For the Love of Learning, Let Them Play!

Earlier this week, my husband and I attended a kindergarten open house (I know...aaaaaah!) at our community Jewish Day School. I have really found a home in the preschool years and I think I harbor some unresolved kindergarten anxiety of my own. I actually vividly recall my first day of kindergarten. As I stood in the line of students waiting to enter the school building, I saw a girl (whose name I can't remember) with a huge scab on her knee. I prayed and prayed to G-d that she wouldn't be in my class. I don't know why. I'm not sure what I had against scabs, I mean, they are fairly functional occurrences when it comes to a badly skinned knee. You do want your blood to clot, no? 

But nonetheless, I did not like that scab one little bit and guess what--not only was Scab Girl in my class, but by the time the day was halfway over, she'd picked it till it bled and already been sent to the school nurse. Oh. My. Word. By the following year, I was picking up frequent flyer miles in that same school nurse's office because my classroom was a wee bit louder than my sound-sensitive-anxious ears could tolerate and I got nauseous from the nerves and more nauseous when I thought about how nervous being nauseous made me feel. 

Yup, I was a Nervous Nellie. I also had great teachers in those early years. My kindergarten day was only half a day. There was a dramatic play space in the room. I played House with Charlie Sullivan. He said I could be his servant. See that? I learned a new vocabulary word through play. Also, Charlie Sullivan was not very nice once I realized what a servant was...and he smelled like pretzels...and I didn't touch a pretzel again for years. Years.

Fast forward to over a decade of teaching in preschool classrooms and seeing children transition to kindergarten. And seeing kindergarten transition! There is no such thing as half day kindergarten anymore. I've visited a lot of kindergarten classrooms and they are full of rows of desks. They are still colorful rooms, whimsical even, sometimes almost magical. But there is no mistaking it--these are classrooms and not playrooms. And often, as a preschool teacher, I run into former students of mine. I always ask them what their favorite thing about kindergarten is. The three most common answers I've received over the years are: "I don't know." "The playground." and "Lunch." The verdict is still out on "I don't know," but it's clear to me that the children who most enjoy the playground and lunch are enthralled by escapes from the classroom, not activities within it. Why is play an exclusion to learning rather than a manifestation of it?

Walking in the hallway of the S's future school, I looked at the walls covered in beautifully illustrated stories and equally beautifully inventive spelling. I saw a huge fish in a tank and wondered how anyone can keep a goldfish alive so long... I looked around, slightly nervously, for Scab Girl. *shudder* And then it was time to walk into the classroom. What's the first thing I saw? A kitchen set, some baby dolls and a neatly set Shabbat table in the corner of the classroom. And I breathed the sigh of relief I've been holding in since 1989 as I watched that kindergarten line file into the building. 

I don't honestly worry that my children will lack for opportunities to play growing up in this house. But I do worry for the message they receive outside of these walls that there is no value in play. That it is what we do when we are done with work or learning rather than a meaningful and relevant part of it. When play is taken out of learning, the joy is lost. And if this is the message we receive as early as kindergarten, how does it affect the remainder of schooling to come? Or our relationships to our work later in life? When children "hate school" by the first grade, it does not leave much hope for their relationship to learning in the many years to follow. 

And as we see this crisis as parents and educators, we look for directions in which to point our finger. It's the standards imposed on teachers--the necessity of "teaching to the test." It's that "today's children are different." It's that we need more of an interest in science, technology, engineering and math. It's that our children must be reading by 7. And there's an app that can do that. Or a toy. Or a television show. Whose responsibility is it to teach our children anyway? The government? Their school teachers? The iPad? Conversations in early childhood education centers have shifted from looking for signs that children are ready to learn to implementing "skills" so children are ready for kindergarten. Where they must prepare to be ready for first grade. And there, middle school...high school...college...the "real world."

When you are little, all you want is to be big. In the beginning, that kitchen set and those baby dolls and that neatly set Shabbat table in the corner of a room are a safe and magical space where you can be big right now, without waiting. But then you begin to intuit that these moments of being big, of being a "real person" in the "real world" are just that--moments. And you are not big, so maybe you are not real. In fact, to be big, to be real, you have to know things. You have to do things. You have to learn things and show that you've learned them, sitting still, filling in bubbles, walking in line, following leaders ever focused on the next thing ahead, never in this moment. And time becomes elusive. If this moment is about next year and next year is about the rest of my life, what is the point of this moment at all? And you start to question. Will this be on the final? When will I need this in "real life?" And we aren't the driver behind our learning, someone, something else is. 

And there is a huge amount of option overload out there. I am someone who struggles with commitment issues on the toilet paper aisle and now I'm supposed to chose my child's elementary school?! Do we want public or private? Montessori inspired or project based learning? This extracurricular or that one? And the noise of options and opinions both sought and unsolicited is loud enough to send me back to the nurse's office feeling nauseous because maybe I have been picking at a 30 year old scab and just now, it's started bleeding. But there, in that little, slightly musty kindergarten classroom, in the corner, is a kitchen set, some baby dolls and a neatly set Shabbat table. There, in that room where my little guy will feel so big and so real is a space where he will know that play is enough. Play is enough. Play is enough.

