Screen Free Week: How to get stuff done without TV

When do you need a little extra help?
I know every family is different but I have noticed there are certain tasks that I need to get done and my little one's are always underfoot!  Think about those times of the day that you tend to turn on the T.V. or when your children ask for some screen time.  Once you know when these times tend to occur, it will be easier to plan how to keep everyone happy!  Times of the day that I appreciate a little help:

• Cooking dinner
• Cleaning the house
• Taking a shower

Tips to help you though those busy times

• Let your child help with dinner.  If they are really small you can wear your baby on your back with the proper carrier.  I wouldn't recommend cooking on the stove while wearing your little one.  Toddlers would enjoy "washing the dishes" while you cook.  Kindergartners can chop soft foods with a butter knife, pull lettuce leaves apart, wash veggies, measure ingredients and set the table.  As you child gets older, they can do more to help prepare dinner.  The key to making this work is to be prepared.  Plan your meals ahead of time and think about what parts your children will be able to help with.
• Have a small sensory bin ready to go.  Only put it on the table while you are busy (during dinner prep is my favourite time to set out a sensory bin) and they will get excited about the anticipation of something exciting that they only get to play with during certain times of the day.
• Have one parent go for a walk while the other parent prepares dinner.
• Play some favourite audio books.
• Have the children help out with cleaning.  There are lots of tasks that are perfectly suited for little hands.
• Take a shower after the kids go to bed.  Taking a shower while the little ones are up and going has NEVER happened for me - even if I did turn on the T.V.
• Once they have had a couple of days without the TV, your children will quickly develop the necessary skills to keep themselves busy.  The more you involve them, the more they will enjoy it!
• Finally, be a role model.

Top 10 ways to reduce T.V. watching at home source

1. Make sure your television set doesn’t become the center of attention in your home. Try putting the

    TV behind a screen or closed doors.

2. Keep the TV off during dinner. Meals are a great time for talking.
3. Make some days of the week TV-free days.
4. Avoid using TV as a baby-sitter.
5. Don't use TV as a reward or punishment.
6. Move around to your favorite music instead of watching TV.
7. Cancel your cable subscription. Use the money saved for a fun family outing.
8. Hide the remote control.
9. Plan ahead for TV viewing.
10.Remove the TV set from your child's bedroom.

Are there any other times you need your children to entertain themselves?  How do you encourage children to stay entertained?  Join the conversation on my Facebook fan page.

Don`t forget, Screen Free Week takes place April 30 - May 6, 2012.

Screen Free Week: What to do with 32 extra hours a week.

Can you image how much you could get done with an extra 32 hours a week? Did you know the average preschool child spends 32 hours per week in front of a screen. How much time do you spend in front of a screen? Some people are required to use computers all day at work but what about outside of work? It can be hard to break a deep rooted habit but you will be so happy with the results!

Need some inspiration? I have link some of the activities to recipes, DIY or just more information on the activity.

Fun for the whole family

• Listen to the radio
• Write a letter
• Shoot some hoops
• Paint a picture
• Plant a garden
• Read a book
• Volunteer
• Read to someone else
• Go swimming
• Make a puppet show
• Redecorate your house
• Make cookies
• Play tag
• Fly a kite
• Go for a hike
• Play cards
• Make a fort
• Have a dance party
• Ride a bike
• Write a story together
• Visit the zoo
• Go to a museum
• Play frisbee
• Go ouside and use some sidewalk chalk or sidewalk chalk paint.
• Blow bubbles
• Pretend. Pretend to fly, pretend to cook, just pretend to do or be something.

If you live in Hamilton ON, I have found a list of bicycle lessons offered by the outdoor recreation department.

Downtime for yourself

• Paint a picture, a mural or a room.
• Learn to change the oil or tire on a car. Fix something.
• Write a letter to a friend or relative.
• Read magazines or newspapers. Swap them with friends.
• Go through your closets and donate items to Goodwill
• Start a diary/journal.
• Play cards.
• Try a new craft.
• Do a crossword puzzle or play Sudoku.
• Save money: cancel your cable TV!
• Take an early morning walk.
• Attend a community concert.
• Walk to work or school.
• Look for treasures at a yard sale.
• Learn yoga.

If you like the little activity list I created - I have a checklist to help prepare for a week of fun!

Looking for more? I have found 101 screen free activities for more inspiration.

