Legos are great toys and one of the most creative tools that children can use.  Since children love them so much, they make for excellent Math and Language Arts manipulatives. For parents looking to offer new challenges to keep their kids learning, Legos are a fun medium to test both the parents’ and child’s creativity.

1. Addition – Write out simple addition equations on a piece of paper.  Leave enough space for your child to match the number of pegs on each block with the written number.  Or you could reverse it, place the pegs on the table and ask your child to write out the numbers that match the pegs.
2. Subtraction – Place one Lego that has fewer pegs on top of another that has more to reveal subtraction concepts.  For example, a 12-peg Lego beneath an 8-peg Lego of the same color that is being subtracted, helps children to put quantities into groups.
3. Recognizing Patterns – Choose two or three different colors, and have your child create various pattern types.  Or create the pattern yourself and have your child to determine what the pattern is.
4. Comparing Numbers – Stack up blocks next to each other, and ask your child which one contains more.  Then demonstrate how the greater than/less than symbol indicates the amount as well.
5. Non-Standard Measuring – Take any toy that your child likes and use Legos to measure them.  Then ask how many Legos long is your toy?
6. Making Perfect Squares – Line up Legos so that they form multiplication arrays that display perfect squares.  For example, 2 x 2 is 4.  Then have your child to count the pegs represented in the answer.
7. Multiplication and Division – Use Legos to show groups.  Three groups of eight make twenty four.  Then write out the equation, 3 x 8 = 24.  You could also write out 8 + 8 + 8 = 24, to show that multiplication is repeated addition.
8. Counting and Number Matching – This next one works better on bigger blocks, like Lego Duplos.  I used a small dry erase marker to write on the blocks.  They erase well with the wipe of a tissue.  Separate the blocks, write the numbers on them, then have your child to match them up.  This will help them learn to relate the cardinal number to the written number, and to the quantity – represented in the dots.
9. Putting the Alphabet in Order – Mix up blocks and spread them out, then have your child to put them in order.  Make this activity more fun by having your child sing the alphabet song while playing the game, or race against a timer.
10. Making Letters – Work with your child to creatively form as many letters as you can with the blocks.
11. Sentence Structure – Write a simple sentence, like the one below.  Mix up all the words, and have your child to place them in order, to form a complete sentence.
12. Prefixes – Write the prefix on the smaller block, and the root word on the larger block to demonstrate how the prefix changes the word.
13. Suffixes – Write the suffix on the smaller block, and the root word on the larger block to demonstrate how the suffix changes the word.
14. Subject & Predicate – Write a basic sentence and then choose two large blocks on which to write ‘subject’ and ‘predicate.’ You can do this with nouns and verbs, or if your child is more advanced, use subjects and predicates.  But use the larger blocks to label the parts of the sentence, and smaller blocks to write the words.
15. Word Families/Rhyming Words – Use one similar color to write a list of rhyming words.  Point out the spelling of these words and point out how they are similar in sound and spelling.  Use the blocks to group them together.

There are so many ways to use Legos to teach or reinforce academic concepts.  We love this as a means to supplemental homeschool and encourage our children’s growth.

Mommies, what are some other ways that you have used Legos in your home?

Запись Legos Unlocked: 15 Ways to Use Legos to Teach Math and Language Arts впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

I’m a big believer in learning through play. Little children learn best when their imaginations and hearts are in the forefront. This is why I love dance class for my son.

From the time they can sit up, the tiniest babies love to move. Toddlers can hardly stand up before they’re bouncing and clapping whenever they hear a beat. Dance is such a natural form of expression.

When my son first started dance, I thought it’d be a good social opportunity, but now as we’re getting ready for our second recital, I see that dance is teaching my son to one day be a strong man.

He learns to listen to others.

Since my son isn’t in preschool, dance gives him an opportunity to listen to adults other than his family. Dance class is not a place for wild free-play. It shows that orderly quiet, respectful places can be fun even if it requires waiting for a turn to go across the floor.

He learns to face himself in the mirror.

Dance class takes place in a room of mirrors. Mirrors are vital to be able to see if what you think you’re doing actually matches what you’re doing. This literal self reflection teaches the priceless skill of self-evaluation. Learning to be proud of what you see is equally important.

Dance lets him escape the man box.

