Growing Nimble Families

9 must haves for your dressing up box

Children love to dress up and pretend play. Do you have a box or a corner for your pretend play dressing up area? Top 9 must have items for the [tag]dressing up box[/tag]

4 ways to make afterschool connections

in Education, Play activities on 09/27/10

New routines usually take a while before everyone feels at ease with them. Starting school routines are no different. As I talked about in my recent post about [tag]after school activities[/tag] to reconnect with your school aged child, my enthusiasm at seeing them and the activities we plan to do and the tiredness and hunger they greet me with was… View Post

Play newsletters you should know

in Play activities on 09/24/10

Last time I talked about the reasons why you should subscribe to play newsletters. I’d like to share 6 play newsletters you should know. I wouldn’t suggest subscribing to them all. Each newsletter should have an unsubscribe link. If you like them don’t forget to tell your friends and feel free to email the writers. Kids craft weekly Amber writes… View Post

Seasonal play outdoors for toddlers

in Education, Play activities, Seasonal play on 09/22/10

I had plans for that piece of guttering but until then the LO has hijacked it for some Autumnal fun. You’ll have to watch the video below to see what he was up to. Autumn play activity in the garden from M Avila on Vimeo. This post is part of Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5minutesformom.com Also, We play

3 reasons to subscribe to play activities newsletters

in Education, Play activities on 09/21/10

Play newsletters are great resources for parents who are looking to make the most of playtime especially if you want to be creative, open-ended and seasonal. If you check into your favourite play based websites you’ll not be surprised to find that they have a newsletter sign up box. Here you can enter your email address and name and then… View Post

9 things we have loved this week

in Play activities on 09/20/10

In no particular order and a compilation from all three boys Listening to The Story Mouse together Playing Battleships with Daddy on the computer ( Skype) Going to school My new carboot sale toy Running / playing chase/ giving chase My Operation game more than < cough>30 years old. Rearranging/ stacking to knock over Angel Delight feeding the fish What… View Post

The power of influence in the Early years

in Education, Play activities on 09/17/10

Scene: The BG, MO and LO playing in close proximity on the floor. BG: Vrooom see it’s taking off now [saying to the MO]. Character 1= legoship with wheels”You’ll never catch us now” . Character 2= farmer who is playing a bigger role today, “This is not the end!” MO: Wait….the boat. It’s a boat. BG: No we changed it… View Post

Make special lemonade

in Education, Play activities on 09/16/10

Lemonade is good whatever the time of year in our house. It is especially a favourite when lemons are on special or in season. Whenever I buy lemons, the assumption is always ” Are you going to make lemonade?” The BG has enjoyed more jobs in the kitchen recently and the MO feels he wants to be doing more than… View Post

Raising Playful Tots show 38: Toddler art supplies with Pink and Green Mama

in family atmosphere, Family Theme, Play activities, Podcast on 09/15/10

What does your art supplies area look like? Encouragement for the art challenged mum. MaryLea of Pink and Green Mama shares her art supply list in this 25 minute show You can download the MP3 file for this podcast directly by clicking here, you can also subscribe through iTunes. Listen to this week’s show Show notes 00:00 Introduction and Welcome… View Post

Where am I?

in Play activities on 09/15/10

For more Wordless Wednesday posts visit : Wordless Wednesday and 5 minutes for mom.

Fruit picking with the children

in Play activities, Seasonal play on 09/14/10

Picking fruits are a great way to work on that pincer grip and learn how to successfully take off the fruit from the tree and not the whole branch or bury your family underneath a cascade of falling fruit. Sounds simple but actually takes a little time. Of course the reward is to be able to each as many as… View Post

What afterschool play ideas do you do to connect with your tot?

in Education, Play activities, Seasonal play on 09/13/10

My MO has just started full time school. He’s had a few days of this ….and boy is he tired and cranky when he gets home. It’s been an adjustment from the carefree days of Summer to the careful and deliberate routine we have to maintain during school term. The MO is adjusting to a whole load of new things… View Post