There is a man who comforted me greatly through the television screen and in books as a child and still does to this day: Fred Rogers. Say what you will about his sweaters, but Mister Rogers calmed and quelled my childhood concerns and curiosities and now, he does the same for me as an adult. When he would speak to parents of young children about early education, he would site 6 signs that children were ready to learn. In what takes up pages upon pages of literature that states and schools must follow, Fred Rogers was able to sum up in 6 simple sentiments. Children are ready to learn when they display:

• self worth
• trust
• curiosity
• the capacity to listen and look carefully
• the capacity to play
• the ability to be in solitude, to be alone with oneself

That's it. Six simple sentiments. To carry you from the womb into the room. From the home into the school yard. From classroom to classroom, kindergarten desk to office desk. Six qualities to guide you through a lifetime of learning and one of those six is the capacity to play. There will be a lot of teachers in our children's lives from crib to cubicle. Some of them will be amazing. Fred Rogers is one of my amazing teachers and I've had (and G-d willing, will have) many others. However, I'd argue that the greatest guide to a life of success is the motivation to achieve it--the love of learning that fuels and drives the desire to continue that into a lifelong endeavor. 

So, Hooked on Phonics or ABC Mouse? BOB Books or Owl Readers? Common CORE or No Child Left Behind? SSR or STEAM? I don't have the answers and honestly, I don't think anyone does. What I do have is a spark of joy left when it comes to learning and a sense of inherent value in that joy that was instilled in me 30 years ago because I sat at a desk for the first time and took my first standardized test and I also played House with Charlie Sullivan. And those were both equally valued parts of my school day. Play was enough. Play is enough. For the love of learning, let the play!

Happy Playing!

Digging in the Dirt: Simple Split-Side Sensory Bin

Confession: I always thought split side sensory tables were a waste of space! When I would see classrooms with these, I couldn't help but wonder how the children had enough space to play on either side. I always opted for the larger single bin tables in my own classrooms and at home as well. Today I am a changed woman! I have seen the light! Or at least the occasional use for a slit side setup in your sensory table. Why?

• because siblings and friends don't always want to play together in the same space (let us all recall the aftermath of the 3 Beans Fight of 2019...oy, I shudder when I think of stepping upon another lentil...)
• because sometimes you have a small amount of a particular sensory play material
• because sometimes you do want more than one type of filler out but you don't want them to necessarily intermingle (or at least right away)

All of these factors played into my desire to set up a split side sensory table this week using kinetic sand and kinetic rock for a simple but playful Digging in the Dirt bin. I had only a small amount of each material and could already foresee the challenges of S and Y both trying to play with one at the very same time in the large basin of our sensory table. I also only have that larger sensory table. So when it came to setting up a split side activity, I got creative on a shoestring budget and used some clear 5.5Qt Sterilite file boxes I have at home. These are inexpensively found in office supply stores or the office supply aisle of Walmart. They are great for tabletop or traveling messy play and work amazingly on top of the light table for this purpose as well. I've used them to transport sensory play activities to the nature based playgroup I run during the spring and summer months and, um, I guess you can use them for file storage, too! The final benefit to these is the snap on lid--great for easy travel and also for closing up shop in between play sessions (especially for materials that may dry out).

I kept our setup very simple. The kinetic sand had a collection of plastic cars (I love these since they are dishwasher safe and easy to clean) and the kinetic rock had a set of construction themed toys that actually came all together (an impulse buy from Toys r'Us when they were going out of business last year).

The boys played so nicely side by side and we even took the bins outside to play on a whim after their nap one evening. Boy was it ever easy to snap and go with these little boxes as opposed to shlepping the whole sensory table out front alongside two eager little construction workers underfoot! And if you don't have a sensory table at all or the space for one, I can't recommend these little file boxes enough. They stack away neatly (even under a bed) and can also store your sensory materials in between use. In a classroom or home setup, it can be a real lifesaver to have a few of these ready to grab and go on an unexpected rainy day.

What about mixing of materials? It happens. S actually asked if he could mix the two together and I explained that once they were mixed you couldn't unmix them. I am, however, thinking a little science experiment at the very end of our go with this might be fun since a little bit of mixing is kind of inevitable and kinetic rock sand might just catch on!

I love that we do have the space here (albeit limited) to keep sensory play a part of our daily routine. I also find that I am constantly striving to reinvent the wheel and get more and more creative and elaborate with my table setups. It helps to remember that simple is still fun and that less is often more. If a setup does need more, trust me, your little players will let you know! S usually asks before adding things in. Y is a little sneakier. For little construction work lovers, a transportation theme or a community helpers theme, a small collection of cars and trucks really inside of some play sand, dough, dirt, dried beans or rice, coffee grounds or gravel really is enough to encourage and spark meaningful play. Whether you're digging inside, outdoors or on the go, it's a pretty safe guarantee that you're little ones will be happy playing!

Music-making with Young Children (and Grown-ups, too!)

Last year on the day of S's 4th birthday, I took him to the dollar store to pick out anything he wanted. What could possibly go wrong for $1? I'll tell you what can go wrong for a dollar...

Yup, that's his "flute," and it was "just like" the one a favorite teacher of his played. Oh. Dear.

So fast forward to a couple of [very loud] days later, and S had taken his favorite flute to bed with him. Well, I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but I kind of sort of accidentally [I think] stepped on it while it was on the floor next to his bed and, um, it broke...

Clearly nothing a little tape couldn't fix...

The Mommy-guilt set in and we headed back to the dollar store for flute #2...

...and eventually upgraded to a "real" recorder after that. Although this one lives upon a high bookshelf for proper protection from my accident prone feet in between jam sessions.

It's true, my boys love music. Their parents are also recovering musicians. My husband played guitar for years and was even in a heavy metal band at one point (no, I can't actually imagine this, either). I was between the ages Y and S are now when I started to play songs I heard by ear on toy pianos, xylophones and anything else I could get my fingers on. This culminated in 15 years of classical piano training, over a hundred original compositions and some years of saxophone lessons and band geekery in there as well. 

The benefits of musical exposure and training in young children is proven and documented in respected long-term studies again and again. However, even beyond that, making music for young children is a very natural creative process. And this can continue well into adulthood! Both of my boys have gone through what I refer to as the Everything-is-a-Drum Phase.

