One day this past weekend, my four-year-old son was having a tough time coping. He'd misbehaved a fair bit and as a result, lost a number of privileges including TV watching. About the only thing he hadn't lost was the privilege to draw, which he loves to do. After another tantrum, he went straight to his drawing paper and crayons and drew a picture of everyone in our family, and each and every one of them was crying. He was working out a problem by drawing his feelings out. And apparently this is typical of a child his age.
Do you ever wonder what your child's drawings are all about? Check out this link to see what your child's drawing development says about him/her: www.learningdesign.com/Portfolio/DrawDev/kiddrawing.html
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Too quiet
The other day, as I was reading the morning newspaper, I realized things were quiet. Too quiet. I looked up and noticed my four-year-old son whispering to my 22-month-old daughter. I walked up to where they were standing and overheard him saying to her, "Lauren, do you want me to throw you? Say 'yes', okay? Just say 'yes'!"
Beware the quiet times!
Beware the quiet times!
Monday, November 20, 2006
Desperately seeking hair accessories
My daughter is cute as a button in my opinion, but she kinda looks like a boy sometimes. Even when I dress her in pink or even in a dress, a complete stranger will still ask me if she’s a boy! What’s the deal with that?
Anyway, these last few weeks, I’ve noticed that her hair has grown long enough to tie up into a ponytail or pigtails. Which is great news, except that her hair is so fine and thin, it’s tough to find hair clips that will do the trick for long.
I’ve been doing okay with these mini-elastics that are supposedly ‘ouchless' but I’m not so sure about that. I have to wind these elastics around her hair so many times that I end up with a little knotted mess and a cranky daughter. Not to mention the fact that these mini-elastics are so small that when I get down to the last few winds around her hair, the circulation in my fingers gets cut off! And when my husband does her hair, it's even worse! (Yes, he does my daughter’s hair sometimes.)
Someone told me about the No Slippy Hair Clippy (www.hairclippy.com). I haven’t tried it, but I am told it will set my bloodless fingers free. Apparently they’re easy to put on and they stay on. If you’ve tried them, let me know what you think. If you have another way of keeping clips in your daughter’s hair, send me a note.
Anyway, these last few weeks, I’ve noticed that her hair has grown long enough to tie up into a ponytail or pigtails. Which is great news, except that her hair is so fine and thin, it’s tough to find hair clips that will do the trick for long.
I’ve been doing okay with these mini-elastics that are supposedly ‘ouchless' but I’m not so sure about that. I have to wind these elastics around her hair so many times that I end up with a little knotted mess and a cranky daughter. Not to mention the fact that these mini-elastics are so small that when I get down to the last few winds around her hair, the circulation in my fingers gets cut off! And when my husband does her hair, it's even worse! (Yes, he does my daughter’s hair sometimes.)
Someone told me about the No Slippy Hair Clippy (www.hairclippy.com). I haven’t tried it, but I am told it will set my bloodless fingers free. Apparently they’re easy to put on and they stay on. If you’ve tried them, let me know what you think. If you have another way of keeping clips in your daughter’s hair, send me a note.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Infant massage course Nov. 19
Give your baby the ultimate luxury -- an infant massage from you! Bloom Wellness (www.bloomwellness.com) will be holding its last infant massage course of the year this Sunday, Nov. 19 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at the Lululemon store at Park Royal Centre. Cost is $30 and includes a manual and oil. Bring a blanket for the massage. If you're interested, contact Lululemon at 604-921-6125.
Want more info on infant massage? Visit www.infantmassage.ca.
Want more info on infant massage? Visit www.infantmassage.ca.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
More to 'sea' and do
My husband, our four-year-old son, 22-month-old daughter and I went to the Vancouver Aquarium this weekend to check out its new facility called Aquawest. My kids give the new space two very enthusiastic and slightly-calloused-from-all-that-sucking thumbs up.
The key word at this new exhibit is ‘interactive.’
The exhibits were many. But my kids gravitated to certain ones. My son loved the sea star (the proper name is not starfish as I was told by an aquarium employee) exhibit where you can fast forward or fast backward a recording of the sea stars’ movement. They move so slowly that a sped-up visual recording of it is the best way to see its movement. My daughter loved the glow-in-the-dark fish. With the press of a button, you can darken the enclosure where the glow-in-the-dark fish live.
Then there’s the new Clownfish Cove which is a children’s play area that caters to the family. With only one entrance to the cove, it’s easier for parents to keep a watchful eye on their kids (in other words, kids don’t have too many escape routes). Two family washrooms have been built into the space too. Each washroom sports a plastic toddler chair that has been mounted to the wall – when Mom or Dad has to use the loo, she/he can strap junior into the adjacent toddler chair where he’ll be safe until you’re done. Then there is the animal hospital where you can nurse a pretend seal pup back to health; sea snail and sea star costumes that kids can try on; and a sea star discovery area where at special times, the aquarium opens the lid for kids to touch the creatures.