This year my son is the only little boy in his class, but that doesn’t worry me. I put him in dance to help him overcome the trappings of the “man box, ” the unwritten rules about what a man can and cannot do and still be respected. These gender conformity guidelines hurt both men and women as Tony Porter explains in a life-changing TED talk:

“Growing up as a boy, we were taught that men had to be tough, had to be strong, had to be courageous, dominating — no pain, no emotions, with the exception of anger — and definitely no fear; that men are in charge, which means women are not; that men lead, and you should just follow and do what we say; that men are superior; women are inferior; that men are strong; women are weak; that women are of less value, property of men, and objects, particularly sexual objects. I’ve later come to know that to be the collective socialization of men, better known as the “man box.” See this man box has in it all the ingredients of how we define what it means to be a man. […]

“I come to also look at this as this fear that we have as men, this fear that just has us paralyzed, holding us hostage to this man box. I can remember speaking to a 12-year-old boy, a football player, and I asked him, I said, “How would you feel if, in front of all the players, your coach told you you were playing like a girl?” Now I expected him to say something like, I’d be sad; I’d be mad; I’d be angry, or something like that. No, the boy said to me — the boy said to me, “It would destroy me.” And I said to myself, “God, if it would destroy him to be called a girl, what are we then teaching him about girls?””

Dance helps my son be secure in himself and his interests. It helps him value people regardless of their genders. Hopefully, he’ll see that he doesn’t have to live his life trapped in boxes. He can be both the little boy dirty from playing construction trucks in the mud and the one dancing as Beast in ballet slippers. His classmates can be little girls in pretty pink tutus but also strong, smart, funny, and his friends.

He sees that improvement take practice and commitment.

It’s adorable to look in on the class and see how terrible they are the first few times they’re taught something new. In dance, new is not a reason to be worried. It’s just another thing to work on. From day one, it starts with simple moves that become more and more complex, building toward a recital show in front of an audience. It’s amazing as a parent to watch that progress. I can only imagine how it feels as the dancer.

He’s learning to carry himself. 

Posture is important especially as our lives become more hunched over as we work and play on computers, tablets, and phones. I’m hopeful that good posture from ballet will stay with him and help prevent future neck and back pain. Plus, there’s a confidence that can’t be denied from someone who knows how to carry himself.

He was only three years old for his first recital, and we weren’t sure he’d have the confidence to walk out on stage, under those big lights, and perform, but he did. All four times.

I know some people raise an eyebrow because my son takes dance.

As a small child, he has the opportunities to explore and express himself without the baggage of societal expectations. For him to transcend any outside limitations that might try to stunt his success, he has to learn to be comfortable in his own skin. Dance is an amazing place to learn these lessons.

Dance class taps into that innate desire to express self, but it adds guidance and a platform for growth.He probably won’t study dance forever, but the skills he’s learning might one day be the difference that helps him make the cut of the team he wants to join or makes him standout at an important interview. Beyond the coordination and motor skills which are great, my son takes dance because it contributes to his whole self-development.

Запись How My Son’s Ballet Lessons Are Helping Him Develop Character впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

“STEM refers to the subjects Science (e.g. biology, physics, chemistry), Technology (e.g. information systems, robotics, programming), Engineering (e.g. electrical, mechanical, chemical) and Mathematics (e.g. geometry, equations, logics).”

But, even as I continue to explore these fields of study, I have come to realise that the “E” in S.T.E.M. is much more than electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or even chemical engineering. In its most basic form, engineering is about problem-solving and creating or building. When we ask, imagine, design, create, test and improve on things, we are practicing engineering skills. So, whether my daughter decides to become an educator or a businesswoman, I think her successes in life will be maximised if she becomes comfortable and competent in engineering.

Since children learn through play during the preschool years, it helps if we’re more intentional about selecting and making toys that align with our priorities. If the infant years have passed you by and you’re now looking to expose your toddler to and encourage their interest in engineering, then the time to get specific is now! We can give our little ones a head start in problem-solving by giving them toys that get them building and designing.
Toys to Buy

To kickstart my gameplan, I got my 3-year-old a set of screw-assembly vehicles (she loves trains, fire engines and ambulances – LOL). The set included a motorcycle, jeep, car and train. They came with screws and bolts that hold their various parts together and a set of wrenches and screwdrivers to pull-apart and set up the vehicles. She randomly grabs any of the toys and will either pull them apart or set them up while waiting for dinner to be ready or getting her hair done. She sometimes struggles to figure it out, and we encourage her to start over or try again. Then once she gets efficient with pulling apart and putting together any of the vehicles, we swap it out with another one – to keep the challenge high. These are the kinds of toys more children should get to enjoy.

Some other types of toys that make great investments are:

1. Blocks

Foam, plastic or wooden. Alphabet, numbers or picture. All blocks are great. If you can get the kinds that can be mixed and matched to utilise all sides of the cube (with different info on each side) then you will score big, too.

2. Building Sets

The challenge is increased when your child has more than just cubes to express their imagination. Some sets include basic building bits like pillars, arches, columns, and triangles to create a small city. Legos and Duplos are great for this.

3. Construction Sets

Similar to building sets, but capable of more intricate designs and complex structures, constructions sets usually come with predesigned model illustrations that your child will try to replicate. They may create a spaceship or detailed city with highways and neighbourhoods.

4. Gears

Gears add the element of motion and vibrant colour to the design and building experience for your child. Your child will be able to see how the interlocking segments spin to complete tasks like vehicle transportation or moving creatures.