...even an actual drum...

....or simply a set of metal spoons and pans outside!

S's drumming phase was closely followed by his Everything is a Flute Phase, and Y requests to play the guitar (a ukulele) every day when he wakes up in the morning and again after his naps. Every so often S will ask to have a music party at night, which means we get out the whole basket of instruments (even the ones strategically hidden on the top shelf or in the back of the kids' closet) and jam!

Every Jam Band needs a conductor...

I wouldn't say it's quite Carnegie Hall worthy...yet, but these hootenannies are such great fun for us all! And I'm not sure if either of the boys will pursue music through formal study, but I do know that allowing for exposure to instruments in our home and encouraging their natural interest and creativity, we are planting some pretty important seeds regardless of what fruits they come to bear.

So when other parents ask me what are the most important toys and playthings for babies and young children, I always include musical instruments on that list. My husband's musical pursuits likely stemmed in part from his very musically talented mother. My own parents were not particularly musical themselves. The one thing both of us had in common was exposure to musical instruments and encouragement. And not just toy instruments, but real ones as well. My home (and my husband's) had real instruments we could touch. We both grew up near music studios or schools that allowed and encouraged children to touch and use real instruments--even very old or delicate ones. And so I stock our own collection of instruments with a collection of musical toys (maracas, bells, tambourines, xylophones, etc.), homemade ones (shakers and percussion instruments) and "real" ones, too. 

I have found beautiful drums and percussion instruments (as well as toy sets) at secondhand shops and thrift stores. These are great places to look (along with garage sales) for instruments that are still in their prime but looking for a set of hands or lips to help them make their melodies. Building your band need not break the bank and never forget the inherent value in a set of pots and pans and a wooden spoon. If (like me) you are averse to very loud sounds, you can be selective about when instruments come out for play. And you can also take this pro-tip from a 4 year old boy I know and love: if it's too loud, just play louder yourself! Yes, I encourage you (the grown-ups) to join in the jam sessions, too. It's a great way to lift everyone's spirits on a dreary winter's eve or just to have some casual and creative family fun. 

The outdoors is a great space to take your musical play times (though this can get trickier when you live in close quarters with neighbors). If your space permits, a consider building a sound wall. (There are many great ideas for construction on Pinterest). You'll need a collection of pots, pans and recyclables either thrifted or rescued from the recycling bin/trash/donation heap and some carefully selected sticks or wooden spoons for mallets. If you don't have the space for a permanent wall, a basket stocked with these types of materials is perfect (and they can double for use in your Mud Kitchen).

In general, when building up an instrument collection, don't forget to inquire with friends, family and neighbors. Somebody, somewhere, has an instrument (or two or ten) collecting dust in the attic and awaiting a new loving home!

And to extend the fun, I highly recommend family field trips to music shops (especially kid friendly ones where children are encouraged and allowed to test out or see how instruments work) and attending musical performances in your community when possible. 

Wishing you all a home filled with melodious magic and, as always...

Happy Playing!

Make It At Home Monday: Melt & Pour Oatmeal Lavender Bar Soap

I have a truly guilty pleasure for artisan soaps. You know, the really expensive handmade ones you find at Whole Foods, local farmers' markets or food co-ops? The ones that cost several dollars a bar and then inevitably get sucked down the drain still half intact when the kids are in the tub? So, looking for another fun handcraft to try out at home, I stumbled upon several recipes to make your own melt and pour bar soap. For pennies on the dollar, I whipped up a batch of quick and easy (and quite lovely, if I do say so myself) oatmeal lavender bar soaps.

This is a simple project you could do with children and/or adults. It's also been a great way to encourage good hygiene and more hand-washing here as we are in the peak of flu and virus season and it's been running rampant around S's school.  If you'd like to try it out yourself, here's what you'll need to know:

Melt & Pour Lavender Oatmeal Soap

Makes 12 bars, but you can cut the recipe in half or increase as you wish.
Materials: 
*I am including links to items I purchased from Amazon, but these are not affiliate links

• 2lbs oatmeal soap base (I purchased this one)
• 1 tsp lavender essential oil
• 1-2 TBSP dried lavender buds (you can purchase these in bulk or harvest from your own garden if you're lucky!)
• silicone soap molds (I have these, but you can even use a silicone cupcake mold)
• crock pot or microwave safe glass dish & microwave

Directions:

I used my typical crock-pot method to make my soap. I also cut the recipe in half to make half a dozen bars. You can use a sharp knife to cut your soap base into smaller chunks beforehand if you wish, but mine melted just fine in its 1lb block form on the low setting in our crafting crock pot. I also filled the ceramic base with a bit of water to create a water bath and placed the soap base in a metal mixing bowl fit over-top for more even cooking. I did check up on it and stir intermittently to prevent burning. I removed the bowl from the heat source before it was completely melted and stirred remaining lumps.

In the microwave version, you'd place your soap base in a microwave-safe glass dish, such as a Pyrex measuring cup and you will want to cut down your block of oatmeal soap base into 1 inch chunks. Heat on a medium/high setting for 3-4 minutes, stopping and stirring intermittently to make sure the soap base is melting but not steaming and burning. You'll want to remove it from the microwave before it is completely melted and stir any lumps out.

Now with either heating method, you're ready to add the lavender essential oil and buds. Mix to incorporate and you're ready to pour into your molds. I set a couple of vinyl placemats down on my counter top first to catch any spills and protect the counter from the heat. This mixture is hot and should be done by an adult with proper precautions! Now you can add in any individual scents you wish (see "variations") or sprinkle on some additional lavender buds (optional). Let your soaps set for about an hour at room temperature or until solid. You can speed up this process by transferring the mold to your refrigerator or freezer. When they are hardened completely, they are ready to pop out and gift, store or use. I love these tin soap containers for storing soap and lotion bars.

