Mud play

How happy are your kids when you say YES to playing in the mud?

Mine are practically levitating when they see a great mud puddle and they get the nod from me.  

I know, I know, it’s wet, A MESS! But you know what? It’s totally worth it.  I’ll tell you why. 

Why mud play is worth the mess:

1. Playing in mud is FUN.  Good old fashioned fun.  No phones, no iPads, just kids, nature and squeals of delight.  

2. Playing in the mud is FREE.  Do you know any other material that costs nothing, can be used wet, dry and somewhere in between? Oh wait, there’s sand at the beach… But unless you live at the beach, it’s back to good old mud.  

3. Playing in the mud is HEALTHY.  Studies show that when children play in the mud they are healthier.  It’s totally true.  Google it. I dare you. 

4. Mud is readily available.  Especially in the Spring when April showers bring… you guessed it! MUD. 

Here are a few tips for keeping your sanity while allowing mud play: 

1. Mud can certainly stain.  So if it’s warm out, I would strip the kids down to their skivvies or an old bathing suit that you no longer care about. If it’s still cold, we love THESE awesome rain pants from our friends over at Biddle and Bop.  

2. Set limits that you are comfortable with and encourage your children to communicate with you and with one another.  Some children like splashing and covering each other and some are much more tentative.  Model language for cooperative play before diving in and moderate a discussion among the children about what is and is not allowed.  While mud play is certainly exciting and fun, it doesn’t have to be an out of control free-for-all.

3. Keep a clean towel on hand.  Sometimes, a big splash can be uncomfortable or get in the eyes.  Having a clean towel on hand makes it easy to recover and get back to playing.  

4. Have a set of mud tools.  Old thrifted pots and pans, shovels, and buckets.  They are simple to source from thrift stores and enhance the play so much!

5. A large bin of soapy warm water for when you are all finished.  The warm soapy water and rags are for your children to clean up most of the mud before coming inside to bathe.  This saves you from having to clean your floors and tub. Trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way. 

6. An empty laundry basket for stripping outside, BEFORE entering the house.  

You can absolutely allow mud play WITHOUT A GIANT MESS.

Communicate your limits and set them. Stick to it. Trust me, your children will do basically anything to be allowed to get muddy.

Explain that you know how much fun it is, but also, that in order to do it over and over, it needs to be kept to a level that you are comfortable with.

My favorite phrase when my kids are getting a bit out of control is this: “Make me want to say YES next time. If you listen now, I will want to say yes to mud again and again.” I use this kind of strategy in many situations. It is a skill that you actually can teach with repetition. Remind them afterwards, “Remember when I asked you to stop playing and get cleaned up? You listened, and that made me know we can definitely do this kind of play again!” Also, randomly pepper these anecdotes into your daily conversations. At random times, I’ll remind my children about how much fun we had and WHAT MADE IT WORK. Remind them of how they listened and helped. Remind them of how much fun they had. Children love to be set up for success. Use it to your advantage.

MY FAVORITE PARENTING RESOURCES

You guys, we had a yelling, screaming morning.  It was total chaos. When everyone left, I took a second to breathe and think about how it could’ve gone differently. (Let’s just say…. Sloane was having a six-year-old tantrum and I met her tantrum and raised her one forty-year-old mama tantrum.)

For me, staying present and centered is usually the answer to whatever issue I am struggling with at the moment with one or all three of my kids.  Regardless of the context, I know my children are begging me to SEE them and HEAR them.  When they are misbehaving or whining or refusing to get dressed…. they want me to be in their struggle.  They need me to acknowledge it. This being said, It doesn’t mean we have to bend on the limit that we’ve already set.  It does not mean that they don’t have to finish that homework or put on their shoes. It does mean that if we can step out of the immediate chaos of the tantrum and just look our children in the eyes and hug them, even if its only for a minute, it really helps. 

You know what else helps? Knowing that it’s not about you or your parenting.  Kids need to struggle. They need to tantrum.  When we can control our impulse to join the yelling and carrying on, the difference is tremendous.  When we can stay calm under the pressure of their emotions, everyone wins. 