5. Robot Kits

Although you can go straight for full-on robotics, a great place to start with your little one is with a build-your-own robot kit. While the more popular kits feature vehicles like army tanks and cars as the final product, you can also find models which finish up as spiders or artmaking doodle-machines.

6. Jigsaw Puzzles

From basic 4-piece puzzles to those with hundreds or even thousands of pieces, these oddly-shaped pieces interlock to produce a complete picture. These toys are unassuming, since they engage both the right and left hemispheres of our brains, stimulating the development of both the logical and creative aspects of our child’s problem-solving skills.

7. Crystal Puzzles

I only learned about 3D or crystal puzzles recently. My mind was blown, when I found out children were putting together 3D models of castles or their favourite cartoon characters using transparent, interlocking jigsaw puzzle pieces. The genius about these toys is that the completed puzzle can then be displayed like any other decorative object in your child’s room of the living area of your home.

8. Twisty Puzzles

Many of us grew up playing with the world’s best-selling toy, Rubik’s Cubes, and now we know they give our brains a good workout. Improved hand-eye coordination, sharpened short-term memories, increased patience and longer attention spans are all benefits of challenging out little ones with twisty puzzles.

Toys to Build

While the market is flooded with toys we can buy to nurture our little engineers, us Mommies can get into the building practice too. If you want to try your hand at designing and building some toys for and with your little engineer, you could try some of the ones below.

9. Fractal Pattern Posters

My favourite way to use fractals (never-ending patterns of symmetry) is by decorating your home or just your child’s room or playspace with African or ankara fabric. But, if you’ve already got your décor locked, an online fractal generator can design many patterns with all the colours you like. Just print them out as flashcards or large posters for your child to gaze at.

10. Lacing Frames

As easy as punching holes into a cardboard frame or or remove the glass window from a picture frame.

11. Play Dough

With many simple recipes to choose from, you can make your own play dough or silly putty. Little ones can get lost in exploring textures and manipulating shapes and colours.

12. Button Snake

Threading a button through bits of fabric can be quite entertaining for your toddler. The repetition involved builds up fine motor skills and depending on how you vary the position of the slit in the bits of fabric, the challenge can be further increased. Of course a great benefit is your child being better able to dress himself ? .

13. Puzzle Blocks

A genius idea and so easy to make. You could use mini juice cartons wrapped in plain paper, cubes of foam or real wood blocks. The key is getting a nice rectangular image to cut into pieces for lining up when the blocks get stacked.

14. Cardboard Dropbox

My 3-year-old adores these. Her favourites have cut-outs on each side of the box. It is so exciting to watch her flip the dropbox from side to side trying to find the ‘hole’ that fits the shape she has in her hand.

15. Activity Boards

If you’re not much of a DIYer, an old control panel with knobs, switches, buttons, etc. will be just fine. But, a custom activity board can have latches, wheels, whitsles, buzzers, lights, etc. There are many examples online for inspiration.

16. Cardboard Construction Sets

Grab some rigid cardboard and cut it into shapes with slits and notches. Your little ones will have lots of fun connecting them in different shapes.

So, whether you choose to browse the shelves of your local stores to stock up on toys or you want to get in the middle of a pile of string, glue and safety knives, you can provide all the toys and games needed to encourage your little one to ask, imagine, design, create, test and improve on things. Maybe you will join in and become a better ‘engineer’ too ?

Запись 16 Toys That Encourage Engineering Skills in Kids впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

I had always been curious about camping. Something about a tent, a fire, and marshmallows sounded like a lot of fun, but when I brought it up, no one in my family wanted to sleep on the ground outside when we had perfectly good beds inside.

With a child’s eye, I began to notice that other black families seemed to share their sentiments. I was too young to understand the history behind some of it.  Much like why “black people don’t know how to swim, ” many black people don’t camp for historical reasons such as segregation and violence. Being isolated in the woods was not exactly a welcoming place for blacks not so long ago, and beyond that, camping takes resources such as transportation, time, and equipment that I know, for my parents’ childhoods, would have been a constraint even if Jim Crow hadn’t kept them at home.

That all said, though my parents still can’t swim, they made sure that I can, even if the water is still very frightening to them. Sometimes the best parenting decisions for me are the ones that push me out of my comfort zone, so last year we went camping.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t a little uneasy. Not having a door to lock unnerved me in a way I hadn’t expected. I felt so exposed. Despite any fears I had, the most negative experience we had was simply being colder than we anticipated.

Life’s not always about climate controlled comfort.

I love how camping challenges the everyday conveniences such as a thermostat. While it’s easy to focus on what’s lacking in the woods, what it offers in return is substantial.

Of course the scenery is great. I used my camera more than I had in years. Plus, you can really see stars. I didn’t realize how bad light pollution was until I was in the middle of a desert looking up. It was like a new sky, one I had never seen.

We had the most amazing conversations.

