There are lots of things to ponder when raising a child. Here is some more food for thought. The first one didn't eat McDonald's until the second one came along. She didn't watch a lot of telly either. I wish I'd done a few things differently when the Curly-headed girl was a wee sma' bairn.Thankfully, it's ne'er too late to start. I think I've been reading way to much Burns lately.
"Consider what a child misses during the 15, 000 hours (from birth to age seventeen) he spends in front of the TV screen. He is not working in the garage with his father, or in the garden with his mother. He is not doing homework, or reading, or collecting stamps. He is not cleaning his room, washing the supper dishes, or cutting the lawn. He is not listening to a discussion about community politics among his parents and their friends. He is not playing baseball or going fishing, or painting pictures. Exactly what does television offer that is so valuable it can replace these activities that transform an impulsive, self-absorbed child into a critically thinking adult?"
~ Paul Copperman
Showing posts with label ditch the tv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ditch the tv. Show all posts
06 May 2011
Paper Dolls to Print Out and Enjoy
I love the artwork at Lily and Thistle. I only wish I'd thought of the paper doll idea myself. Sigh.
(To get your free printables, click here.)
30 January 2011
Cornstarch Clay
When we look for fun things to do, we like to make big messes. This particular activity fits the bill admirably!
Here is a list of what you need: 1 c. cornstarch, 1 box of baking soda, 1 1/2 c. water. Mix the dry ingredients in a medium saucepan. Stir in the water with a wooden spoon, or metal, just don't use a whisk. If you do, you'll regret it later, I can tell you from experience...big mess #1.
Now that they are all mixed up, put them on the stove on low to medium heat and prepare to stir like mad for about half an hour. Don't think you can walk away from this one and come back later. Oh no. Picture lumpy gravy and a gelatinous mass...big mess #2. It will fizzle and splatter, but don't let that deter you from stirring. Mix, mix, mix, for all you are worth. Sooner or later, it will start to coagulate. When it does, keep stirring! In fact, if your arm threatens to fall off and march away, ignore it. It probably doesn't really mean what it says.
When the mixture gets all glumpy and sticky and you can stir and see the bottom of the pan, it's approaching done. It will never roll up into a ball, like playdough; but it will become easy to move off of the side of the pan without leaving wet residue. At that point, take it off the heat and let it cool a bit so you still have fingerprints when you are done. You don't want to overcook it and let it start changing colors much or I'm pretty sure you will get big mess #3. I don't know, just sayin.'
When it is cool enough, turn it out onto a surface that has been heavily dusted with cornstarch. Just don't slam it or...big messes #4, 5 and 6 (add one for every kid that has their nose too close). Knead it and work with it until it is clay like and ceases to resemble a big pile of mashed potatoes.
At that point, shape it into anything you like, place it on a baking sheet and bake it for 30 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. When the 30 minutes are up, turn off the heat and leave it in the oven for another hour to harden off. If, for some strange reason, your creations are still damp at that point, leave them to dry on a wire rack overnight. Make sure they are dry, dry, dry, or they will end up being a science experiment rather than an artistic masterpiece.
When you are sure they are dry (see above), they can be painted...big mess #7.
Edited to add last photo, 2/17/11.
Here is a list of what you need: 1 c. cornstarch, 1 box of baking soda, 1 1/2 c. water. Mix the dry ingredients in a medium saucepan. Stir in the water with a wooden spoon, or metal, just don't use a whisk. If you do, you'll regret it later, I can tell you from experience...big mess #1.
Now that they are all mixed up, put them on the stove on low to medium heat and prepare to stir like mad for about half an hour. Don't think you can walk away from this one and come back later. Oh no. Picture lumpy gravy and a gelatinous mass...big mess #2. It will fizzle and splatter, but don't let that deter you from stirring. Mix, mix, mix, for all you are worth. Sooner or later, it will start to coagulate. When it does, keep stirring! In fact, if your arm threatens to fall off and march away, ignore it. It probably doesn't really mean what it says.