I am certainly not saying that I’m always capable of this kind of parenting, but when I can muster it up, it REALLY helps.  This morning was total chaos in our house. I jumped right into the mess.  Next time, I will try harder. 

Here’s the thing. Sometimes we all need help. When I need help in the parenting department I often turn to books. I return to the same favorites I’ve read in years past. Even just skimming helps jog my memory and get back in a better head space.

There are so many phenomenal books and podcasts out there. Today I am sharing my personal favorites with you.

My favorite podcast for family related inspiration is The Simple Families Podcast, hosted by Denaye Barahona, P.H.D. (She even interviewed me HERE about choosing great toys!)

Top Five Parenting Books:

Below are the parenting books that i find myself returning to again and again. (The Louise Bates Ames book is just an example. She has an entire series and I LOVE it.)

So, tell me, how do you help yourself when your kids are losing their minds and you are about to lose yours too? 

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-Lizzie 

*some of these are affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children.

A FULL EASTER BASKET WITHOUT THE JUNK

It is Easter Basket season! It seems like everywhere I go, the shelves are stuffed with plastic, once-use toys and huge candy displays with a guaranteed tummy ache. I’ve pulled together some of my favorites to help you narrow down your baskets and avoid those last minute impulse grabs.

You can shop these links (some are aff. links) by clicking below.

1. Ostheimer Rabbit 

2. Maileg Rabbit-Marcus (B&B)

3. Candy Lab Pink Sedan (B&B)

4. Grimm’s Rainbow Friends

5. Maileg Baby Bunny

6. Bamboo Kids Toothbrush (B&B)

7. Grimm’s Giant Wooden Marbles

8. Sarah’s Silk Giant Rainbow Playsilk

9. Grimm’s Rainbow Forest

10. Civil Engineer Tape (B&B)

11. Mrs. Grossman’s Stickers

12. Glux Super Putty (B&B)

13. Maileg Little Sister Mouse in a Box

14. Primary Cardi

15. Felt Balls Set

16. Piggy Paint Nail Polish

17. Schleich Pig Set

18. Pastel Plus Plus Blocks

19. Ooly Color Appeal Crayons

20. Wooden Curvy Board

Those items marked “B&B” are from Biddle and Bop. Use the code “theworkspace” for 10% off your next order.

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-Lizzie 

AN ART PROJECT YOU WON'T THROW AWAY

I don’t know about you guys, but my kiddos wake up early on the weekends.  Last Saturday everyone was up by seven. It was too early to play outside or go anywhere, and I’d already said no to TV. I wanted an activity that would be good for all three children (ages six, nine and eleven) and I really didn’t want to start my weekend with a  big mess to deal with.  I pulled out our Crayon Clay that was sent to us from The Pencil Grip and set up a tray of our favorite materials.  I find that how you approach the set up of any invitation to create actually does matter.  Doing a little bit of extra work on the front end really pays off.  Sure, I could’ve just opened the box and given them the packets of clay, but then there would’ve been fighting and whining and lots of requests for help. 

Right away, Ruby (nine) knew that she wanted to mix the perfect shade of color.  At first, she was frustrated.  It took some time and string fingers to get that clay to blend.  But when it did, it was so good.  

Sloane wanted to make a set of circle crayons for a friend.  She rolled the clay and then cut out little circles of color.  I think they turnout great! 

Nate made little a little snail crayon because he loved the idea that it could leave a trail of color.  

When they were finished creating, we left the shaped clay on the table to dry and off we went.  It dried beautifully (took about 12 hours) and the children now have a new set of crayons!! 

This set is my new go-to birthday gift.  It’s a great price point, and can be used by such a large range of ages.  I am all stocked up! Click the images (affiliate links) below to find out where to get everything!!

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-Lizzie 

IT'S OKAY TO BE IMPERFECT AND HOW IT HELPS YOUR KIDS THAT YOU ARE.