Out of consistent cell range, the conversations were free of technological distractions. Since we traveled with friends, it offered the perfect time to reconnect.

I was especially impressed by the intense science and nature lessons my then three-year-old son had while we visited different landscapes. With each stop, he learned more than he ever could in a classroom. Coming up on a year later, he’s still talking about climbing boulders and hiking in the desert.

I loved watching my child in the wilderness.

His curiosity had never been so strong. Always a child with a question, he was absorbed with all the new sights, sounds, and smells. He loved all the opportunities to climb, touch, run, and jump.

Though we go to zoos and watch nature programs, coming up on a wild elk on a trail is very different than seeing one on display. It stirs a whole different part of the soul. I realized if I want my son to be inspired to study science, the best way to accomplish this is just to take him camping.

I wasn’t surprised when I saw that studies have shown that nature exposure increases observation and creativity, reduces stress levels, and helps children with ADD perform better at school. Similarly other studies show that children who have regular experiences outside show more advanced motor skills including balance, coordination, and agility.

My son wasn’t thinking in these research terms. He was just having fun. He can’t wait to sleep in the tent again.

He’s not the only one. The trip came at a pretty stressful time in our lives, yet being surrounded by all that beauty brought me an unexpected calm. I wasn’t surprised later to read that nature is good for mental health. It’s hard not to see the beauty and wonder in life when you’re standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon or looking up at Redwoods so tall they never seem to end.

Now that I’m a person who camps, I have another shared experience with millions of others.

I love that my kids will grow up relating to that experience. They will feel that part of the world belongs to them too. This will contribute to their success because they won’t be held back by stereotypes of what they do and don’t do just because of their race.

Запись Why I Reclaimed My Relationship with the Outdoors as a Black Woman and Went Camping впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

Looking for a gift that will improve motor skills, increase confidence, and improve your kid’s diet? Consider knives. That’s what I’m getting my three year old for Christmas.

My little man has been helping me in the kitchen for awhile now, stirring muffin batter here, washing vegetables there, but after I read this article about giving toddlers knives, I realized I’ve been low-balling his abilities.

In many cultures, small children learn to use very sharp knives that most Americans don’t even want their pre-teens near. The issue with this level of over-protection is two-fold: (1) when do kids learn how to use knives, and (2) what is the cost of keeping them away?

Too many people leave home without knowing basic skills to take care of themselves, especially in the kitchen.

This lack of knowledge leads to over-reliance on eating out and eating prepared meals which are both expensive and unhealthy habits to sustain. Getting kids comfortable in the kitchen is preparation for their future independence and should not be overlooked. Without using knives, not much meaningful food preparation can be done.

Proud and ready for the next level!

Addtionally, studies have shown that when kids are involved in the food prep, they are more engaged and more willing to try and eat a wider variety of food including vegetables.

Involving kids in the kitchen takes away the mystery of how food is made and connects it to work that should be acknowledged and appreciated. Not only will they feel pride for their contribution to the family meal, they will learn greater appreciation for the meals others prepare for them.

One of the most rewarding but challenging aspects of parenting for me is building character.

By empowering my son to learn to use knives, he will become more adept in the kitchen. Eventually, he’ll be responsible for one meal a week to feed the family. At first I will help him prepare these meals with the goal of him being able to produce meals from recipe to grocery shopping to cooking by the time he’s in middle school.

To help set the path for my son to grow to be a self-sufficient, health-centered person, he’s getting knives.

But because I don’t want to deal with the possibility of stitches just yet, he won’t be unwrapping a ginsu collection. I’ll be starting him off with some safety knives with the goal to get him using regular knives as his skills and my comfort improve.

The drawback of the safety knives is the limited list of foods they can cut, so he won’t be able to chop everything needed for a meal. The benefit is that I’ll still be there demonstrating, helping, and connecting. I can’t wait to for all the meals we’re going to make together.

What gift are you most excited to give this year?

Запись Why My 3 Year Old is Getting Knives for Christmas впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

While the zoo may sound like the perfect family friendly outing, I’m not so sure about zoos. Sometimes during a zoo trip, I wonder what I’m really teaching my kids. Part of me enjoys seeing wildlife in person and another part feels guilty to see creatures held captive for my family’s entertainment.

Having a family zoo membership this year has given me ample opportunity to consider the ethical implications of visiting zoos. Most zoos promote themselves as educational opportunities. Their purpose is to increase human knowledge with the goal of better protecting animal populations in captivity and in the wild. Honestly, for that goal, animals do not need to be on display for the general public, but without having visitors, most zoos could not afford to operate.

Whenever I question whether or not we should go to zoos, I keep coming back to this: animals are not people, and anthropomorphising them isn’t a true reflection of their experience. Additionally, life in the wild isn’t a perfect Eden. While it’s easy to assume life would be better for animals in the wild, that’s not necessarily true. Nature is brutal. In the wild animals face numerous struggles such as overpopulation, disease, predation, and habitat loss. All it takes is watching a nature program to see that freedom for many animals is being another animal’s dinner. I’m not sure that’s better than being in a zoo.

