Family Apple Orchard

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Family Apple Orchard

After an apple picking adventure, we decided to make our very own Family Apple Orchard. This seasonal craft is a crowd pleaser for Autumn lovers of any age!

Here’s what we used to play: A large piece of white butcher paper, brown construction paper, glue stick, bubble wrap, cotton balls, and washable paints in blue, green, & red.

Start by cutting tree trunks out of construction paper. These can vary in size and “grow” wherever your kiddos wants to “plant” them. Glue them down.

Next, paint your hands green! Use your various handprints to make your tree tops green! Tiny fingerprints in red add delicious apples to your growing orchard!

For a final touch, dip your bubble wrap into blue paint and press it down to create a perfect Fall sky. Cotton ball clouds complete your creation!

 

 

 

Our Top 10 “TRICK OR TREAT” Toddler Tips!

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TRICK OR TREAT Toddler Tips!Halloween can be a wonderful time for playing make believe, indulging in our favorite treats, and making picture worthy memories. But safety is key when out on all Hallows Eve. Keep your holiday sweet with Our Top 10 TRICK OR TREAT Toddler Tips!

1. Set the ground rules in advance, so kids know what is expected of them.

2. Use organic makeup or face paint instead of a mask to keep vision and breath clear.

3. Be careful of other kids’ costume props like swords, wands, or crowns.

4. Keep an eye out for any shoelaces or costume hems that may have come undone.

5. Use reflective tape, stickers, and light colored clothing if staying out after the sun goes down. Glow sticks and flashlights are great too.

6. Consider attaching an emergency bracelet or sticker with your info (not your child’s name) in case you get separated.

7. Toss out homemade treats and make sure any candy’s packaging is untampered with.

8. Watch for coins or hard candy that may be given out and could pose a choking hazard to young ones.

9. Cross only at safe crosswalks, being mindful of reckless drivers. And drive extra carefully, being mindful of darting children.

10. Host your own Halloween party with healthy treats, stickers for prizes, gooey games, and a neighborhood costume contest!

Keeping Toys Contained!

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Keeping Toys Contained!When the cuteness has turned to clutter, and the toy piles are bigger than your toddler herself, it’s time to give our list a gander. Here are our top tips for “Keeping Toys Contained!”

1. Clean house. If your kiddo has more things than actually fit in his room, you won’t stand a chance of getting the mess tamed. So take a few hours to remove the toys that aren’t developmentally challenging for him anymore. Donate the outdated ones at a local charity.

2. Make the old new again! The toys that haven’t been used in a while, but are too hard to part with can make for a great rainy day activity bin. So pack them away for a few months, and when boredom kicks in, they can make a reappearance.

3. Get the low down. If you kneel to see whats actually at your tot’s eye level, you’ll be able to place her favorite things in reaching distance. Then pack smaller, less used items high above.

4. Invest in clarity. A few see through bins will make all the difference when it comes to clean up time. Once you’ve got things organized, you’ll see what size containers you’ll need to purchase. And everyone will be able to clean up if they can clearly see what lives inside.

5. Squeaky routine! Changes take time, but you can solidify new patterns of behavior more quickly by making them part of your every day routine. So maybe a 10 minute clean up can become part of your bedtime ritual. Goodnight clutter means good morning peace!

What To Do When Expecting Baby #2!

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What To Do When Expecting Baby #2What if just when you think you’ve got this Toddler thing figured out, a new baby is on the way?! We’re here to help ease the transition for you and your tot with “WHAT TO DO WHEN EXPECTING BABY #2!”

1.  Don’t expect your toddler to get too excited right away. Even if Jacob has a little sister, your little guy may not fully understand what’s to come over the next 9 months. With that said, things will become a lot more real when he can feel a tangible belly kick or hold his new sibling.

2. Reminisce about when your toddler was also a baby! How small were her feet and how cute was her toothless grin? Toddlers love to be the center of attention, so show off their old baby pictures and tell stories of how tiny they were once too!

3. Set realistic expectations. Babies cry A LOT. They wake us up in the middle of the night and use a ton of diapers. Have your toddler take care of a baby doll along side you, just make sure he knows the real thing will be a lot louder!

4. Give your little helper a specific job! Can they rub the baby’s lotion onto his arms? Or choose the baby’s pajamas? Your toddler will feel a special sense of pride as a big sibling if they have a say in the baby’s life.

5. Allow your toddler a few toys that are private and off limits to the new bundle. This will help keep her identity in tact and help her to feel like she too has privileges as the bigger kid.

Finally, quality alone time and special treats never hurt either. But most important is just remembering that your toddler is still a baby too! And so they need as much attention and affection as your newest addition. Enjoy cuddling two with both arms!