire day :-) Whatever makes you happy, right?

Isn't she cute?

Owl hat & mitts set on the sweetest little girl :-)

Toonie Matinees for Easter Break

Did you know Empire Theatres has Toonie Matinees this week? I am off to see Hotel Transylvania with my peeps this afternoon - I missed it in the theatre and I am SO excited!

More listings/source

If you want to play hookie tomorrow afternoon and enjoy a kid-friendly movie with your crew, you can find the details here. 

What We Are Doing on this Sunny Day

It's a sunny day, not too shabby weather wise for early April here in NL! The boys are out front with the neighbourhood kids alternatively playing street hockey and lounging in their newly built "snow couches"... me, I am just enjoying the moment ;-)

Good Ol' Canadian fun, eh? (source)

World Autism Day - DT Lights It Up Blue!

I love Discovery Toys - so much so that I signed up as a consultant to share the love ;-) Not only are their toys educational AND fun, they support great causes - like Autism Awareness!

Today, April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day and Discovery Toys is participating all month long (April 1 - 30) in the Light It Up Blue program to help shine a light on autism. Purchase any of these selected 8 DT Products and Discovery Toys will donate $1 to Autism Speaks® for each product sold! Discovery Toys also identifies which toys are suitable to build various skills by labelling each toy in their catalogue with a special autism symbol so parents can easily find the toys that meet their child's specific developmental needs! Cool, huh?

More Details on my Facebook page HERE!

According to Health Canada, Autism is one of many conditions that fall into the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) category. Autism affects the way the brain develops, causing the individual to have difficulty with communication and social interaction, and unusual patterns of behaviour, activities and interests. While symptomatic behaviours can vary from very mild to quite severe depending on the individual affected, children "on the spectrum" almost always have trouble communicating, problems with social interaction, repetitive behaviours, or unusual or limited interests. Possible signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders include, but are not limited to: trouble with pointing or making meaningful gestures by 1 year; inability to speak one word by 16 months or to combine two words by 2 years; being unresponsive to own name; avoidance of making eye contact; strong resistance to changes in routines. For more information, consult your doctor or visit the Health Canada Autism page here.