Our Mommyhood

Posts Tagged ‘kids’ activities’

By Anne, Guest Writer, Sugar Bowl Mix (@SugarBowlMix)

My girls say this delicious, creamy and simple-to-make chocolate fudge is “crazy good.” Caroline, my eight-year-old, helped me make this, but the recipe is great for younger kids, too. Kids can unwrap the butter and chocolate, pour the sugar, stir the mixture at various stages and smooth over the fudge in the pan. This is an especially fun baking project for kids since there are lots of tasting opportunities along the way.

What You’ll Need

• 6 ounces dark chocolate, broken up
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

How To Make It

1. Place the chocolate a large bowl.
2. Place the butter, sugar and evaporated milk in a medium saucepan.
3. Stir until the butter melts and increase the heat until the mixture is boiling. Let it boil for 6 minutes at a rolling boil.
4. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the chocolate.
5. Gently stir until the chocolate melts.
6. Add the vanilla.
7. Let the mixture cool slightly. I like to place the bowl in an ice water bath in the sink for 20 minutes. But you can also place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
8. Line an 8-inch pan with aluminum foil and grease it lightly with butter.
9. Beat the mixture until it is shiny and thick.
10. Spread it in the pan.
11. Place the fudge in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
12. Remove the fudge from the pan and gently peel away the aluminum foil.
13. Cut into squares or use cookie cutters to create different shapes. Caroline chose to cut the fudge into heart.

Anne is a former Hollywood executive who tries to parent 2 girls with grace, humor and lots of chocolate in Los Angeles. Baking is her distraction, her bliss, her therapy. She writes about Hollywood, girls, baking and Los Angeles at Sugar Bowl Mix.

By Natalie, Contributor, Mommy of a Monster and Infant Twins, (@mommyofamonster)

Valentine’s Day gifts don’t have to cost you a fortune; there are some really easy, inexpensive gifts that your kids can make (and so can you!) to give to special people in their lives.

This year Tater (my three year old son) wants to make his Grandma and his favorite Auntie a Valentine. Here’s what he’s going to make them:

Photo Credit

So cute huh? And so easy; even I, the most un-crafty person I know can do this one.

What you need:

• 1 chenille stem per ring (pink, purple, light blue, white or red)
• White craft glue
• Wrapped candies or Smarties Conversation Hearts

To make it:

1. Wrap the entire chenille around the child’s finger and slide it off
2. Take the end of the chenille and wrap it around the circle to secure the ring
3. Place a wrapped candy on the table and add some white craft glue
4. Place the ring in top of the glue and let dry

Idea from Kaboose

Or how about these beautiful tissue paper flowers?

Photo credit and instructions here

Or this really sweet hand print poem, perfect for parents, grandparents and family.

Photo credit and instructions here

Another fun idea is to make little ‘coupons’ for the kids to give to dad. They might say “Help you rake leaves” or “Wash the car”. Or for younger children “Eat my dinner without complaining” or “I will clean up my toy room” (These would both be a wonderful gift at our house). The coupon idea will work for you to give to hubby, too. You can make coupons for a “Free Pass” for something he does that you’d normally freak out about or maybe a date night without the kids, a back rub or the one that will make any husband happy: coupons for ‘special’ favors, if you know what I mean.

My favorite cheap inexpensive and easy Valentine idea is to write a special love letter. Just get an oversized Valentine’s Day card, or if you’re really crafty, some heavy card stock and make your own. Using the words found on Sweethearts Conversation Hearts, write your sweetie a love letter. Sure, you’ll have to do some writing of your own, but it’s a fun, thoughtful way to show your significant other that you care. I did this for my husband a few years back and he loved it.

Still need more ideas? Check out the Sweethearts website full of crafts and recipes.

What are some of your favorite inexpensive and easy Valentine’s Day gift ideas?

Do you think you might try one or two of the ideas mentioned in this post?

Natalie is a SAHM to three children three and under; a 3 year old son and 1 year old twin girls. She spends her day chasing the three of them in three different directions, usually all at the same time. She blogs about her day-to-day life and the chaos that comes with raising children. She occasionally blogs about her struggles with infertility as well as her battle with depression. In her free time, which she rarely has anymore, she enjoys writing, reading, gardening, cooking, and wine.