Because I know captivity is complicated, I try to make the best of our visits by focusing on learning.

With my kids, I build vocabulary and encourage letter and color recognition by pointing out signs and reading them aloud. I try to use zoos as conversation starters, so we move beyond “look at that cute animal.” We talk about classification by discussing how animals are similar and different. We talk about geography and make use of the maps on display. We also talk about the condition of the animals and why they might feel certain ways. I like seeing the wonder in their faces as they experience new things and zoos are a great place for this.

However, I know that many people do not go to zoos to learn.

Just last week a drunk woman was injured trying to pet a tiger in a zoo. This is not a rare happening. Zoogoers antagonize animals every day from tapping on their displays to shouting at them to throwing trash and, in some cases, attempting to get in their habitats. Even when zoogoers enter restricted areas and find themselves attacked, the animals often suffer consequences such as euthanasia when they were only acting in their nature. I can’t say that zoos shouldn’t exist because of the bad behavior of a minority, but I hate thinking that animals spend their lives having idiots taunt them.

Just as better zoos have adequate staff to help control visitors, they also have more humane enclosures. These zoos tend to have ample learning opportunities available such as creature chats run by the zookeepers that help engage visitors and provide entertaining outlets that breed respect and compassion for animals. Zoos like these are the reason I still go to zoos despite some of my concerns. I’ve come to especially enjoy behind the scenes type events like the one in these photos where my son had many one-on-one conversations with keepers and the animals on exhibit were only a small part of the outing.

Because there are aspects of captivity I don’t like, I avoid zoos that have poor enclosures and don’t focus on education. I want my family’s zoo experiences to be as positive as possible for us and the animals.

Do you take your family to zoos? Why or why not?

Запись Why I’m Conflicted About Taking My Kids to the Zoo впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

One more week of school and I will have all 4 kids home for the summer. My two oldest have hit the age where the cost of fun is not fun anymore because we are paying full kid prices. Things like amusement parks, flying, eating out and resort stays have become a lot more expensive, so we’ve had to come up with ways to save money and have fun at the same time. Here are some ideas we’ve come up with;

1. Ice Cream Party
My oldest is turning 7 next month and we were debating whether or not to go all out for her birthday. Going all out for us is inviting more people than just family. To be totally honest we don’t have it like that right now and often have to remind our daughter that we will do something for her birthday but not the type of parties she has attended with her friends. Last year was a big hit when we had a BBQ outside with family and instead of doing cake, we did ice cream with every topping you could think of. It actually worked out cheaper this way. For one we had it in our backyard, so it was easy clean up and no cost for venue. Also, we kept it simple with the food — hotdogs, chips, veggie dish, grilled corn, water, lemonade and — everyone’s favorite — ice cream. Guests had fun making their own cones (or cups) and adding different toppings. Can we say ‘success’!

2. Day Trips
We are a family of six so hopping on and off a plane does not always work for us. But we find that going to places that are no more than 2 or 3 hours away is an adventure for us! We live in Portland, and have done trips to Seattle — which is only two hours away. We stay in a hotel for the night and tour the city the next day. Another big hit with our family is spending a night in a hotel that is no more than 5 or 10 miles away from us. You ask how is that fun? Well if the the hotel is a 3 star or better, has an indoor pool for winter months or an outdoor pool for the summer months, has a nearby store for snacks and comes with a free full buffet breakfast, this family is there!!!! I did a post about it on my blog here. Check it out .

3. Keep a Cooler in the Car for Snacks
Going to fast food restaurants are a treat for my kiddies when on the road. But we try our best not to depend on fast food entirely when we are traveling. So we keep a cooler in the car. This has been a life saver and will be even moreso this summer. It’s good for water and juice, lunch meat to make quick sandwiches and even fruit. No quick drive by to McDonalds this summer!

4. Grow a Garden
Not only will this be a money saver, but a fun filled project for me and my family. I mean have you seen the price of produce lately? We eat a lot of fruit and veggies, especially in the summer months. When we saw how much our neighbors, a family of four, were growing right in their back yard, we knew that, as a family of six, this was something we definitely needed to attempt. There is nothing like eating produce grown right in your own yard.

5. Free Local Events
In my family, ‘free’ is our middle name. Lol, just kidding. But seriously there is no shame in seeking out free events — especially if they’d normally cost $12 or $15 a person! This summer we will be attending “Movies in the Park.” This event is really big out here in the Portland area and I’m sure if you check your area there may be a few around too. They play popular recent releases that would cost quite a bit for our family to go see in a theater. Sometimes these events give out free popcorn and do raffle prizes for extra fun. We also like to attend “Concerts in the Park” where local bands or dance crews come out and do performances in the park for FREE! Oh and don’t forget about your local library. There are always free events going on — especially during the summer months.