My best advice:
Let your child get bored. When a child is aloud to be bored and free from overstimulation, they can reach great potential. Have you heard of Caine’s Arcade?

This little man had nothing more than some boxes, tape and his imagination to keep him busy and the lessons he learned one summer will stay with him for the rest of his life!

So, while I wanted to provide you with a list of activities you can do with your children (rather than sitting in front of a screen for 4.5 hours every day) I also want to encourage you to follow your child's lead!

Don`t forget, Screen Free Week takes place April 30 - May 6, 2012.

Screen Free Week: How to prepare your family and yourself

Well, you have decided to turn off the TV for a week... Now what?!
I think you should first talk to your spouse/partner. This may take a bit of convincing, depending on your partner's views on screen time. Then talk to the kids. Depending on how old your children are, this could be easy to explain or more difficult. Next, talk to any caregivers that your children will be with for the week. This should be the easiest - no convincing necessary!

Talking to your spouse/partner

• Explain why you believe this will help your children and your family.
• Suggest they watch this video.

• Remind them that although this may be difficult at first, around day 3-4 it will become easier.
• Suggest that this can just be a jumping off point. It doesn't mean that you want to sell your DVD collection and cancel the cable, you just want to learn how to offer your family the best opportunities.
• Talk about if you would like to reward your family for making through the whole week.

Talking to your children

The idea of this week is to go "cold turkey". You could certainly choose to wean the amount of screen time every day but I really feel that if you are prepared, it will go more smoothly than you think.

• For younger children, explain that the T.V./computer/Ipad is going to be unavailable for a short while. Maybe suggest that the T.V. needs to have a rest. Talk about all the fun outings and activities that you have planned for this week.
• For older children, explain why you want to start limiting the amount of screen time they have. Talk about how the computer can be used for homework, but not entertainment purposes. Ask them to describe some of their favourite activities that do not involve a screen. Remind then that they will have so much more time to to do those activities.
• Explain what the new daily routine is going to look like. With younger children, you could draw a little timeline with some stick figures and words.
• If you have chosen to reward your family, ask what your children would be interested in doing? I will have a list of activities posted tomorrow - you could use that as some suggestions.

How to prepare for the week

• Assess what times you turn on the TV the most and keep track of when your children ask for screen time. Choose activities to cover that time of day.
• Choose a fun activity or outing for each day
• If you have chosen to reward for your family for sticking it out, plan how and when it will take place. I would suggest choosing something that isn't media related - maybe a trip to the zoo.
• As I mentioned, I will be posting a list of activities. Since we are talking about being prepared today, I thought I would post a little checklist of supplies that will go along with that activity list.

You can do it!

Don`t forget, Screen Free Week takes place April 30 - May 6, 2012.

Screen Free Week: Why should we limit our screen time?



Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff) is an annual event in which parents, children, teachers, and others across the country turn off screen media (television, video games, computers, cell phones, etc.) and celebrate the magic of being unplugged.

The next scheduled Screen-Free Week is April 30 - May 6, 2012. Screen-Free Week is a program of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. 

Why should we limit our children's screen time?

• They could be doing something else such as using their creativity or learning problem solving skills.  Open ended play is essential to childhood development.  The more children engage with screens, the less time they spend in creative learning.
• To avoid the commercialization of childhood.  Young children can't differentiate between commercials and program content. Advertising promotes products, brands, values and behaviours.  Children are learning at a young age that you are only happy if you have lots of stuff.  Play comes naturally to children yet, as a society, we actually prevent them from playing.   Children are less creative when they play with toys that are based on media characters.  Their play is limited to re-creating what they have seen on the the t.v. show - they are not using their creativity to it's full potential.  
• Media violence violence is at an all time high.  Violent programs are being marketed to children and this only leads to children growing up to believe that violence isn't serious and can be a solution to their problems.  There is a relationship between watching violent television programming and an increase in violent behaviour by children.
• Movies, television and toy marketing are promoting the sexualization of children for both girls and boys.  These images are embedded with harmful messages that suggest self worth is equal to sex appeal.  Boys are affected when violence and power are presented as stereotypes to be admired.
• Childhood obesity is at an all time high.  This is not breaking news but it seems that families aren't getting the message.  Food companies are using licenced t.v.characters to sell sugary, processed and even some healthy food.  This coerces children to choose food based on what their favourite character is rather then developing healthy eating habits.  In the past 30 years, the obesity rate among children ages 2-5 has nearly tripled to 14%, quadrupled for children ages 6-11 to 19%, and tripled for youth ages 12-19 to 17%. source 

What does screen time include?