When the mixture gets all glumpy and sticky and you can stir and see the bottom of the pan, it's approaching done. It will never roll up into a ball, like playdough; but it will become easy to move off of the side of the pan without leaving wet residue. At that point, take it off the heat and let it cool a bit so you still have fingerprints when you are done. You don't want to overcook it and let it start changing colors much or I'm pretty sure you will get big mess #3. I don't know, just sayin.'
When it is cool enough, turn it out onto a surface that has been heavily dusted with cornstarch. Just don't slam it or...big messes #4, 5 and 6 (add one for every kid that has their nose too close). Knead it and work with it until it is clay like and ceases to resemble a big pile of mashed potatoes.
At that point, shape it into anything you like, place it on a baking sheet and bake it for 30 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. When the 30 minutes are up, turn off the heat and leave it in the oven for another hour to harden off. If, for some strange reason, your creations are still damp at that point, leave them to dry on a wire rack overnight. Make sure they are dry, dry, dry, or they will end up being a science experiment rather than an artistic masterpiece.
When you are sure they are dry (see above), they can be painted...big mess #7.
Edited to add last photo, 2/17/11.
16 January 2011
Flying Low to the Ground
After supper, we all piled into the van and headed off to the Eighth Street Ice Rink. Yep. That's right. For all you people who live in basketball land, that's a hockey rink. H-o-c-k-e-y. It's a hockey rink, because it's outside. The intrepid people who live in our town (and others across the fine state we live in) just poured water on the frozen tundra, and kept doing it until a rink formed. Then, they periodically plowed the snow off the ice. Magic.
Tonight we were lucky. No one else was in sight. The rink had just been cleared with a zamboni and dusted with fresh snow. The girls were in skating heaven.
Two rinks to fly across and no one else in sight. The curly-headed girl just needed us to know that her toes were numb because her feet were growing out of her skates. She didn't really expect anyone to do anything about it because that would have taken precious time away from what really mattered - skating.
She was skating! You can see the joy on her face. She was not falling down. Much. She was almost flying she was going so fast!
Please don't hate us, prairie-dwellers. We know you pay big money to strap on skates and glide on ice. But up here? It's free! I can't even believe this is the first winter we have done this since we've moved up here. We must be learning how to live up north. The curly-headed girl was quick to inform us that this ice is safe. because there is no water underneath it, just grass. It's amazing: They know how thick the ice must be before it's safe. It's inherent knowledge, just like knowing which way is north.
23 October 2010
31 May 2010
Foraging for Food
Do we know how to have fun with nature or what?
Yes, the tent is set up in the living room. Your eyes are not deceiving you. When we can't get out and camp in the woods, we like to pretend. I found this tent on clearance at our local Stuff-Mart, and it has been a favorite plaything for the entire time we have owned it. The straight-haired girl maintains that what makes the tent so special is the gear hammock in the roof: Baer has his own place to sleep!
And since the tent was set up in the living room, we decided it was only natural to forage for some food. I hid dessert (chocolate) in an obscure place and left little white index cards scattered hither and yon. They ran all over the house searching for them. I didn't think it would be THAT much fun. The curly-headed girl has already decided we should do it again, but I do need to tell her that dessert will not be ice cream. I don't need a puddle of that in the bottom of my closet!
Just in case you think we are softies and unconnected with nature, we did go outside and garden for at least an hour today. Give us some credit, please!
Yes, the tent is set up in the living room. Your eyes are not deceiving you. When we can't get out and camp in the woods, we like to pretend. I found this tent on clearance at our local Stuff-Mart, and it has been a favorite plaything for the entire time we have owned it. The straight-haired girl maintains that what makes the tent so special is the gear hammock in the roof: Baer has his own place to sleep!