By Shannon, Staff Writer, My Baby Clothes Boutique

In the new age of text messages, computer chats, email etc. our mailboxes are turning into lawn ornaments. How many handwritten cards have you received lately? This Valentine’s Day, show the ones you love how much you care with handmade gifts. Scrapbooking paper, stickers and so much more are available at all craft stores to make this year’s Valentine’s cards special. Even your little ones can help make cards for their friends and parents.

Materials Needed

• Red, pink or white construction paper or Scrapbooking printed design paper
• Stickers
• Child-safe scissors
• White and red washable paint
• Plastic google eyes
• Glitter
• Lace paper doilies
• Candy conversation hearts
• Markers
• Glue stick

Instructions

1. Fold a piece of green 8 -1/2 x 11-inch construction paper in half, width-wise

2. Have your child cut 1/2 of a heart shape, using any color construction paper.

Let the Creativity Begin

1. Personalize the card with your child’s handprint.

2. Turn the little heart into a face, for a Valentine buddy. Draw the nose and mouth, then glue on the google eyes to complete the look.

3. Cover your heart with conversation hearts.

4. Let your child cover the heart in glitter.

4. Take a paper lace doily that is larger than your heart. Glue it to the back of the heart to create a lace trim.

5. When the paint and glue have dried, have your child write a special message on the back of this keepsake card.

Your family will love getting this handmade, one of a kind Valentine’s gift.

By Shannon Henrici of My Baby Clothes. They specialize in providing what parents want for their little angels – tutus perfect for any ballerina to be, matching flowered baby headbands for your little flowering buds, and so much more that would be the hit of any baby shower.

By Nicole, Contributor, The Activity Mom (@TheActivityMom)

Grid games are a quick, fun and easy game for preschoolers. They can play by themselves or with others. They can be adapted to any holiday, theme or interest and many skills can be learned from these games while having fun.

How to Play

Roll a die or spin a spinner and place the corresponding number of counters on the grid. Each counter is placed over one picture in the grid. When the grid is full, you win!

What to Use for Counters

Special gear is not required for grid games. In fact, you can use many things around the house, including:

• Cheerios
• M&Ms
• Blocks
• Small Animals or Characters
• Jewels
• Foam Stickers
• Rocks
• Clear Garden Stones

What Your Child Learns While Playing

In addition to being fun, these games can also be educational. While playing your child can learning the following as well:

• One to one correspondence
• Number Identification
• Counting
• Left to right tracking
• Holiday/Seasonal Vocabulary
• Introduction to Addition/Subtraction
• Combination’s of 10

Now that you know how to play and why you should, grab some counters and give these grid games a try!

Snowmen

It’s Cold Outside

By Nicole, Contributor, The Sleepy Time Gal

Although I absolutely love organization and routine and thrive on it with four children under the age of five, some days require a little bit of spontaneity and the unexpected.  Especially in the long winter months ahead.

So recently I pulled out something I had been holding onto for just one of those days.  It was a duplicate print of one of my daughters, Johanna, that was already hanging in our home.  I pulled out the oil pastels (which adhere beautifully to the photo paper), set our the large photo (11 x 14) and let my 5 year old, Caroline, be moved by the photo of her sister to create her own Pop Art, like Andy Warhol’s.

It was intriguing to watch her approach the large photograph.  Unlike drawing on blank paper, there was something very familiar and real right in front of her.  She began to build upon her sister’s face.  It was fascinating to her to add upon a defined image with bluer eyes here and a sun in the background there.

I almost like this Pop Art better than the original photograph because it combines both my daughters; one through photography and the other through her interpretation of her sister.  Like a 5 year old’s loving contribution to her sister.  It is now a cherished piece in our home, on the fridge for the time being.  Our own personalized Pop Art, from one sister to another.

Try your own personalized Pop Art:

-any size photo (larger is more dramatic and framable)
-oil pastels or craft paints

Let your child use their imagination to build upon the contrasts already in the photograph with their art supplies.  You could have a series of Pop Art, one piece of artwork for each of your children.  The fun part: have each child create a sibling’s Pop Artwork.  Hang them closely together.  The mixed media of photography and art will be bold and personalized upon your walls. Andy Warhol would be pleased!

Nicole Shiffler is a mother to four young, active daughters. She loves creating with her children, creating for her children, and introducing them to the many beauties of life.  Her blog, The Sleepy Time Gal, is her attempt to capture those moments through her thoughts, photography, and creations.