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.

Not Playing Learning! Please don't yell!

Mr. Man may hate to learn in a class room but more than one time I was amazed at how much he knew. Or how long he'd work at something. On this day he was "doing the dishes" in his slow but get it done way. He can't stay with one thing very long. He started to play I am sure not know how much he was learning at the same time. Look at his face the joy that he did it and I did not get mad. When he grows up he will figure out away to make this crazy world work for him.

I need a Scedule

Over the summer I had my life planned out every minute of everyday I knew what I needed to do. When the Big Kids went home I thought I no longer need that. Well I guess I was wrong. I have been getting nothing done and just living in a funk. So I have learned I need a plan. Even if just a basic one to keep my life moving a long. To do this. I have done a few things. I made a list of jobs for each day Monday-Friday to keep up with the house work. I also got a pocket calender to keep in with me all times. I put sticky note paper in it so I can write done what I need to do. I will keep you updated on how this is working for me. Or if I don't know it is not going to good.

Time For Church

This is old picture but I have not blogged in a long time and love this picture. What could be cuter than two toddlers all dress this is the big kids sister and Girlygirl all dressed up and ready for their play church. Ah we are teaching them something right.

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.

Dinner Time

Times have been hard for us right now as I am sure the same many others. While reading on ways to save I read that families throw away on average 50% of their food they buy. That mean we spend 50 times more than we need to. To cut back on wasted food have a leftover night, give less food on each plate,and do the same with drinks. I just was wowed by this thought I'd write it down.

Doll Bath

I have read about letting your toddler give their babies a bath. Today we did and Girlygirl loved it. I just filled a toy tube 1/4 wit water and soap. Gave Girlygirly a a doll to wash. It was easy and she did if for about 20 min. That is always good. When she got up I told she had to be done no coming back. We then cleaned up together. Here are some cute pictures of her playing

Potty Training: When they don't want to go.

For the first few weeks Girlygirl loved to go to the potty just wasn't sure when she needed to go. Now she knows when she needs to go most the time but she doesn't like to stop what she is doing to go. There are a few things I have done to help her.

1. As I have done from the beginning I keep stickers and a sticker book in the bath room. She doesn't even have to go to get it. If she sits on the potty then she can play with it while she tries to go.
2. I often go in the bathroom with her and read books with her.
3. I have notice that she doesn't want to miss her morning TV. So if after trying to get her to come to the potty she doesn't come I bring her little potty out in front of the TV. I know it maybe bad but it works for us.
4. I give her a choice of using the big potty or little potty.
5. Sometimes I need her to try and she doesn't want to go and crys but that is okay and most the time she still goes and is happy in the end.

You know your child best and if you have to just stop for a week or two and then come back that is fine too. Making potty training work for both you and your child is the only rule there is if you ask me.

Toddler and Discipline

I tell everyone who says that Girlygirl is too good "It is because I am a mean mom." I say it jokingly but it is kind of true in today world. I don't think that Girlygirl should always be happy. I have thought that a child should listen to what I say at every age. The number one way to do this is to make them no matter what. If Girlygirl crys because she doesn't want to pick up what she just threw I make here by taking her hand and help her do it. If she takes her hair bow out I put back it in. If she crys in the car I i stop and have her sit until she is done. I sometime take her out off the car others i get out. Both work. She has learned that I mean what I say. It is not the easy way today but it will pay off big time later.

A family needs team work

Well, we may not really be a family but after having 5 kids all summer I learn a few things. Mom can't do it all. We all have to work together as a team. The silly thing is I knew that but by the end of the Big Kids 6 weeks here I was trying to do it all. Let me tell you I was not very happy nor was I very nice. At the time I didn't see why but now looking at pictures from the first weeks I remember why. A family needs team work. Those first weeks where great this kids work together and got a long. The less I started to expect from them the worse all 5 got. A family needs team work.

Preschool: Learning Colors

I have been trying to teach Girlygirl her colors. I don't homeschool with her yet but we work on learning. Today I have been teaching the color purple. I never sat her down and said let's learn about purple. I just made it purple day. When she painted this morning she used purple paint; also she made purple with red and blue. I have these bath fizzy things. They change the color of the water. We had a purple bath. With lunch we had purple cabbage and grape juice. Girlygirl wear purple clothing. We looked for everything we could find that was purple. I look forward to sharing all our color days with you.