Memory Game With the Memory

Girlygirl has loved games this last week. We have a few and some have worked great for her but one that she could get was Memory. I didn't but the game away and say wait until she is ready. I just changed the rules. We played Letter Match. (our game is Sesame Street and ABC game) I laid the pieces face up and found the two that matched. Girlygirl had lots of fun doing this. It was a great way to talk about letters too. This didn't work with Girlygirl yet but worked great with a little girl I use to nanny. We used half of the pieces. That way it there was less choices and the game went faster. Both big when you are trying to do anything with a two year old. Play the game normally.

Remember to play with your kids today because playing is learning. What ever you play make it work for you.

teaching color with color bag

Back when I worked as a teaches aid the class had these cool color boxes from Lakeshore. I really liked them and when I wanted to start helping Girlygirl learn her colors I wanted to buy them. That is when I found out how much the cost. So when I was at a Thrift Store and fond canvas little bags I came up with the idea to make my own color bag for Girlygirl. I got 5 bags all white. It made a great art time for Girlygirl to paint the bag we just do one at a time. After the bag is dry I went around the house and looked for anything blue to add into the bag until the bag was full. Girlygirl loves the bags. Soon I will be teaching her to look and match the colors. We will have all 5 bags out and take all the toys out and she has to put each thing in the right color bag. I will let you know how this goes. Update: I found other home made color bags. I they are nicer than my done by the mom. Just thought I'd share my find. They made by PisecoMom over at Mind Games. Remember to play with your kids today. Playing is teaching

Can I have an Affordable trip to Disney World?

Sweetdude and I and been talking about take Girlygirl to Disney before she was born. She will be three next year and we hope to go in December of 2009 or before if they have a good deal. We are trying to do it with only using cash. This will be new for us. All our vacations have been put on credited cards that we are just now paying off. So in hopes of making it without adding debt I have already started planning how we can make the trip affordable.

My first step was making a bank to save money in. To do this I cleaned out and old apple sauce. I placed the lid on and cut a hole that a quarter can fit though. I then hot glued the lip on. I put Disney stickers on the front to help Girlygirl understand as she helps save money. I put $25 a week in the jar and all my change. Girlygirl puts $0.25 a week in the jar too. I want her to help save so has something invested in the trip too.

My next plan is to go when they are have a good deal or better yet win a trip. I have found a great web site called mousesavers.com. On it they keep an up to date list of what deals Disney is having at both Disney World and Disney Land in California. I look there often. Right now the have a great deal and I almost did it but then I would have had to stop my debt free trip. In order to get the best deal we are trying to be flexible in looking for a good deal any time from the fall of 2009 to early 2010. By not having a set date we want to go we hope to be able to find the best deal. I saw that ABC new in Chicago was giving a trip away so I signed up to win one. I plan to look for more ways to win a trip but not getting my hopes up.

We are also staying flexible with how we get there. We are not sure if it will be cheaper to fly or drive so we are just waiting to see what the prices are when we know the date we will go. If do fly it will because we saved money doing so. I have found lots of other tips. Be posting them soon. I just have run out of time today. If you are going to Disney World too I hope you enjoy your trip. And come back soon for more tips.

Back Yard Scavenger hunt

If you have read my 100 free things to do with kids post then you may have say that I said do  back yard/living room scavenger hunt. You do not need to have stuff to hide. Just make a list of this for your children to find. Maybe get them a bag to hold the stuff. For older kids you can have them draw and write about what  they find if you want. You can make it so the learn new stuff of just have fun. Here are some thought about what you can find.

• sticks-tell how many or how big
• flowers-name a color
• rocks
• toys you have
• water hose
• bird-tell the kind
• leafs-tell how many or what kind
• weeds
• animals-your pet or something that you see off ten in your backyard like a cat or bunny

That is all I can think of right now but you could add to the list if you have more ideas. This would be a great way to get your kids outside and moving. Here are a few great list that I found online.

• Earth day nature Hunt
• Camping Scavenger Hunt- Some will work for things in your back yard too

Happy hunting.

100 Free Things to Do With Kids: 26-50

To keep it going here is 25 more free things to do with your children. Sorry I don't know how to change to numbers.

