Non - Screen Activities: Day 3, Day 4, Day 5

Opening thought: The week is over?  (WHIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEE)

Next thought: My camera is temperamental. 

My apologies for not posting the last few days with the activities that G and I have been doing.  My camera has been acting funny lately.  Not to sure why... My Nikon is usually super easy to use.. Hmmm.. Maybe it's just my lack of technological savviness shining through.  So my apologies again for not posting, and for not sprinkling the post with pics of our day.


Day 3:  Ribbon Rope Romping

Materials:
Long stick of some sort (LOL...)
Ribbons of varying colours
Music (Slow, fast, classical, rock, N*SYNC (Sigh), Glee soundtrack (Yippee!), etc.... Anything works!
Instruments (Gabby and I used shakers, pots and pans, a xylophone, she used the wall... I stopped her...)
The picture below shows bells.. What an awesome idea!  Next time...

While G was exploring the contents of her Surprise Box (Wrapping paper, ribbons and gift bags - All of which she bit and threw around) I made the simple ribbon rope, tying one end of the stick with different colours of ribbon.  Now that I think about it, next time we do this activity, I will probably construct the wand similar to those of rhythmic gymnastics, so there is more movement....

I like to think that G and I looked like this while moving to the music...

Unfortunately, it is highly likely that we looked like this:

But G had a blast!

Day 4: Playing with Ice

Materials:
Ice (I made it myself!)
Food colouring
Large Container

G had a really super time  playing with the different cubes of ice.  At first I tried it with regular ice.   Then I tried it by colouring the ice cubes with food colouring and using different molds.  Oh yeah... points for creativity!  In any case G loved the ice activity.  She loved the feel of the ice on her hands, the way it kept slipping out of her grip, etc.. I also had a container of warm water next to the ice tub so she could feel the difference between the cold and the warm.

Day 5: Gramma's house

No activity today :(  I had to go to school and pick up some photocopies and get some stuff done.  Boo.  but G had a super time at Gramma's.  She always does.

I had an awesome time playing and spending some real time with by girl.  I know she appreciates it, and while my To Do list did not get shorter, I spent a fabulous week with my girl.

And I tried THREE new recipes!
Awesome am I.

And I want these Zara Ankle Studded Booties

But I will fight the temptation as I am on a shopping ban.  But that, (dramatic pause...) is another story..

*Cue Neverending Story Theme song.....

Non-Screen Activities: Day 2

Day 2 - Sensory Play

Materials:

Flour
Plastic spoons and small containers
Tray or cookie sheet - At first I used an old cookie container, but then realized
that it was too deep, so I just used Gabby's tray on her high chair

Gabby has been really into touching and feeling different textures lately.  She loves those books where she can lift the flaps, and feel materials.  And so I was inspired to do a sensory activity.

Initially, I wanted to use popcorn kernels, or an array of beans, but I didn't have any on hand, so I used plain 'ol baking flour.

And did she have fun.


She loved the feel of the flour!

And though G kept tasting the flour, I was really surprised that she only tasted it a few times before deciding that it was well, gross.
G sat and played with plain 'ol baking flour for 15 minutes!  Who needs television when we have the ever exciting but terribly plain and needs some colour baking flour!?!  Now.. I need to think of ways to colour it... Kool Aid, maybe?

I also started the "Surprise Box" every morning.  I just used an aluminum cookie tin (the same one used during our first attempts with flour play) and filled it with items that fit under a theme.

This morning I placed a black beaded necklace, a purple plastic bangle and a long rectangular jewelry box in the tin.

She loved looking at things that were not her everyday toys.  As she explored each item, I explained what each was, what I used it for, colours, etc.  Even before this non-screen adventure, I always tried to fill G days with a full lexicon.

I truly believe that G enjoyed herself today - We hope you did too!

Non-Screen Activities: Day 1

Has your child ever emptied out a tissue box?  Have they ever found enjoyment in pulling wipe after wipe after wipe out of its home?  G has.  I have found her amongst a sea of wipes, the couch soaked in its moistness (is that a word?) and bites taken out of random sheets everywhere.  So naturally I was super excited about this activity.

Materials:

Empty wipes box or tissue box ( I opted for the wipes box, since the Gabster is a biter)

Fabric strips

Forgive my crappy cutting job. 

Such simple materials, yet they provided a lot of fun for my G!  I introduced the box to her this morning while I made breakfast. 

She was curious at first.

G began pulling out the fabric.  And pulling the fabric.  And throwing the box.  And pulling the fabric.  Until she got frustrated that there was no end in sight!  LOL!  I laughed so hard while she cried in frustration.  So mean.  I know.  But so enjoyable.

I introduced the box to her again this afternoon.  G was in a much better mood by then.  She loved it!  She pulled out the fabric until she came to a knot that need a “Mommy” pull.  But instead of crying for help, G pulled the box around the room. 