So in other words..TAKE ADVANTAGE of ANYTHING FREE! I believe we will have a great summer this year and will save a lot of money doing so. Your kiddies will just appreciate the fact that an effort was made to create fun and new adventures for them. It does not take money to have fun.

Kim is the author of  where she discovers what it means to be a woman of GOD, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and entrepreneur. You can follow her on Twitter.

Запись 5 Fun Summer Activities that Cost Little Money And Keep Kids Entertained впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

As my tiny princess journeys towards adulthood, I’ve come to realise that, in spite of my lofty aspirations and idealistic expectations, she will become who she wants to be. It is a hard pill to swallow, but we have to admit that even if we stick to our parenting guns, our children will still choose their own paths and establish their own values once they become adults. Much of who we are as adults, is not so much about what our parents drilled into us, but the product of all of our life experiences. In part, we are the product of our memories – the ones that we made growing up that live with us every day.

Now, that Mwalimu is exploring the world and creating her own memories, I often contemplate on how I should go about interweaving my own specially-orchestrated events and activities into her equally valuable interests and inclinations. A long time before I even placed ‘having a child’ on my list of things to do, I had scratched down a list of some cherished memories from my childhood that I would want to share with my child(ren). On that list, I had recorded the experiences that I believed really shaped who I am today. Whenever I read through them I actually feel like I have my own version of ‘the good, old days’ to talk about. LOL. Maybe you have some of those memories, too! The kind that make you smile to yourself and forget where you are. The ones that don’t need photographs or video recordings to help you recall all the fine details. Well, those are the kinds of memories that I want to duplicate with my daughter:

1. Reading Programme/Library Camp
Some of my earliest summertime memories, were of long, sunny days spent in the local library of my father’s rural hometown. We could borrow loads of books during the weeks of the summer and had many exciting activities that allowed us to share what we learned. The programme helped me to develop a love for books and respect the power of the written word. The exploration of books showed me that I could live a hundred thousand lives through the pages I turned, and that there was an exciting and diverse world outside the borders of my island home.

2. Eco Tour
One summer, my parents took us for a cruise on the Black River Safari, a mangrove on Jamaica’s south coast, and took a picture of me as I stood on the outer ledge of the vessel and petted a crocodile’s wet nose! Our tour guide told us all about the ecosystem that existed in the watery habitat and how the destruction or preservation of the environment impacted the animals, plants and eventually, the people who lived nearby. It made such an impact on me that I have since developed a passionate hatred of littering and take the practice of recycling very seriously – all because someone showed me how every living thing is connected.

3. Penpals
When I was in high school, IYS Penpals were the trend. We all had at least one penpal in some faraway land. Some of my schoolmates have even travelled to their writing pal’s home country or hosted the penfriend in their homes. I think just the process of exchanging thoughts about our lifestyles and cultures with boys and girls our age, who were different ethnicities, living in different countries and who often spoke different languages, allowed us to appreciate diversity. In today’s world of social media and instant messaging, letter-writing and cross-cultural awareness has become almost non-existent. But, I think emails and video-calls are a great way to connect children in different worlds.

4. Farming
My grandparents lived on a big farm and had other lands for planting produce and grazing their cattle and goat herds. Plus, my parents’ rural roots meant that our suburban backyard and front garden were host to fruits, veggies, herbs, birds, cats and dogs. From the slaughtering of chickens and collection of their eggs, to the planting of leafy greens and the harvesting of pimento berries, from a tender age, I was given the first-hand knowledge of where my food comes from. Today I can fully appreciate real, whole foods and completely understand the dangers of genetically modified organisms and the chemical-laden, artificially-preserved products that line our supermarket shelves.

5. Outdoor Camping
I really value survival skills and I think it’s because I never passed up the opportunities to hike into the mountain ranges and forestry lands with my local boys’ brigade while I was a teen. We learned how to forage for food, build fires, set up tents, and identify helpful versus poisonous plants. We were even trained to camouflage ourselves when threatened with danger and to exist without electricity and piped water. You never know when the luxuries we enjoy today will become scarcities and we will have to thrive nonetheless.

6. Compassionate Giving
My siblings and I regularly had to sort through our books, clothing and toys to identify any items we had not used in the previous months and prepare them for ‘free-cycling’. Yup, we had to give them away! Then, of course these donations weren’t just packed into boxes and left at the Salvation Army. Nope. Our parents would take us to one of the many Children’s Home and have us spend time playing with the children who we were giving the items to. On some of these visits, we took our friends along, so they could also play with children who were orphaned, abandoned, living with HIV or disabled. I always feel warm inside when I remember these trips, because I learned to respect others who were differently-abled or disadvantaged.