We had a great time and I know we didn’t even see everything. Take your little ones to the aquarium! It’s a perfect play place for rainy winter days.
The key word at this new exhibit is ‘interactive.’
The exhibits were many. But my kids gravitated to certain ones. My son loved the sea star (the proper name is not starfish as I was told by an aquarium employee) exhibit where you can fast forward or fast backward a recording of the sea stars’ movement. They move so slowly that a sped-up visual recording of it is the best way to see its movement. My daughter loved the glow-in-the-dark fish. With the press of a button, you can darken the enclosure where the glow-in-the-dark fish live.
Then there’s the new Clownfish Cove which is a children’s play area that caters to the family. With only one entrance to the cove, it’s easier for parents to keep a watchful eye on their kids (in other words, kids don’t have too many escape routes). Two family washrooms have been built into the space too. Each washroom sports a plastic toddler chair that has been mounted to the wall – when Mom or Dad has to use the loo, she/he can strap junior into the adjacent toddler chair where he’ll be safe until you’re done. Then there is the animal hospital where you can nurse a pretend seal pup back to health; sea snail and sea star costumes that kids can try on; and a sea star discovery area where at special times, the aquarium opens the lid for kids to touch the creatures.
We had a great time and I know we didn’t even see everything. Take your little ones to the aquarium! It’s a perfect play place for rainy winter days.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Rainy day play
Whenever it rains really hard, I tend not to take my kids out. It’s wet and terribly miserable… right? My four-year-old son and 22-month-old daughter would not agree with me. What’s not to love about being wet? Rain is ‘liquid sunshine’ isn’t it?
Sadly, I can’t think of many ways to enjoy the rain with my kids – other than puddle-jumping, which is very fun actually.
How do you play in the rain with your little ones? Send me your play-in-the-rain ideas!
Sadly, I can’t think of many ways to enjoy the rain with my kids – other than puddle-jumping, which is very fun actually.
How do you play in the rain with your little ones? Send me your play-in-the-rain ideas!
Puddle jumping made drier
Struggling to keep your toddler dry during the torrential fall rain? Check this out. It's a one-piece rainsuit by Splashy. Wrists, ankles and hood are elasticized to keep out the wet and there's a visor so kids' faces are dry too. Retails for $22.95 at www.justkidsclothes.com.
Happy puddle-jumping!
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Halloween diary
How I remember Halloween night:
6 pm: Mommy heads out with son as Darth Vader complete with mask, cape, breast plate, light sabre and loot bag. Mommy asks son Benjamin if perhaps she should help him hold something. “No! I want to hold it all myself!”
6:15 pm: “Mommy, my bag is too heavy. How about you hold it while I say ‘trick or treat’?” Mommy dutifully holds the loot bag.
6:20 pm: “Mommy, my mask is making me hot. Here, you hold it.” Mommy slips mask over the back of her head and dutifully holds the loot bag.
6: 30 pm: “Mommy, my light sabre is in my way. Maybe you should take it.” Mommy holds light sabre in one hand, still wearing the mask and holding the loot bag.
6:35 pm: “Mommy, this thing [Benjamin says pointing at his breast plate] is in my way. I want it out of the way.” Mommy takes breast plate off son’s torso and hangs it on her neck while still carrying the light sabre, wearing the mask and holding the loot bag.
So if you saw an Asian woman dressed up in an ill-fitting Darth Vader costume (accompanied by her plain-clothed four-year-old son) on Halloween night, that was me. Trick or treat.
6 pm: Mommy heads out with son as Darth Vader complete with mask, cape, breast plate, light sabre and loot bag. Mommy asks son Benjamin if perhaps she should help him hold something. “No! I want to hold it all myself!”
6:15 pm: “Mommy, my bag is too heavy. How about you hold it while I say ‘trick or treat’?” Mommy dutifully holds the loot bag.
6:20 pm: “Mommy, my mask is making me hot. Here, you hold it.” Mommy slips mask over the back of her head and dutifully holds the loot bag.
6: 30 pm: “Mommy, my light sabre is in my way. Maybe you should take it.” Mommy holds light sabre in one hand, still wearing the mask and holding the loot bag.
6:35 pm: “Mommy, this thing [Benjamin says pointing at his breast plate] is in my way. I want it out of the way.” Mommy takes breast plate off son’s torso and hangs it on her neck while still carrying the light sabre, wearing the mask and holding the loot bag.
So if you saw an Asian woman dressed up in an ill-fitting Darth Vader costume (accompanied by her plain-clothed four-year-old son) on Halloween night, that was me. Trick or treat.
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