Hand-decorated Easter eggs

Here's a fun activity for all the children in your house

Hand Decorated eggs

Hard boil a half dozen eggs.

Here's a quick tip for the perfect hard boiled egg.  

First place your eggs in a pot, then gently fill the pot with icy cold water, to about an inch above the eggs. Bring the pot to the boil, for a minute or two at the most.  Take the pot off the stove and let the eggs stand for 20 minutes.  Then put the eggs into a bowl of cold water, ready to peel.

Have the children and/or adults in your home decorate the hard boiled eggs with crayons.

Then, dunk the hard boiled eggs into a mixture of 1-2 cups of cold water with 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1-2 tablespoons of food colouring.  Soak the eggs in the dye for approximately five minutes.

PS I'll post a pic when our eggs are done :-)

What I'm reading now ...

I was intrigued by the title "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (as well as looking for a way to get out a little more in the evenings).

With an almost 17 month old at home, can you believe that I have only been to two girly evening activities in two years (apart from the routine almost weekly evening grocery shop or going to the hairdresser every couple of months)!!

Events in this delightful novel could quite truly have happened.  The work touches on the lives of those living in Guernsey during the 1940's and how one women took a risk, hurriedly gathering together a society to cover an underground activity!

Ideal for a Book Club.  I'm three quarters of the way and anticipating a discussion group gathering next month.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I am currently.

Chicken Gumbo ... on a wintery day in spring!

Spring is almost here!

Well, I say, almost, because this week my tulips and crocus have poked their heads up through the icy soil, and yesterday Joey and I were at the local park, playing on the swings and walking in the playground sand, under clear blue skies.

Today, however, is a different story ... there's a storm sweeping the city, with freezing rain, blustery winds and snow.  My garden is now a white powdery mass.

For today's lunch I felt like something warm and nourishing.  After a weekend roast, and making chicken stock yesterday here is a tasty lunch-time treat (fresh from my kitchen):

Chicken Gumbo

1 onion (finely chopped)
1/2 cup diced red pepper
2-3 stalks of celery (roughly chopped)
1-2 large cloves of garlic (finely chopped)

Saute the onion first, then add the other ingredients (above) cooking gently for 2 to 3 minutes over a medium heat.

Then add the following:

2-3 cups of homemade chicken stock (with a little chicken meat off the bones - great for texture and flavour! along with carrots, celery, onions and a few herbs from your chicken stock)
1 can of condensed tomato soup
1 can of hot water
2-3 tablespoons of soup mix (dried ok - if you have time soak the split pea soup mixture first for half an hour or so)
1/2 teaspoon of basil, thyme, chili and paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

Simmer the gumbo gently for 20 to 30 minutes

Serve this tasty wee number with lightly toasted whole-grain pita bread and humus.

Enjoy!

Language Learning in Toddlers

Children love hearing you make animal sounds like baa baa, moo, woof woof, neigh (in a singing like voice).

Did you know that making animal sounds is very important to a child developing their language skills?  It helps them to eventually develop consonant sounds.

When teaching your child to speak - sit with them at eye level (in a highchair, chatting at meal times is a perfect way to start).  To begin use simple one syllable words eg

eat
food
drink
milk
more

Joey's first words ... along with mama and papa was YA YA for banana!
Then along came SHOE and now we're working on BOOT ... he has it as far as a boo sound.

As children progress in their speech try singing or saying a rhyme with them and leave out the last word ... see if they catch on.

We love "MATILDA the GORILLA" (from mainly music) who goes
ooh ooh ooh ooh, aah aah aah (just like a gorilla - in a nice beat).

mainly music favourites CD for 2010 ("with Matilda the Gorilla")

At around 1 year of age I found Joey singing the ooh ooh/aah aah's to himself one day and now he can finish the sounds, once I've started him off!

The two greatest gifts you can give your child are 

'parental involvement' and a 'love of reading' ...

Make everyday living moments teachable moments in a fun way!

It could be as simple as a trip to the library, the museum, an art gallery, the zoo, 

a walk in a field, the park or downtown

Mummy's little helper

At fifteen and a half months Joey is eager to be up on a chair next to Mummy - doing whatever it is that she is doing.

Children love to be involved in simple everyday activities.  I'm surprised how quickly they become interested in dishes, the microwave and what is in the fridge.  They much prefer being in the company of others, rather than playing alone with their toys!

Although still a little too young to help out, there is plenty of time to spend standing on a chair next to Mummy while trying to put my hands in the water and move a few dishes around (all good learning for the future).

Images of a Winter's Day

Toddler Tantrums

We're just beginning to see changes in our nearly 15 month old as he becomes more determined to try things for himself.  He can often squeal or cry out of sheer frustration.

Here's an example ... Jozef now holds his own spoon at meal times.  He gets busy tapping the spoon into his bowl, and licking whatever manages to stick.  Mummy holds another spoon so she can feed him and then everyone is happy.  With just ONE spoon the concept of "sharing" or of "Mummy helping" is too much to handle (pardon the pun) and not understood at this age!

• Schedule LESS!

Frustration, crying and meltdowns can appear when little ones are over- tired, over-stimulated or their energy levels are low and they are hungry.

Check to ensure that you are not over-scheduling.

A limit of only 2 - 3 outings each week works well for Jozef and I.  This could mean going for a 1 - 2 hour walk, going to church, seeing the Doctor, doing the grocery shopping, visiting the acquarium, a museum or library, going to a playgroup with other children, visiting a friend for a playdate or inviting friends over.

I would be the one having the meltdown if we were out every day (although it is good to step outside for half an hour to get some fresh air, even at -10 degrees celsius and below!).

• Ignore the meltdown - walk away if you have to

Try not giving the behaviour an audience - simply walk away if you have to, if you are not able to ignore, then ...

• Distract them

Take them to another play area in the house, put on some music, sit somewhere quiet and read a book, perhaps even ask to park your grocery trolley - leave the store and come back when things are settled down, find a quiet place to sit and observe what is happening around you (try and avoid being caught up in the moment).

I'd love to hear what works FOR YOU, when dealing with those toddler tantrums and mini meltdowns.