Variations:

You can individualize scents by adding in other essential oils you like. I love the combination of lavender with lemon, mint or rosemary oil. You can also change up your scent altogether. I think a peppermint rosemary soap would be absolutely lovely, for instance. Swap out your lavender oil for peppermint and rosemary essential oil and your lavender buds can be replaced with dried rosemary leaves. Or try a floral soap with dried flowers and an accompanying floral scent.

A safety note about essential oils: Just because something is natural does not mean it is always safe. Please take precautions when using essential oils both on yourself and especially with young children. Essential oils should not be taken internally by anyone of any age (unless they are cooking grade essential oils used in baking) and they should not be used directly on the skin without being diluted. When introducing a new oil even through a carrier oil, soap or lotion, please keep allergy safety in mind. You may wish to test a small skin patch before lathering up with a new soap or lotion. I recently learned that there is a risk of respiratory distress associated with the use of eucalyptus and peppermint oils with children under the age of 2 (these are commonly found in OTC products like Vick's Vapor Rub for congestion). There are a lot of online sources about the use of essential oils, some backed by companies who sell them. I believe they are well-intended and I even purchase oils for myself from one particular company, but I also refer to reliable, evidence-based resources for information about safe use.


I have really found a love of creating some of my own health & beauty and home care items. It is a way for us to have fun and be creative while also living more frugally and knowing what ingredients are in the products we use and gift. These soap bars would also make a lovely gift, especially paired with a bar of Melt & Pour Body Balm! Handcrafting with and/or for your family is a wonderful way to preserve the joyful memories of our summer garden while patiently waiting for spring and I can imagine how that will expand again as we move into this next gardening season and the harvest it will yield.

Until next time...

Happy Playing!

A Peek Inside Our Playroom: Fire Station Dramatic Play Center

Remember that time I was supposed to be making soup and omelettes for dinner but instead I was transforming our living room into a firehouse? Good think my husband, an amazing (and slightly more on-task) cook, had made a huge pot of vegetarian chili the night before. So we had leftovers for dinner and a great evening playing and learning in our new Fire Station Dramatic Play Center.

Yes, setting up new dramatic play themes is time and labor intensive. There is the cleaning up and storing of previous setups, the gathering, organizing and preparing of new materials and ideas and then the actual execution of setup. It usually takes me a few hours and sometimes multiple installments if that can't happen in one time-slot. I have also picked up a few time-saving tricks great for the home and classroom and seen incredible benefits of these playroom transformations in both of my boys.

Both S and Y have gained so much in their symbolic play skills through engaging in our recent playroom themes. Y has picked up an enormous amount of language and vocabulary. (How many 22 month olds do you know who know the word Zamboni?) S has greatly increased his ability to talk through characters and expand on our play-themes in his own imagination (rather than through adult directed suggestions).

And here are some time and sanity saving strategies:

• Pack and store theme related materials together in 2 gallon ziplock bags so they can be pulled out and easily accessed when we're ready to use them again
• Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. When you transition themes, try to do so in a way that allows you to keep some materials from the previous theme out. For one thing, this is less shocking to your young audience than a complete playroom overhaul. It also allows them to expand on the previous theme and their own critical thinking skills. And, lastly, it's just easier for you! Having a couple of firehouse dogs and some accessories to care for them helped ease the transition from Vet & Pet Center to Fire Station. out our doctor tools and costume props also incorporated the idea that sometimes firefighters do medical aid and emergency relief work as well, an all encompassing way to play about community helpers (which is also the theme in S's preschool curriculum right now).
• Less is more! Introduce new props and activities incrementally. When I started doing these more elaborate setups, I felt I had to have everything out and ready at the get-go. This was overwhelming for me and by the time our play theme had run its course, there would be things the boys had never discovered or played with. Now I do a basic setup initially and gradually add in new things over the course of the days and weeks to come. This expands the shelf-life of my boys' interest in the play-theme and also spares my energy level! Sometimes setting up right before Shabbos is helpful because anything that is muktzah (not permissible to use on Shabbos) gets set out afterward, allowing the boys to explore the bare bones first. Even though I set this up in the middle of the week, I followed the same concept. Activities and materials related to writing were set aside for later. We ordered a pop-up fire truck that didn't arrive until right before Shabbos. And watching the boys explore and engage in play helped me to know what we needed to add in or shift around.

And now, without further ado, come on in and take a peek inside our playroom!

A basket is stocked with fire extinguishers (made from labeled dollar store spray bottles) and hoses (recycled medical equipment, you can also use plastic tubing from your hardware or pet supply store or even recycled cardboard tubes). A bucket and some cones are also available as well as a basket of "fire" (silk scarves in shades of red, yellow and orange for building and setting up fires).

Costumes, our kitchen and housekeeping area and an emergency response center, ready for action...

The Emergency Response Center is stocked with firefighter costumes, helmets, boots (the boys' rainboots), walkie talkies and phones (dollar tree calculators) and a "computer" (cash register) as well as a few items for writing down important notes. More specific writing materials and props would be added later on... Our drawers also store some pet food for the firehouse pups and some pots, pans and dishes for cooking up snacks for hungry firefighters.

Our shelves are stocked with tools, flashlights, gloves and goggles, sponges and medical equipment. A firefighter does a lot more in a day's work than just fight fires! 

Costume lover!

S had the idea to build a firetruck using the chairs. He steered it with his helmet as he responded to emergencies including a "broken smoke detector," a "burning pizza," and more!

Firefighters also use tools for building and handling emergency situations. S decided to build a house using wood scraps from our STEAM Cart and tools.

Whatever the reason or time of day...

Y and S are on their way!