7. Writing Projects
During her high school years, my mother grew to love writing poems and letters, and she seemed to think her children should fall in love with words, too. So, I always had notebooks for writing assignments my mother gave me: letters to my relatives, book reports, poetry for special occasions, essays on various topics. This practice developed a skill that proved very useful in college and still generates an income for me today. But, more importantly, I feel very comfortable expressing myself in black and white.

8. Nature Walks
The soul is renewed when we step away from the hustle bustle and mentally escape into the wonders of the unprocessed outdoors. Mommy would have us lay down and look up at stars on a clear night, or examine the unique patterns on the variegated leaves of a croton plant. She’d often call our attention to the voices of birds in the early morning, and encourage us to admire the way the sun would paint orange, pink and purple hues across the evening sky.

9. Theatre
One of my earliest memories was of forgetting “M is for Manger…” in a choir solo part I was performing as a pre-schooler. Over the years, I sang solos and in choirs, performed spoken word pieces, choreographed dances, and got into character on many stages around the world. I was never famous for my stints in the theatre house, but this world allowed me to build my confidence and respect the instruments that my voice and body are, while learning to work cohesively with my fellow performers on productions.

10. Housekeeping Chores
We always had housekeepers who kept our home in order, but our parents would still make up a ‘Duty Roster’ and have us make our beds, polish the furniture, do the dishes, tidy our rooms, rake the yard, water the plants, feed the animals, and even make some of our meals. When we protested and claimed that we’d grow up to earn enough money to hire someone to do our chores, my father rebutted that we wouldn’t know whether the job was well done unless we knew how to do it ourselves. Today, I’m still doing the chores myself!

I want to duplicate these memories for my little girl because I want to help her enjoy her childhood days, just as much as I did. But more importantly, I think these experiences and activities will help to build some character traits and personal values in her, that I don’t think I could with just talk or walk. Maybe you have some of these same memories in your mind’s cabinets, or even some better ones. Either way, I hope you will take the time to jot them down and make the effort to share these experiences and activities with the princes and princesses in your life.

Didan Ashanta is a natural living enthusiast who blogs at DidanAshanta.com. A native of Jamaica, she currently lives in Tokyo with her husband and 1-year-old daughter.

Запись 10 Childhood Experiences I Want to Replicate For My Daughter впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

Spring is finally here! To welcome the sun back, my two year old and I have been digging in the dirt. But this is more than just getting our hands dirty. We’re having fun science lessons outside.

If you haven’t gardened with your kids, you’re missing out. Gardening is a fabulous way to introduce science, nature, and healthy eating to children.

Here are some simple and fun ideas to get you started.

1. Plant beans in a cup.

Plant a couple of dried beans in dirt a plastic cup. Work on motor skills by allowing your child to scoop the dirt into the cup. Let him make a mess (that’s what the pros call a sensory experience).

Water the planted beans, stick in a sunny window, and watch them grow. Take photos every couple of days to mark the growth. Swipe through your slideshow as you spend time each day talking about the bean plants. Use words like seed, light, green, long, thin, leaves, grow, energy, and photosynthesis. Beans sprout really quickly that’s why this project has been a classroom favorite for decades.

2. Buy seedlings and plant in a pot.

Get a jumpstart on veggies or flowers by buying seedlings at your local garden center. Be sure to tour all the aisles, talking about all the plants and colors. Let your child have a say in the selection process. While you’re at the store, pick up a pot. Flowers don’t need a lot of space, but veggies like a few gallons of dirt. Large paint buckets are a good size to go tomatoes in. You can mix flowers and a veggies in large pots, so you have something pretty to look at while you wait on your vegetables to grow.

The changes from seedlings to mature plants is less dramatic than beans sprouting in a cup, but try weekly photos to document growth. Use words like bloom, pollinators, fruit, mature, ripen, and harvest! Don’t forget to talk about the five senses as you listen to birds sing, feel cool potting soil, smell blooming flowers, taste ripe vegetables, and of course see everything growing.

3. Dig a garden bed.

If you have the space and full sun, a garden bed in the ground is a great way to go. Let your little ones help you weed and stick their fingers in the soil to drop in the seeds. Just don’t be surprised if they try to add a handful of seeds at once. Use words like till, shovel, fertilize, pests, soil, clay, and worms!

The best thing about using the ground instead of a pot is you’ll see more roly-polies, beetles, and other creepy crawlies. This is a great opportunity to make a homemade book on “what we saw in the garden today.” Use your own photos and drawings after seeing new creatures. Use wikipedia to learn about the creatures you find to show how research works to teach us more about the world around us.

Regardless of whether you’re just sprouting beans in a cup, growing tomatoes in buckets, or planting a larger garden in the ground, gardening is a great jumping off point to teach your kids science. Children, and adults, benefit from learning that just like plants, people need water, sun, and a healthy environment to thrive. Turn your gardening project into an outdoor classroom. Compare and contrast the size and colors of the vegetables you harvest. Count the blooms on your flowers. Look for the ants and other insects that will visit your plants. These may seem like pretty minor things to do, but you can’t start too early teaching kids about nature and where our food comes from. It’s a science lesson they live every day.