She wrapped the fabric around her neck.  She walked around and around the room, frequently looking back at the box that followed her.  She looked like she was having a great time.  At one point she tripped, and cried and I panicked because I thought that she was choking herself.  But she was just being dramatic.  But if you decide to do this activity, keep a keen eye on your beloveds.

We also went outside and blew bubbles.  This is something we did during the summer, but when the cooler weather came, we stopped.  I decided that bubbles would part of our day.  G had a blast.  Running.  Chasing the bubbles.  Falling.  Making these weird gurgling sounds when she saw the bubbles.

It was awesome. 

I didn't use the television until I began to prep my paella this afternoon (which was super yummy, by the way.  I am actually checking some items off o f my reading week checklist. Oh yeah.)  Gabby happily watched the Wiggles, while I cooked our dinner.  I did notice, that she still played with the magical wipe box instead of being zombified by the 4 grown men dancing around singing catchy children’s songs.

So today was a success.  I was really proud of G and of myself as well.  The house was a little more disastrous, but it was a fabulous day. 

Tomorrow – We get messy. 

Non-Screen Activities: The Inspiration

Tomorrow kicks off our first day of Reading Week!  Whoo hoo! :)
G and I are going to attempt to have some real quality time.  Usually I put her in front of the television (DVDs of choice include "The Wiggles", "Blues Clues" "Toopy and Binoo" and "Oswald and Friends") when I need to cook dinner, and I try (TRY is the operative word) to keep the screen time to a minimum.  But lately I have been using the television more and more as a babysitter.  And people, the girl loves her some television.  So this week I decided that I would try and have some more REAL QUALITY TIME with my girl.  Quality time that does not involve any screen of any sort.

I have been scouring the internet for some fun ideas for the G and myself to do this week.  I have committed myself to try AT LEAST 1 non-screen time activity with my beloved daughter.  This site has an awesome list of 50 Toddler Activities that G and I will attempt. 

Our days (Hopefully) will be filled with fun, and the evenings/naptime (I am hoping) will be filled with school prep, and house stuff

I am praying that I don't freak out when the flour for a sensory activity goes awry.

I am praying that I don't have a level of expectation for how G should behave when we are attempting an activity.

I am praying that I enjoy the time I am spending with her. 

Wish us luck - Tune in tomorrow for the gory details. :)

Reading Week - The Beginning

Well - We made to the half way mark.  I love reading week.  I LOVE reading week.

Sigh.  I will attempt to catch up on my prep, marking and house projects.

Attempt is the operative word.

But in addition to catching up on school and house work, I have made a promise that I will spend some real, non-screen quality time with my daughter.

She has been so inquisitive lately.  So I have been looking for some age appropriate activities for G to do.  I am discovering she is quite the high maintenance child (Where she gets it, is beyond me. *Wink) She loves books, has developed a new affinity for stickers, and using instruments while listening to music.  Recently, while on a shopping trip G spent 10 minutes looking at the sparkly, pink necklaces on display at the Children's Place.  I placed few on her and she happily gazed at herself in the mirror, laughing and touching the jewellery on her neck.

This is my monster of a list that I am going to ATTEMPT to tackle.  Remember, ATTEMPT is the operative word.

1) One fun, non-screen, (non-shopping) activity with G everyday
2) Organize closet
3) Organize Gabrielle's closet and drawers
4) Prep and Mark
5) Try at least 2 new recipes for dinner

Everyday I try to make life interesting for both my husband and baby (Or toddler...Sigh).  The moment I stop trying, I know I am stuck in a rut.  I refuse to be stuck in a rut.

So this reading week, I will be trying.  And breathing.  And trying again if I fail - Wish me luck!

Pink soles.

Leather.
Free shipping.
Camel.
$40
Flat = Practical.
Uber comfy.
And the best part?
After a conversation comes the walk away.
With the walk away comes a glance at my feet, because you can' t help but realize....
Pink soles.

Nap Times = Productivity

I adore naptimes.  When G goes down for a nap, I realize how unbelievably productive I am.
I realize that in 1-2 hours I can do the following:

1) Prep and cook dinner
2) Sweep, vacuum and swiffer the living room floor - Our homebase for the day...
3) Wash the dishes - Sometimes put away if I am ambitious.  But I will usually prioritize - Is there enough time?
4) Mark tests - Get some prep done for the next class
5) Sweep the kitchen floor - Probably for the umpteenth time.
6) Check FB and email.  Multiple times. Usually in between the sweep, vaccume and swiffer process.
7) Think about the laundry that has to be done.  Contemplate whether clean socks and underthings takes precedence to putting the previous loads away..  Clean unthings usually wins.
8) Take a quick (mega quick) shower.
9) Sit down. Relax.  Enjoy writing this blog just in time for G to wake to up all smiles.

Why can't I be this productive all the time?

And why can't I stop thinking about these amazing Sam Edelman beauties?