For more ideas on playing about community helpers and firefighters/fire safety, check out these old posts:

• Firefighters Theme
• Community Helpers Theme

*Many of the printed items and inspiration for this setup came from the Fire Station Dramatic Play set by Pocket of Preschool.

We'll see you next time and until then...

Happy Playing!

The Day We Had a Birthday Party for my Son's Imaginary Friend (and Why)...

When we were growing up, my big sister had an imaginary friend, Kimmy Grape. Naturally, as with anything my big sister had, I was jealous. I circulated through multiple imaginary acquaintances of my own, including Johnny Strawberry,  a set of boy/girl twins, respectively named Sean and Shawn and numerous others whose names I can't recall. Sadly, none of these relationships developed into the kind of quality relationship my sister had with Kimmy Grape. So when S developed a fictional friendship with a young character named Jerome, I was more than a little eager to see where it would go.

Jerome lived in S's belly button and was discovered there a bit after Y was born. Shortly thereafter, Jerome moved out of his belly button home and has since lived in many nearby and faraway locations, depending on where we are and where we might be traveling to. It has become apparent that he also lives with a character named Sallie and that they have a mother living there as well, though I am not clear as to the status of their relationship. It was also recently revealed that Jerome is 37 years old. Jerome was very prevalent in S's life as he adjusted to big changes like siblinghood, getting used to being in preschool and toilet training last year. He became less frequently active in S's life over the summer and into this year, but still emerges in conversation when something exciting, new or anxiety provoking is happening. He is reachable by phone--



Early this week, S announced the exciting news that Jerome was having a birthday, specifically on Tuesday!

He proceeded to write an invitation, stuff it in an envelope, secure it with a sticker and placed it in his toy mailbox. I proceeded to party plan. After all, everyone has a birthday and everyone who has a birthday ought to have a party! We started the morning before school by decorating birthday cards. S decided to make and mail some additional invitations. Then he went off to school for the day and I headed to the store to pick up some party plates, napkins and balloons. The boys had pizza and "Frenchy fries" for supper. We had cupcakes for dessert. We decorated party hats and even a chair for our invisible honored guest. S and Y used leftover wrapping paper, tape, scissors and recycled boxes to wrap "presents" for the birthday boy. They even got little goody bags at the end. But why go through all this trouble and silliness for a fictional birthday celebration?

Because childhood is short. Because it's the middle of winter and for two days it had been too cold to play outside. Because on the heels of a visit to family up north, Tu b'Shevat and the annual Jewish Food Festival here, we needed something else to celebrate. And because sometimes you don't need a reason to celebrate but you do need a cupcake on a Tuesday afternoon. Soon--a lot sooner than I'd care to admit--Jerome will vanish from conversation altogether. He will become a name reminisced about about with humor and nostalgia. S knows fact from fiction. I don't worry about his relationship with Jerome, because he has many healthy relationships with factual people as well, both his peers and significant adults. He has a tender and vast imagination and even larger than that is the size of his heart. I don't know if he will remember Jerome's Birthday Party when he grows up or even if he will remember Jerome. But I like to think that he will. And I know that Jerome, although we cannot see him, has helped my son through life experiences of all kinds. For that, I am so very grateful! Happy Birthday, Jerome, wherever you may be, and to everyone else...

Happy Playing!

Parent Playtime Post: Quick Knit All-Purpose Cotton Cloths

This is the perfect quick knit project if ever there was one. I created the pattern late in the summer because I wanted transition from using paper napkins to cloth ones in S's school lunchbox. Standard cloth napkins are way too big for the school setting and the standard size of kid tables. I wanted something small and friendly to kid sized hands, mouths and spills. I also thought it would give him a little feeling of home during his school day to find something handknit by his Mommy at lunchtime. I knew I ran the risk of him accidentally losing some or throwing them away (so far the damage hasn't been too bad). I was not too surprised either, to see that he is so environmentally conscious he still only uses his sleeve to wipe his mouth and that most of the time, these little guys come home still neatly folded in half in a triangle shape right in the bottom of his lunchbox! Nonetheless, I often use them with a spritz of my easy homemade all-purpose cleaner (about 1 part rubbing alcohol to 10 parts water) to clean out the inside of his lunchbox each day and subsequently the dairy side counter-top after I prepare and pack his lunch for the next day. They even do well with warm soapy water to scrub out midweek yogurt spills when you don't have time to run the washing machine and still have a dry Paw Patrol lunchbox in the morning!

Yes, these Quick Knit All-Purpose Cotton Cloths have and do it all. They are great little napkins. They have a fabulous scrubbing action from the texture of the garter stitch. They are thick enough to soak up spills and soft enough to wipe tiny little hands and mouths on the go. They make a great travel wipe as well with a bit of soapy spray or water. Use them as washcloths, dishcloths, for cleaning or even dusting. And the best part is how quick and easily they knit up. I keep a ball of cotton yarn and size 7 needles in my cars for long trips when I'm a passenger or unplanned waits at the doctor or when I arrive too early for preschool pickup (which rarely happens these days). Because they are so quick and easy (and cost effective) to knit up, it's easy to stitch up an abundance of these little buggers. They make great gifts, have plenty of household uses and you won't feel [too] bad if a few get lost in the hustle.

In fact, a note on all handcrafted items you gift to your kids: they may get lost. They may get damaged. They may get rejected one day and beloved the next. If you are the type to become really attached to something you created (I am), this might be an exercise in breathing deeply and letting go. Opting to send your little guy to school in the first ever sweater you knit might not be a good starting point. Opting to stash a cotton cloth in his lunchbox is probably a safer bet!