How do you think you could use gardening to teach your kids about science and health?

***

Alicia lives and gardens in a small college town that often challenges her resolve to live as simply and as stress-free as possible. When she’s not working, rereading the same children’s books, cooking, or wondering how crunchy she’s become, she’s busy updating her site,  liciabobesha.com. You can follow her on facebook.

Запись 3 Ways to Introduce Your Child to Gardening and Urban Farming впервые появилась Baby & Blog | Celebrating Black Mommyhood.

The reality is that your baby is going to grow up. For the first 2-3 years, it’s going to happen very quickly. There are many expensive toys that will only get used once or twice; and there are many odd (and seemingly boring) objects that your little angel will develop strong sentiments for. During this special time when your baby grows from newborn to toddler, you need to identify toys and activities that are fun and encourage their development. Yet,  perhaps most importantly, you need them to be free or low-cost. Some great ways to get toys that are free or low-cost are to get crafty and repurpose used items around your home. You can decide whether to use odds and ends you find around your home or to invest a bit of money in some craft supplies to feed your toddler’s growing interests.

Photo Source: Get Creative With Kids

1. Rattles from Plastic Bottles
My daughter received one as a welcome gift from her 5-yr-old friends. They used an empty plastic bottle filled with beads, buttons, a bell and some colourful bits of paper that they decorated with strips of colored tape. You could also make an Edible Rattle by filling the botle with puffy snacks.

2. Old Electronics
An old remote control,  calculator, or computer keyboard can be cleaned up with all the hazards (small parts, batteries, etc.) removed. You might find that your little one will be less inclined to bang away at your working and newer electronics if they have their own Toy Laptop.

Photo Source: U Create

3. Bowling Set from Empty Plastic Bottles
Whether you decide to paint them or fill them up with colored water, your empty plastic bottles can be transformed into a miniature bowling set.

Photo Source: Thrifty Fun

4. Tops from Old CDs
Those old CDs that you got for various devices and software would be so much more useful if you converted them into a homemade top. Just a few marbles and bottles caps are needed. You can have your tiny tot decorate them with some paint or crayons and they’ll have fun spinning away.

Photo Source: When Hippos Talk

5. Fabric Square Dispenser from Old Cloth Dispenser Box
If you’ve ever shreaked at the sight of a baby emptying the container of wet wipes or creating a new layer of carpet by pulling facial tissue after facial tissue out of the box,  you will certainly appreciate cutting up some fabric squares and packing them into an empty wipes dispenser.

Photo Source: Lilla A Design

6. Activity/Busy Board from Old Hinges, Latches, Bolts and Keys
This is a wonderful way to keep your little one occupied for quite a while and it can be made using simple scraps you have around the house or from knick-knacks you could pick up at your local hardware store. They can be simple and composed of hinges, latches, bolts and keys. They can be very detailed with steering wheels, bells,  light bulbs and switches, or have doors that lead to mirrors, chalkboards and velcro-attached blocks.

Photo Source: Vintage Songbird

7. Play Kitchen from Old Dressers and Cupboards
I never imagined a homemade kitchen for toddlers until I walked into my daughter’s play group one day and saw her ‘cooking away’. After I finally put away my camera, I examined the set up and realized that any old piece of furniture could find new life as a baby kitchen with a bit of paint and minor remodeling.

8. Sensory/Discovery Bottles from Old Plastic Bottles
A plastic bottle Glitter Globe will keep your little one fascinated as he watches the sequins, beads and ‘magic dust’ float around. With discovery bottles, the possibilities are endless.

Photo Source: Two-Daloo.com

9. Jingle Bell Ankle Bracelets from Elastic Cords, Beads and Bells
Forget the fancy sneakers that light up and play music when your baby walks in them. With just a little elastic and some bells and beads, you’ll soon have bracelets that can be worn indoors or out on the town to make your tiny tot dance until she drops.

Photo Source: Minie Co

10. Guitar from Old Shoe Box
If you have a little musician and would prefer to build his first set of strings, all you need are an old shoe box, some rubber bands, and thumb tacks. Then,  decide if you want to keep it simple or get really fancy.

The sky is the limit on homemade toys. It all depends on how much money you’re willing to spend on craft materials and how handy and artistic you are. It is completely fine to be a ‘cheapskate’ and give your little one a box with ‘airplane’ or ‘racecar’ written on the front. By the time it becomes crumpled and tattered, your toddler will have discovered some new skill or interest that allows you to toss their ‘bullet train’ or ‘helicopter’ into the garbage.

Ladies, which of these toys would you attempt to make? Have you made your own toddler toys before?

Didan Ashanta is a natural living enthusiast who blogs at DidanAshanta.com. A native of Jamaica, she currently lives in Tokyo with her husband and 1-year-old daughter.

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