And since the tent was set up in the living room, we decided it was only natural to forage for some food. I hid dessert (chocolate) in an obscure place and left little white index cards scattered hither and yon. They ran all over the house searching for them. I didn't think it would be THAT much fun. The curly-headed girl has already decided we should do it again, but I do need to tell her that dessert will not be ice cream. I don't need a puddle of that in the bottom of my closet!
Just in case you think we are softies and unconnected with nature, we did go outside and garden for at least an hour today. Give us some credit, please!
22 May 2010
Cooking with the Straight-Haired Girl
The straight-haired girl is giving me lots of ideas these days. Here is the latest: Mud Pies! Anyone can make a mud pie. They are very easy. All you need is a "digger," some mud and a frisbee.
A frisbee? I'm lost already.
And she's going to teach her dad to bake Blueberry Muffins tomorrow, because, "it would be good if he knew how to cook." At least it's never boring around here!
07 May 2010
The Jar of Fun
Pipsqueak, Inc. is proud to have our first guest post today. The Curly-Headed Girl is here to bring you a fun new activity for your house. It provides lots of fun, and if you're down in the dumps, "use the Jar of Fun." It'll make you happy because it's fun and you get to spend time with your Mom.
First, you get a jar. Make sure it's clean. You don't want any yucky smells. Then you write down fun stuff to do on little slips of paper and put them in the jar. Make sure the jar has a lid though. When you shake it, you don't want every little slip going flying.
Next, you get the decorative paper and stuff you want to decorate your jar. We picked ice cream and polka-dot paper. Then you put the paper on wherever you like it. You have to write "Jar of Fun" on some paper for a label. If you want to, you can put paper on the lid. Also you can put a ribbon around the lid. If you want to, add a gem and buttons.
Then you pull out a slip of paper and have fun! Now if that doesn't make your day happy, we give up.
First, you get a jar. Make sure it's clean. You don't want any yucky smells. Then you write down fun stuff to do on little slips of paper and put them in the jar. Make sure the jar has a lid though. When you shake it, you don't want every little slip going flying.
Next, you get the decorative paper and stuff you want to decorate your jar. We picked ice cream and polka-dot paper. Then you put the paper on wherever you like it. You have to write "Jar of Fun" on some paper for a label. If you want to, you can put paper on the lid. Also you can put a ribbon around the lid. If you want to, add a gem and buttons.
Then you pull out a slip of paper and have fun! Now if that doesn't make your day happy, we give up.
16 October 2009
Another Idea For Low-Tech Fun
Giant magnifying glasses are hilarious! This episode of fun and frivolity lasted at least forty-five minutes.
03 August 2009
Maple Dancing
Why do we even bother to buy our kids toys when they persist in playing with string, sticks, bungee cords and a big tree?
The straight-haired girl taught her sister the “maple dance” with a big stick and some ribbon. She also turned a tree in the front yard into a fort, complete with slingshots and a rope to deliver correspondence.
Our yard will never grace the cover of Better Homes and Gardens with dangling string and bungee cords hanging from the trees. There is a trampled circle of grass under our teepee. The slip-and-slide will never contribute to a wonderful landscape photo; and when my children plant flowers, they tend to come up in crooked rows.
But kids can’t fight orcs with homemade catapaults on a pristine lawn. Creativity needs room to breathe and space to be messy. And apparently, it is much less expensive than Ortho.
The straight-haired girl taught her sister the “maple dance” with a big stick and some ribbon. She also turned a tree in the front yard into a fort, complete with slingshots and a rope to deliver correspondence.
Our yard will never grace the cover of Better Homes and Gardens with dangling string and bungee cords hanging from the trees. There is a trampled circle of grass under our teepee. The slip-and-slide will never contribute to a wonderful landscape photo; and when my children plant flowers, they tend to come up in crooked rows.
But kids can’t fight orcs with homemade catapaults on a pristine lawn. Creativity needs room to breathe and space to be messy. And apparently, it is much less expensive than Ortho.
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