So if you'd like to whip up one or two or six dozen of your own Quick Knit All-Purpose Cotton Cloths, here's what you'll need to know:

Materials:

• 1 skein 100% cotton yarn
• This will make multiple cloths. Common brands are Lily Sugar and Cream or Walmart's comparable item, Peaches and Cream yarn. They come in a variety of solid and variegated color options, even self striping. There are often sales and coupons available for craft supply stores on these products. You can go with all one color or collect a few. I may have collected more than a few, but I use this yarn for a variety of projects. 
• size 7/4.5mm straight knitting needles
• I really prefer the feel of bamboo, but any straight needles will work
• yarn needle & scissors for finishing

Directions: You will be working this project diagonally. The y/o at the beginning of each row will leave a little hole that creates the outer border pattern.

abbreviations: 

K= knit

y/o= yarn over

inc. = increase

dec. = decrease

K2tog = knit 2 together

st = stitch

Begin by casting on 4 stitches.

Increase rows:

Row 1: Knit across

Row 2: K2, y/o to inc. by 1 st, K to end of row. You should now have 5 stitches.

Repeat Row 2 until you have a total of 25 stitches. You will now begin your decrease rows.

Decrease rows:

Row 1: K1, K2tog, y/o, K2tog, K to end of row. You should now have 24 stitches. Your y/o will preserve your border pattern, while knitting 2 together both before and afterward will decrease your stitches by one each row you work. 

Repeat that row until you have 4 stitches remaining.

Knit across row.

Bind off.

Weave in and trim tails.

Parent Playtime Post: Knit Your Own Swift & Simple Wrist Warmers for the Whole Family

 Oh the woes of gloves and mittens and keeping the family's hands warm all winter while also keeping your fingers functional. First there are the morning mitten wars. Both boys want the orange mittens. There's only one pair. Ok, so each one gets one orange mitten and one blue one with an orange stripe. One kid can put his gloves on independently, the other needs help. Now that his fingers are all snug as a bug in a rug, S can't buckle his seatbelt independently anymore! Has Y lost yet another glove or is he just striving to look a bit more like Michael Jackson? And my hands are freezing on the steering wheel--I really need something I can drive to preschool drop-off in...

Enter my DIY Swift & Simple Wrist Warmers for the Whole Family! I knit up my first pair for S (see children's version*) last winter. He insisted on wearing only one because he wanted a wrist brace like one of his favorite teachers who had injured herself in a skating accident. She, a fellow knitter, also appreciated a gifted set of knitting needles, skein of self-striping yarn and a copy of my adult sized pattern for her birthday gift from S a few months later!

I wanted a pair, too, so I whipped up my own--perfect for driving to preschool on those cold winter mornings! And this year, we have lots of hands and lots of opinions on fashion. It was easy enough to knit up a few extra pairs of wrist warmers for the boys using partial skeins of yarn I had leftover from other projects. Another benefit to these is that they are great for very little ones first learning to put on mittens and gloves. Since either end will fit their hand and wrist, they can't really go wrong. A thumb hole in the side seam allows them to poke through their thumb, an important skill preceding being able to put on mittens and eventually gloves, but without the challenge of also fitting it in a tiny, enclosed compartment. Lastly is the benefit of having warmer hands but access to your fingers for buckling carseats, picking up sticks and stones, for driving, jotting down notes on the go or texting and typing. You'll still need another warmer and more waterproof option for extended outdoor winter play, but these are just right for a trip to the car or a playtime on the playground at school. If you'd like to knit up a pair (or two or half a dozen...) for yourself and/or the kids, here's what you'll need to know:

Swift & Simple Wrist Warmers for the Grownups

You will need:

• 1 skein soft, worsted weight medium (4) yarn
• US 8/5mm size straight needles
• yarn needle

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4” in St st

Directions:

Leaving a 12” beginning tail for sewing seam, cast on 31 sts.

Lower Ribbing Row 1 (Right Side): P1, *k1, p1; repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2: K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to end of row.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1. 

Body: Work in St st (knit on Right Side, purl on Wrong Side) until piece measure 7½” from beginning.

Bind off loosely. Cut yarn, leaving a 12” tail for sewing seam.

FINISHING: With beginning tail, sew side edges together for 3”, beginning at lower edge. With ending tail, sew side edges together for 2”, beginning at top edge. Leave 2” between the two seams open for thumb. Weave in ends. Repeat for second wrist warmer. Note: Top edge will roll to outside.

ABBREVIATIONS: k = knit; p = purl; st(s) = stitch(es); St st = Stockinette stitch

Swift and Simple Wrist Warmers for the Littles
This pattern is provided in two size options. The smaller size is suitable for toddlers/preschoolers and early school aged children. The larger option in parenthesis is geared toward older, school aged children.
You will need:

• 1 skein soft, worsted weight medium (4) yarn
• US 8/5mm size straight needles
• yarn needle

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4” in St st

Leaving a 12" beginning tail for sewing up the seam, cast on 16 stitches (20 stitches).

Bottom of Wrist Warmer: Rows 1-4: Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat across row. Work first 4 rows in this ribbing pattern. 

Row 5: Knit across

Row 6: Purl across

Body: You will continue to repeat rows 5 and 6 to work in stockinette stitch for a total of 10 rows (12 rows for the larger size).

Top of Wrist Warmer: 

Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat across row for 2 more rows. Bind off, leaving a 12" tail for sewing up the seam.

Finishing: With beginning tail, sew side edges together for about 1/3 of the way up, beginning at lower edge. With ending tail, sew side edges together about 1/3 of the way down, beginning at top edge. Leave the remaining third in the center between the two seams open for thumb. Weave in and trim ends.

NOTE on yarn and washing: These can be handwashed or machine washed on a gentle cycle. Make sure, however, if you happen to use 100% wool that you do not machine wash on hot, as this will felt and shrink your wrist warmers! I recommend a washable acrylic/natural blend that will be soft against the skin and withstand your laundry machine, especially for the littles!

