Sunday, February 12, 2012

Learning Shapes At The Playground

Bubble has started Preschool two days a week recently and I'm struggling to get the timing for 'pick up' just right. I'm so worried about arriving late that Squeak and I end up with at least half an hour to kill each time. Luckily there is a great play ground just behind the school with slides and swings where we can have fun waiting.
Last week it had been raining solid and as usual we arrived way too early. The skies were clear but the play equipment was all wet and slippery, so Squeak was quickly getting bored waiting for her big sister.
She is very interested in shapes at the moment so I found a stick and drew some in the wet sawdust under the play equipment. I called out a shape and an action (ie: "jump to the circle") and Squeak would race around looking for the right one.
It was a fun way to spend a wet half an hour at the playground!



Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Heart Project



We are very excited to be involved in an amazing collaborative project this month put together by the inspiring Jamie at Hands On: As They Grow.
The Heart Project is a tribute to Jamie's (incredibly adorable) 4 year old niece Ellie who was born with a congenital heart defect. This little girl has already undergone multiple open heart surgeries and faces not only further surgeries but also a transplant in the future.
The Heart Project brings together heart-inspired ideas from over 70 bloggers around the world and presents them in a beautiful book.
The book is available as a download free with every $5 donation made to AHA or as a full colour print version for $20 with proceeds going to the American Heart Association.
This project not only inspires play but also raises awareness and funds for a very worthy cause!
With over 100 kid-related projects inside and beautiful photographs it's a wonderful way to get inspired as well as make a donation. All photographs are of projects either created for or by kids and most have links to tutorials and posts.

Sneak peek at what you can expect to find inside:






How do you get your hands on a copy of The Heart Project?
The eBook is available using the button below with a donation to AHA of only US$5.

Add to Cart

There is also a printed version of the book available for US$20 (US$5 profit donated to AHA):

US $20.00

Alternatively you can make a donation of any amount to AHA without purchasing the book:

The goal is to reach US$1000 or more by Valentines Day!



Craftprojectideas.com is contributing $1 for every ebook sold this month! That means in addition to your $5 donation by purchasing the The Heart eBook, Craftprojectideas.com will donate another $1 on your behalf (up to $500)!
Hop over the Craftprojectideas.com Facebook page and tell them a BIG THANK YOU for being so generous!

craftprojectideas.com showing the love

Giveaways are going to be happening every day from now until the 14th. There's more than one some days, so be sure to check them all out!
These giveaways are from The Heart Project Bloggers who are very generously donating their projects (from The Heart Book), or something related to their heart project.
There are also a couple special giveaways from Melissa & Doug, Fudoo Boards and CraftProjectIdeas.com.
Be sure to check back each day to enter that day's giveaways!

Fundraiser Auctions:
All proceeds of each auction will go to the AHA

Melissa & Doug - 4 Trunki with Teddy Bear Auctions!

  1. Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10
  2. Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10
  3. Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10
  4. Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10


Fudoo Boards - 3 Fudoo Board Kits for Auction!
  1. Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10
  2. Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10
  3. Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10
List of participating Bloggers:
Click over and discover some amazingly creative sites!

hands on : as we grow
A Little Learning for Two Among Many Blessings
Angelique Felix
At Home with Ali Broken Treasures
Busy at Home
Busy Kids Happy Mom Carrie Saindon's Photo Journey
Child Central Station
Classified: Mom Classroom Magic
Creative with Kids
Creativity My Passion Critters and Crayons
De Tout et de Rien
Dilly-Dali Art Dinosaurs & Octopuses
Excited 2 Learn
Hand Over the Cookies Handprint & Footprint Art
Happy Hooligans
Heart Journey Imagination Soup
Jamie's Jumble
Kitchen Counter Chronicles Kreative Resources
Let Kids Create
Little Illuminationss Living Montessori Now
Loudness of the Lambs
Love and Lollipops Mama, hocemo nesto da pravimo
Mama Pea Pod
Mama Smiles MemeTales
Messy Kids
Mindful Meanderings Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Mommy Labs
Mommy Perks Mum Paints Lives
Mummy Mummy Mum
My Creative Family NurtureStore
One Artsy Mama
Peace Love & Rainbows Play Dr Mom
Putti Prapancha
Rainbows within Reach Reading Confetti
Ready. Set. Read!
Red Ted Art Sense of Wonder
Share & Remember
Stacy Molter Sun Hats & Wellie Boots
Teach Preschool
The Artful Child The Chocolate Muffin Tree
The Craft Barn
The Educators' Spin on It The Golden Gleam
The Imagination Tree
The Iowa Farmer's Wife The Joy of My Life
The Kids Fun Review
The Outlaw Mom Blog The Preschool Toolbox
The Seeds Network
Toddler Approved