Our Favourite Ways to Learn about Shapes

This month, momstown moms across Canada are teaching their children about shapes.  Whether they're toddlers learning shapes for the first time or older children counting the sides of a hexagon, you can get creative with activities at home and on the move.  Labelling your world in terms of shapes is a great way to start (ie. let's open the door, it's a rectangle, let's eat this apple- what shape is it?). 

 fun with shapes

 

Here are our favourite ways to engage the kids and have fun with shapes!

 

1.  Create your family out of shapes!  Pre-cut or help your toddler cut out shapes from construction paper, scrapbook paper, wrapping paper or even magazines! 

 

2.  Use snack time to have fun with shapes.  Draw large shapes on a piece of construction paper and ask your child to outline them using their favourite cereal or dry pasta or beans.  Investing in some fun cookie cutters in triangles, circles and squares can make meal time, learning time too!

 

3.  Kids love to create monsters!  Give your child a few pre-cut shapes in different colours and watch what kind of creatures you can make!

 

4.  Create these great flashcards at home and take them to a restaurant to teach your child on the move.  Use the shapes to create patterns or to group them.

 

5.  Cut sponges in different shapes and let your child paint with them!

 

6.  Use muffin tins to sort small foam or plastic shapes (be sure your child is over 3 and does not choke).

 

7.  Build shapes with your child as they get older, using these numbered popsicle sticks. 

 

8.  Once your child has mastered 2D shapes, try these ideas for 3D shapes; structures and caterpillers.

 

Have fun!

Posted by momstown team on 05/17/2013 - 11:29
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Kindergarten Graduation Songs and Poems

Is there anything cuter than seeing your little kindergartener singing on stage?  Is your child the one that belts it out or stands silently (even though they sing everyday at home)?

kindergarten graduation songs

 

This song is one of our favourites.  Fun for kids, and nostalgic for the moms and dads!

 

Summer Nights- Kindergarten Version (sung to "Summer Lovin'" from Grease)

 

Kindergarten had me a blast.
Kindergarten went by so fast. 
Made some friends cute as can be.  Had a teacher, crazy for me. 

 

Kindergarten went by so fast, but now it's time to go.
Oh well, Oh well, Oh well ugh 

 

Tell me more, Tell me more Do you remember last fall? 
Tell me more, Tell me more, we were only this tall. 
Ooh bompbomp Ooh bompbomp Ooh bompbomp yeah 

 

All year long we learned and had fun.
Can't believe we got it all done.
We had small groups in reading each day.
Morning message, smart board, hooray!

 

Kindergarten, we learned so much, but now it's time to go.
Oh well, Oh well, Oh well ugh.

 

Tell me more, Tell me more, about the friends you have made.
Tell me more, Tell me more, will we have fun in first grade?
Ooh bompbomp Ooh bompbomp Ooh bompbomp yeah

 

Kindergarten, this is where it ends.
But don't worry, we'll still be friends.
Wonder what we'll learn next year.

 

Kindergarten drifted away
Ooh, ooh, but...
We're first graders no-oooowwwwww

 

Time to Say Goodbye Poem

 

Now I know my ABCs,
Colours, shapes and days.
I sang songs, learned poems, rhymes and fingerplays.

I played outside on sunny days and inside when it rained.
My little hands and little feet were busy every day.

I kept my teacher on her toes.
She tied my shoes, combed my hair and even wiped by nose.

But now it's time to say "good-bye" to all my kindergarten friends.
School is over, summer's here,
But learning never ends!

Posted by momstown team on 05/17/2013 - 10:24
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DIY Canada Day Footprint and Handprint Shirts for Babies and Kids

Do you attend a party on Canada Day?  Every July 1st, our kids get new tshirts to wear to our annual fireworks event.  We usually hit the mall and find a store that has the best prices on a shirt for this ONE day each year.... seems crazy to buy a shirt for one day, right?

 

So, this year, we decided to make them instead! 

 

make your own Canada Day tshirt

 

make your own Canada Day onesie for baby

Materials:

plain white tshirt or baby onesie (found at craft stores or discount stores)

red fabric paint

 

Directions:

1.  Paint your hands with red paint.  Painting baby's feet might be the easiest!

 

2.  Put a piece of cardboard side the shirt, between the front and the back so that paint doesn't transfer. 

 

3.  Put the handprint in the centre of the shirt.

 

4.  Create the Canadian Flag by painting red rectangles on either side of the print.

 

5.  Let it dry, then wear it to your own Canada Day festivities or create your own July 1st party with these fun crafts and decoration for kids of all ages.