Happy Playing!

Parent Playtime Post: Knit Your Own Kids' Cozy Cowl

When it comes to getting kids to dress appropriately for the winter weather, I've learned a thing or two. And still know nothing that works consistently all of the time with every kid! But one thing that does help encourage our seemingly cold blooded critters to bundle up out there in the winter is having options. LOTS of options. First there's the kid who wants to wear the puffy winter coat everywhere, maybe even inside, but it's not car-seat safe. Then there's the one who has a favorite hat. And the one who wants no hat, and only a hood. And the one whose mittens must match. And the one whose mittens must never match. And the one who will wear only one mitten. (Have I mentioned this is all the same kid?) Options. Options. Options.

And then came the scarf obsession. Y especially loves scarves and S took a liking to them as well when we had our dramatic play skating rink up. But to be quite honest, a long scarf on a short kid is just about the most impractical item for bundling up out there. Introducing the cozy cowl... a quick knit, perfect for family members of all ages and sizes. It's a great project for the seasoned knitter who wants something quick to whip up and easy to put down. It's a great project for the beginning knitter or even first-time knitter! It's even a great project for an older child first learning to knit independently.

Using my favorite leftover skeins of soft, chunky yarn, I whipped up a quick collection of these for the boys. Options are a mom's best friend. The little guy who loves Cookie Monster Blue today will feel in the mood to wear only shades of grey tomorrow... I liked them so well I decided to use up a skein of colorful variegated yarn I had leftover from last year's fingerless gloves to make my own version--a slightly longer infinity scarf to double wrap around my own chilly neck!

If you'd like to try your hand at knitting your own Kids' Cozy Cowl, here's what you'll need to know:

Materials:

• 1 skein or a partial skein of your favorite soft, chunky yarn
• Choose your favorite color or a variegated option. I find that working with striping yarns can make a project go faster as I eagerly await the color and pattern change! Since this will go right against the sensitive skin of the neck and upper chest, I do recommend something soft and not a potentially itchy wool or scratchy acrylic. If your little ones have sensitive skin, you may wish to opt for natural fibers.
• straight knitting needles in appropriate size
• I would recommend using the size suggested on your skein of yarn but you really can't go wrong here with this simple knit if it's a bit larger or smaller than suggested, so long as you're comfortable knitting. I also prefer wood options to metal, but use whatever you like!
• wide-eyed blunt needle for finishing

Instructions:
Cast on 20-25 stitches, depending on how chunky your yarn is. You want your cowl to be wide enough to cover the neck and to roll down a bit on either side (that's the cozy factor) but not so wide you'll lose your kid in there!

Row 1: Knit across
Row 2: Purl across
Repeat rows 1 and 2 to work in stockinette stitch until your piece measures long enough to fit comfortably over the head of the child or person you're making it for. Keep in mind that there will be a bit of stretch and give. You want it to be cozy. You don't want it so cozy it chokes you! You may need to test your length on your child's (or your own) head!
Bind off.

Finishing: with the "wrong side" (bumpy side) out, stitch together your ends to create a seam using the tail of yarn from either side. Weave in your ends and trim any remaining tails of yarn. Turn right side out and voila! 

Variations & Optional Additions/Modifications:

One for YOU: You can make cozy cowls in adult sizes, too! Just work your piece a bit longer for a comfortable fit. Turns out I have a really tiny head and neck, so I can share my kids' cozy cowls. They also function quite well as a headband if your ears are cold or can be pulled up over the mouth and nose for a quick thaw in really frigid temps!

Infinity Scarf: For a feminine more grown-up variation, knit your cozy cowl double in length (or even longer if you wish) and create your own infinity scarf. Wrap it around loosely twice for a longer scarf or more (length permitting) to get a bit more warmth and coziness.

Add Your Own Flair: Sew on a fun button or add a unique pin. More advanced knitters might wish to work in a ribbed stitch or cables. Very beginning knitters might be more comfortable working the project entirely in garter (knit) stitch. 

A Note to Beginning Knitters or Older Children: This is a great project for first time knitters. If you or your older child are new to knitting, there are great books out there and--even better--great videos and tutorials online. Better yet? Find a relative or friend who knows the craft to teach the basics! This project can be worked entirely in garter (knit) stitch as noted above if you're new to knitting and haven't yet learned the purl stitch. Additionally, soft, chunky yarns are very forgiving to errors. Don't sweat the mistakes, embrace them as the beauty and charm of the craft! Your kids won't notice the dropped stitch or unplanned line created by a repeated purl row. They will just be so pleased to have something cozy, warm and one of a kind!

This project is so quick and simple. You can make one. You can make a dozen. You can take it on the go and even knit one up on a long car trip (presuming you are not the driver and that you don't get motion sickness). They make a lovely gift and [very slightly] increase the chance that your little ones will be bundled and appropriately prepared for the cold windy days of winter!

Happy Playing!

Make Your Own Melt & Pour Body Balm

Parents and Caregivers, it's time for YOU to play! I'm veering a bit off course from children's play activities this week to offer some playtime posts for you, the grown-ups. We all know that as parents and/or caregivers, self-care is important--vital, even. And yet, we often put our own interests and projects on the back burner as we tend to necessities of everyday life. So I'm devoting some space in my day and here on my blog to some adult-friendly fun. Of course, we all have different interests and hobbies. If my hobbies of choice don't happen to be yours, I encourage you to pursue your own creative interests. If you don't know what those are yet, try some of the activities here or, better yet, get lost perusing Pinterest boards! There's a hobby waiting just for you! Some of these activities will yield gifts for you. Some will yield gifts for children! Some will be able to be adapted so children can help if you wish and some are even great beginner projects for older kids to try.