1. Go to play area at mall
2. go to book store or toy store with a play area
3. watch parade
4. make paper airplane
5. cut a pictures of wants from ads
6. roller skate
7. go to museum free day
8. rake leaves then jump in pile
9. camp in back yard
10. go for a drive in the county or hills
11. get big free box make it to something fun
12. snow ball fight
13. play baseball
14. play football
15. play kickball
16. make up stories
17. dance
18. watch fire works
19. Butterflield open gym-this year starts Jan on Tuesdays-Thursday 12-2
20. do yoga
21. learn new language
22. exercise
23. back yard/living room scavenger hunt
24. bear hunt
25. back yard relay

Remember your children love to play with you so don't let anything keep you from doing it at least from time to time. Enjoy your next fun day with you kids for free and come back to find out the next 50 things.

100 Free Things to Do With Kids: 1-25

After reading some old post on Mommy Savers a great site I just found that is all about great ways to live with the money you got. I am got a great idea for a blog. Here is my first 25 great free things to do with your kids.

1. Go to the Library
2. Read books
3. Rent movie-free from library
4. go to park
5. go on walk
6. make tent with blankets and table better eat lunch in it
7. ride bikes
8. Cosley Zoo
9. Lay in grass and talk nothing to say or kids to young look for pictures in the clouds
10. cook together-try to do it with stuff you have at home
11. play game
12. write letters/make picture for daddy
13. build snowman
14. run in sprinkler-hopefully not same day you build a snowman
15. call a friend to come over for play date
16. trade toys with a friend
17. play tag
18. do each others hair
19. play in the rain
20. play ball with the dog
21. snuggle on couch
22.  fill bag with toys to give away
23. story time
24. picnic at park
25. teach them something new

Come back tomorrow for more of the 100 things. Remember spending time with you kids is one of the best ways to use your time.

Cheep ways to get Toddler top 10 Favorite Playtimes

Girlygirl loves to play but lots of times is not sure what to do without being shown what to do. After lots of play time with me and all the kids I have cared for she is starting to pick her own favorites here is this weeks top 10 favorite things for Girlygirl to play:

1. dolls-we got most as gifts. A great way to get doll clothing that will last is to buy Preemie or newborn baby clothing.
2. dress up-we have lots again some where gifts but I did buy most of them. We go to garage sales all summer great place to get old clothing and really dress up clothing for cheep.
3. painting-not that cheep and I have not found a good get paint. Girlgirl loves to paint and we do it weekly.
4. trains-I got a wood track for Ikea. They are great and work with Tomas the trains but way cheaper.
5. cook-She has lots of play food and plates she loves to make food for everyone here. She also likes to help in the kitchen.
6. ride one toys-she has lots i think 5 for outside and 2 in. All the outside ones where found on trash day. The 2 inside where gifts.
7. books-we also asking for them as gifts. I so look for good deals every where we go. You never know where you will find a good book at a great deal.
8. color-She likes makers best but when I say no she will use crayons. We got ours at the back to school sales and at the Dollar Tree. We use both paper and coloring books.
9. bags-not sure why but having a bag full of stuff brings Girlgirl great joy.
10. going to park-free and great fun.

Remember to let your child do it themselves that is how the learn but play next time them. They will learn from what you do.

A Block Can be anything

With a little imagination a block can become anything you want it to be. From simple rolling on the ground and saying vrom vrom it has become a car. With the same block it your can make a train "Choo Choo!" Stand to blocks up and make them talk to each other "Hi Sally how are you?" says the first. "Good thank you!" says the second. As your child child is ready for more add other toys to make block time more fun. We have lots of animals which are great with the blocks to make a farm or zoo. Blocks make great fences and trees. Your little one love his cars add blocks to the make a town with roads and all. Do you have little people your child doesn't touch add them with the blocks and teach your child to make a home, a store or what ever they can think of. The possibility are endless. Remember your child may need to been shown that a block can be more than a block. Once they see they will think of more things than you and I.

Top 5 Activities For Toddlers

Top 5 Activities For Toddlers

1. Bag things up-it doesn't have to be a bag Girlygirl likes a her toy shopping cart and rolling bag best.
2. Ride in the Laundry Basket-just put them in push or pule them around. Be a bus, a car, or a train to make it even more fun.
3. A big box-to hide in, color, make a house or whatever they can do.
4. Glue-now this one is messy but they love it. You just need per-cut paper and glue. To help Girlygirl but paper in the right place I tell her to hide the glue.
5. Bubbles-no more needs to be said

Girls night In

Play with you kids. I may mean that your house is a mess but playing with you kids i a great thing you can do. When playing a game try to let the little ones join. Girlygirl doesn't realy play but we let her roll the dice and move her own guy. She come and goes thought the game. We had a girls game night with Mr Man and Sweetdude gone. We ate dinner and played a few games.