 

Thanks for the great photos, momstown Edmonton!

Posted by momstown team on 05/16/2013 - 20:11
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How to get the Perfect Baby Handprint

We turned to momstown Edmonton to learn the best tips on how to get the PERFECT baby handprint.  At momstown, we are experts at creating beautiful keepsakes crafts at our Baby Basics Program.  Handprint crafts are adorable and moms love to capture those tiny fingers at every stage!

tips for baby handprints

 

The issue with handprints is babies just love holding their tiny (and curiously strong) fists closed as soon a drop of paint touches them!  We've all tried to pry those little fingers open and sometimes it's just end up as blob of paint that doesn't even come close to resembling a handprint.


Here are some tips for getting those little handprints perfect every time:

 

1) Use a wipeable surface - Eventually you will get that hand print even if it's not perfect! Plates are great for that! You can attempt the hand print over and over until you get one that comes close to resembling a hand.

 

2)Wait till baby is sleeping -  Babies are pretty heavy sleepers and getting that handprint while they sleep is a great option!

 

3)  Trace the hand - When push comes to shove and you need the handprint to turn out the first time (like T shirt, etc.) you've gotta cheat a little. Trace the baby's hand so you still get the size of their hand to capture the moment in time. Then dip the traced hand print in the paint and Voila! This is also a good idea if using something that typically stains the fingers like acrylic paint.

 

4)  If all else fails, resort to the feet -  Footprints are MUCH easier and just as cute!

 

To learn more about the Baby Basics program, check here.

 

We have the best hand and footprint crafts, like Canada Day tshirts and Butterfly flowerpots. 

 

Read more of momstown Edmonton's great ideas and crafts on their blog.

 

Posted by momstown team on 05/16/2013 - 19:42
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DIY Closet Dividers for Baby

As many new moms quickly find out, their newborn infants' closet will contain more clothing than their own collection! And that adorable newborn will also grow out of them faster than you can say how adorable they look in that outfit!


At momstown KW, moms-to-be created their own closet dividers at their Belly Basics event! This simple and inexpensive craft will help to keep a baby's closet organized and help keep baby brain at bay as moms-to-be start nesting or picking out an outfits for their bundle of joy. 

 diy closet dividers for kids

 

You can organize the closet a bunch of different ways;

 

1.  You can organize by size. Newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and so on. This is especially handy since not all baby sizes are the same. If you try on a 0-3 outfit and find it too big, simply rehang it in the 3-6 month section!

 

2.  You can organize by season (great for older babies);  Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Since 6-12 month sizes range over 2 seasons, you can have 6-12 month t-shirts in the spring/summer section and long sleeved shirts in the fall/winter section!

 

3.  You can organize by style; pants, sweaters, hoodies, dresses, etc.  This is great for older kids.  They can even help you make the dividers for their own closets! 

 

Materials:

Foam or wooden dividers (available at craft stores and some dollar stores)

Embellishments to match baby's nursery theme or colour scheme; stickers, ribbons, foam shapes, rhinestones, wooden shapes, foam or wooden letters

Markers or paint (grab some fun stencils)

Scrapbook papers

 

Simply decorate each divider with a number or season and use embellishments to create a special look for baby's (or older child's) closet.

 

Note: These make a FABULOUS baby shower gift for any mom-to-be!

 

What are some ways that you help to keep your child's clothes organized?

Posted by momstown team on 05/16/2013 - 17:32
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Exploring Spring with Sensory Bins

Our babies love explore with their senses!  Milton momstown moms and babies created a bright and beautiful sensory bin was filled with Springy things that their little explorers could touch, hear, taste, and see. 

 spring baby sensory bin

 

Materials:

Green Easter grass (great way to recycle!)

silky flowers

stuffed insect toys

plastic bugs

colourful shaker eggs

 

Ideas to incorporate the materials:

 

The stuffed insects were a lot of fun for the babies.  These colourful little bugs have crinkly wings that make a nice rustling noise, jingly bells inside, and shaker beads.

 

Easter eggs recycled from our egg hunt were half filled with dried mung beans, rice, and dried kidney beans.  The eggs were taped closed to avoid choking hazards.  Babies love shakers!

 

It is always such a thrill for a mom, watching her baby light up, laugh, and explore new things.  The Baby Sensory program is a wonderful chance to find new and simple ideas that bring a lot of joy and wonder to the day for our little ones.  This beautiful little bin of Springy things brought a lot of happiness to two groups of babies and mamas this past week. 

 spring sensory bin

 

Great idea submitted by the Milton momstown sensory group program.

Posted by momstown team on 05/16/2013 - 10:03
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