• Television
• Movies
• Video games
• Computer
• Ipad
• Cell phone games (A.K.A. apps)

When to use screen time to your benefit.

• Work
• Homework

We are in the age of information.  All the media around us can offer so much if we use it properly.

Looking for more?

• The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds 
• TV and Children
• Live outside the box: Everything is more fun when it's real!
• Kids and Screens
• Screen Free promotional video

Don`t forget, Screen Free Week takes place April 30 - May 6, 2012.

Earth Day Activities

Tim Hortons Earth Day Hamilton 5K Walk & Fun Run
Bayfront Park
Saturday April 21, 2012
8:45am-3:00pm


Earth Day Tree Planting Festival
Princess Point, (Foot of Longwood Rd. N)
Saturday April 21, 2012
11:00am-3:00pm



Earth Day Rain Barrel Sales
Various locations and times (click photo for details)


Earth Day at Six Nations
15 Sunrise Court
To register, call 519 445-2950
10:00am-3:00pm


Instant Forest
Eramosa Karst Conservation Area
April 19, 2012
8:00am-2:00pm


If you live outside of the Hamilton area, I have found a great list of activites in other areas.

Happy Earth Day!

Justin Beiber theme

Last Saturday, I had an AWESOME group of kids rock out to Justin Beiber with me!

I used my basic Rock Star party package and added a couple details to make is Beiber worthy.

The birthday girl's mom found an awesome set of Justin Beiber party supplies at Walmart so she didn't need a customized invite.  In the past, I have created invites that look like a concert ticket and I add a photo of the children's favourite artist.

The whole idea of this theme is to get ready for our very own rock concert.  But, before we have a concert, we have to look like rock stars!

• First we did some face paint, tattoos and nail polish.

I didn't snap a photo but the most popular request was flowers!

• While the children were waited for their turn, they coloured some colouring pages (with the birthday girl's name on them) and got dressed up with some rock worthy costumes.  This is one of the images I found on Google.

•  No rock star is compete without a microphone so we each created on out of paper towel rolls, construction paper, tin foil and Justin Beiber stickers.

Something like this, but our were WAY cooler!

 

• With our completed look, we took turns practicing our moves for the big show.  We called in the parents, turned on the spinning disco ball and turned up the music!

This was the best group of kids I have ever had! They all waited so patiently for their turn to have their face painted.  They all participated in the show (the boys got really into it!) and they all sat quietly while I packed up and Mom got lunch ready!

I can't wait to do it again!

With that in mind... how about a flash sale?
If you book a Rock Star party package before April 30, 2012 (the actual party date can be anytime within this year) you will receive 10% off and a free customized invitation!

Nest {Springtime Theme}

Nest is an "interactive story time that is geared towards children between age 0-3, and takes place at Little Bird on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 10:00. During this fun and casual 30 minute program, children enjoy songs, nursery rhymes and stories, and parents have a great opportunity to make new friends!" Join us at 164 Ottawa St. N., Hamilton, ON, L8H 3Z3
Our next trip to Little Bird is Tuesday April 17, 2012

Springtime weather has arrived!  I have a sweet little collection of books and songs to celebrate.

Books:

• What's Up Duck? by Tad Hills
• Zoe's Windy Day by Barbara Reid
• Baby Animals at Night
• Hush, Little Chicks by Debi Gliori
• Farm Babies
• Quack! by Phyllis Root
• It's Raining, It's Pouring by Kin Eagle
• Little Cloud by Eric Carle

 

Songs:

• 5 green and speckled frogs
• 5 little ducks went out one day
• Down at the pond

Tune: “Down By The Station”

Down at the pond, early in the morning,

See the little ducks swimming in a row.

See the Mother duck, dive for her breakfast,

Up, down, up, down, watch her go!

Jean Warren

• Old MacDonald
• Little Baby Ducklings

Little baby ducklings, all brand new,

Fat ones, skinny ones, short ones, too.

But the biggest duck, with feathers on his back,

He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.

Quack, quack, quack,

Quack, quack, quack,

He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.