Let's kick off with a great one for your winter dry skin:

DIY Melt & Pour Body Balm

This project idea was actually born out of a recurring and stubborn patch of eczema S keeps getting on his leg. While on a visit to family up north, I had my stepmom, a pediatrician take a peek at it and Nana offered S some beeswax balm to put on it. S is very particular about lotions for some reason. He never minds sunscreen but never wants any type of lotion or ointment on. I think this feeling increases when a "boo-boo" is involved. I peeked at the ingredients on Nana's special balm and realized I could probably make it at home. In fact, maybe if I did make it at home and let S decide on a scent he liked, he might even want to try some. (He also might not, and that's OK, too.)

I searched Pinterest and subsequently a few blogs for simple recipes and combined/adapted a few to create my own. I decided to test it out on my own before getting S involved. I got out our crafting crock pot (remember our melt and pour beeswax candles?) and plunked in the first few ingredients. I turned the heat to low and went about my day. Parent Playtime Projects are best when they can easily be ignored or quickly put down! After picking up S from school and getting both boys ready for their afternoon nap, I returned to my now melted ingredients and set out to pouring a bit into empty metal tins. To each individual tin, I added a combination of essential oils I liked. I carefully transferred them to the refrigerator for faster cooling (this gets very hot so be careful!) and within 15 minutes it was set and ready to use, store or gift away!

So, if you'd like to try your hand at your own Melt & Pour Body Balm or some variations thereof, here's what you'll need to know:

Ingredients and Materials:

• 3 oz beeswax 
• You can sometimes find this in craft supply stores or Whole Foods type places locally. If you happen to know a beekeeper, even better! If not, you can rely on Amazon and purchase bricks (as I did) or pellets, which melt faster.
• 4 oz coconut oil
• You can buy coconut oil now in almost all grocery stores.
• 4 oz shea butter
• This can also be ordered from Amazon or purchased locally if you find it.
• essential oils
• I really prefer the "real" stuff here to artificial scents. Essential oils can be pricey, so I'd recommend sticking with one or two you really love if you're just starting out.
• crock pot or double boiler or microwave safe dish
• I use a "crafting crock pot," a small crock pot I devote solely to crafts like this. Keeping a kosher kitchen means that anything I cook in my dishes and appliances must be kosher as well. Since cosmetic grade items don't always fit this bill, I reserve a crock pot for my cooking and some secondhand or inexpensive cookware for the process involved. I'd also add that beeswax and other ingredients can be hard to get off of your cookware, so I do recommend having a separate pot for this if you are using the double boiler or microwave method as well. I have a comparable sized metal mixing bowl that I found at a thrift store. It fits right inside the crock pot so that I don't have to use the ceramic insert itself. 
• measuring cup, spoon, potholders, thick place-mat or towel to cover your workspace
• Don't use your favorite potholders and place-mats here in case of spills!
• empty metal tins and/or silicone molds
• You can order or purchase silicone lotion/soap molds or empty metal tins. I've seen molds and tins even at places like Dollar Tree or Walmart. You can also use a loaf pan lined with parchment paper in a pinch!

Instructions:

Melting Your Ingredients:

Crock-pot Method: Create a water bath by filling the ceramic insert about 3/4 full with water and placing a comparable sized metal mixing bowl inside. Measure and add your beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter into your metal bowl. Cover and turn heat on low. Let your ingredients melt completely but be careful not to overheat beyond that as it will smell a bit burnt. (Yes, I learned this the hard way and also, not to use the high setting to speed things along!)

Double boiler Method: Measure out and combine your beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter. Melt your ingredients in a double boiler on stovetop.

Microwave Method: Disclaimer: I haven't tried the microwave method as I don't have a microwave, but presumably you should be able to create a water bath using microwave safe glass dishes and melt your ingredients that way. I'd recommend using a lower heat setting and short runs of time in there just to be sure you don't overheat them and burn it.

*If you keep a strictly kosher kitchen, please consult with a knowledgeable rabbi or source on Kashrut before using your stovetop or microwave!

Pour Time! Here's where the fun starts. Carefully handle your melted ingredients (they are HOT!) and pour into your mold of choice. If you are using tins as I did, you'll pour directly into the tin and add your scent. Warning: The container will be very hot once you pour in the mixture! Add a generous number of drops of your favorite essential oil or combination thereof into each tin. Similarly to that method, using a silicone mold you will also pour in your mixture to each compartment and then add your scent. You can make each bar the same scent or change it up! With this method, once completely cooled, you will pop your set mixture out of each mold and have your very own body balm bars. You can store these in tins from there.

To cool and set you can either leave the filled tins/molds out at room temperature until solid or pop them in the fridge/freezer to speed things along.

Now you're ready to use, store or give away your body balm! Since there is no water in this recipe, it stores well long-term. It can melt, though, so do keep it out of direct sunlight and extreme heat. If you've used the direct-pour method into tins, you'll use the warmth of your fingers to soften the body balm and scrape a bit out for use. It can be used on hands, body and even chapped lips. If you have used a silicone mold, you'll be able to warm the bar in your hands and then rub it in. Now here are some suggested scent variations:

Some of my favorite scent combinations are lavender & rosemary, lavender, lemon & peppermint, lemon-peppermint and...

Vapor-Rub Body Balm: Combine eucalyptus, peppermint and rosemary essential oils for an all natural alternative to commercial vapor rubs.

Kid-Friendly Boo-Boo Balm Bar: While this is a project definitely more geared toward adults and older children, you can get little ones involved in selecting a scent for their own boo-boo balm bar. Maybe if he creates his own signature scent, S will want to try it out on his boo-boo! (And maybe not...)

Happy Playing!