• Einsy Weinsy Spider
• A Tisket, A Tasket A Green and Yellow Basket

A-tisket a-tasket

A green and yellow basket

I wrote a letter to my love

And on the way I dropped it,

I dropped it,

I dropped it,

And on the way I dropped it.

A little boy he picked it up and put it in his pocket.^[

• Here we go 'round the mulberry bush 

Finger plays and poems:

• Spring is coming

"First you take the seed and you plant it in the ground." (Mime taking a seed and planting it in your other hand, balled up in a fist.)

"Next a rain cloud comes and waters all around." (Keep fist with seed same, use other hand to simulate a rain cloud raining down on seed.)

"Next the sun shines brightly, without a sound." (Keep fist with seed same, use other hand to shine down by moving fingers over seed.)

"And in just a few days... a flower is found!" (Move fist with seed up through other hand and open like a flower. This is actually the sign for "new" or "flower.")

• 2 little black birds
• Five Little Flowers

Five little flowers standing in the sun, (hold up five fingers)
See their heads nodding, bowing one by one? (bend fingers several times)
Down, down, down comes the gentle rain, (raise hands, wiggle fingers and lower arms to simulate falling rain)
And the five little flowers lift their heads up again! (hold up five fingers)

• Going on a bug hunt

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh my! A bee!A black & yellow bee,
Flying over the flowers.
BUZZ.....

Oh, my! An ant!
A tiny, black ant,
Crawling through the grass.
Shh...

Oh, my! A grasshopper!
A big, green grasshopper,
Hopping around the tree.
Boing, boing...

Oh, my! A butterfly!
A pretty, orange butterfly,
Floating in the sky.
Whoosh, whoosh...

Oh my! A spider!
A big black spider,
Creeping on the tree. Creep, creep...

See you tomorrow!

Jen

 

Planting seeds {Birthday party activity}

Spring is in the air!
If you need an activity to keep you birthday guests busy, why not try planting seeds with them?
An activity like this doesn't need to be overwhelming if you plan ahead.  What do you need to make it go smoothly?

1. A small clay pot for each guest

2. A package of seeds.  Try to choose a seed that is larger (like sunflower) so little fingers can plant it easily.

3. A soil pellet for each guest.  These expand when you add water.

4. Poster paint or water colours and paint brushes. Water colours will be less messy but wont cover as well.  If you would like to avoid paint all together, you could decorate your pots with stickers!

5. Table cloth

6. Press and Seal cling wrap

Then it's as easy as 1-2-3 (oh, and 4!)

1. Spread out the table cloth.  Set up paints, brushes, pots, cling wrap and soil pellets.  Tip: Set up your craft so each child has a paintbrush and a couple different colours of paint in front of their chair.  They can trade colours as needed but this way they are never waiting for a colour for very long.
2. Paint the pots.
3. Add the soil pellet, seeds and a little water.
4. Cover the pot with some Press and Seal Cling Wrap and set aside to dry

Your pots are done!

A couple of notes:

• I would suggest this activity be used for guests that are older then 3 or have a parent with them who can help.  If the guests are older then all your preparation will make this activity go smoothly. 
• Because this is an open ended activity, it should occupy their time for more than 10 minutes so you are free to snap some photos or get the next activity ready.
• Aim to start this activity at the beginning of your party.  This will give the pots enough time to dry before they need to be sent home.  You can always put it in a plastic bag if it isn't dry before home time.
• This activity would work well with quite a few birthday themes:
• Strawberry Shortcake (plant some strawberry seeds)
• Ladybug (provide red and black paint)
• Harry Potter (suggest the the children that the seeds will produce a Mandrake plant!)

Happy Planting!

"Shake, shake, shake your sillies out and wiggly your worries away!"

Easter Fun

Looking for some extra activities to cram into your Easter weekend?
I've composed a little collection of fun and ideas!

Wiggle Wednesday {Painting Eggs}

Are you thinking about decorating some eggs with your little ones?  I really loved getting my little one involved last year and I will be decorating eggs with 2 little ones this year!

Last year, we used thin paint brushes to paint food colouring on the eggs.

 This year we are going to use vegetable dyes and tattoos!

I like to blow the egg out of the shell because I can't stand the smell of old hard boiled eggs!  I found a little video tutorial on blowing the egg out if you need some help.

Once Easter is over, you can use the shells as seedling starters!

The best part is: you can just squish the shell/seedling and plant the whole thing outside.

"Shake, shake, shake your sillies out and wiggly your worries away!"