It is so important to let your children view your imperfections. You are teaching them to take risks and try- even if they don’t know what the outcome will be.  You are showing them that life is not perfect, nor is it supposed to be.  Guess what?      They don’t care if the cookies you made for them are a little burned.  They are just psyched you made them cookies! Plus, you are teaching them that it’s the thought that counts.  An act of kindness does not need to be perfect.  Not at all.  

Pretend you made it just in time to the school play. Phew! You are there for your kid’s solo.  They see you and a smile spills across their face.  Do you think they care that your makeup is smudged or that your hair is in a messy mom-bun? Nope.  They care that you showed up for them.  

So you decided your little one would love a beautiful sensory bin to play with after school.  You hop on Pinterest and get to work… only yours turns out a little, um, different than the picture.  Guess what? Your kid will love playing with that soapy foam whether it is in Insta-worthy rainbow swirls or one big blob of color.  They will still have a really fun time.  

It’s lunch time in the school cafeteria. Do you really think your kid cares if his or her lunch is ready to be featured in the next big food blog? NO! They care that you packed them food that they actually like and want to eat.  They care that you provided them with lunch money. They care that their tummy is full and that they have energy for the afternoon.  Not one thought about your beautifully arranged cucumber slices

LANGUAGE PROMPTS FOR TALKING ABOUT MISTAKES AND IMPERFECTIONS:

Starting when the children were real little, I would point out my mistakes in a positive way: 

“Oops! I meant to grab the wipes from upstairs but I forgot.  Oh well, moms can forget!”

“We’ve arrived to the park and I left our snacks at home! I wish I had remembered.  I’ll have to ask a friend to share with us this time.”

Sometimes, after either I or they made a mistake or something came out less than perfect, I would say, “Is is okay to make mistakes? Is it okay to try something and not have it work out the way you thought it would?” Opening this conversation from a very young age is KEY. 

When the children were a bit older, we started having conversations about mistakes we made during the day and how we solved the problem.  

“Guess what everyone, I took the dog to the groomer today for her appointment, but when I got there I found out that the appointment was yesterday and I missed it.  I was frustrated and so was the groomer.  I apologized for wasting her time and rescheduled for next week. Did you make any mistakes today?“

I really want my kids to know that I am not perfect and that they aren’t either.  It takes a village and pointing that out is so important.  I love to point out when I see them helping someone else or sharing how others help me.  Keeping the conversation open and REAL is very important to me in raising my kids.  

How do you speak to your children about mistakes?

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-Lizzie 

DO YOU WANT TO RAISE SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN? TEACH THEM TO TAKE RISKS.

I’m that mom that allows her kids to climb the highest tree and scale the rock wall as far as they can comfortably go. I trust them to decide how far they can push themselves and whether or not they can safely get themselves back down to the ground.

Yes, this earns me the side eye sometimes.  But here’s the thing- taking healthy risks in childhood allows children the opportunity to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. They are learning their limits and seeing where they can push themselves.  We’ve been practicing this way of thinking since they were tiny tots. 

These were the rules and language that I used then and the ones I still use now- 

• If you can get up there yourself, you can get yourself back down. What if they need help? I’ll usually help them by telling the what to do, but I won’t put my hands on them to get them up or down, nor do I allow siblings or friends to lift them up or down when climbing.  It is so important for safety that they find their own solid footing. 

• I won’t lift you up onto anything, if you can’t manage to get there independently then you are not ready to be up there.   Like I said above, it is SO important for them to find their own footing for safety reasons.  But having them get up on their own is also a great way for even the youngest children to set goals and work towards them. Sure, it can be very frustrating for the youngest sibling to see all the others get up high when she cannot yet do it.  But that’s ok.  She’s building her frustration tolerance and setting goals for herself. Once she can do it on her own? I love to say things like, “Can you remember when that was too hard for you? Now you are stronger and bigger and you can get up there all by yourself.”

• Listen to yourself. Do you feel safe? Are you comfortable? I encourage my children to be risk takers but NOT to be RECKLESS. There’s a huge difference and we talk about it often.

I strongly believe that our children need to learn to evaluate risk by taking risks.  The best way to learn is by DOING. How do you feel when your child takes risks? Are you cringing and calling out how worried you are or are you offering constructive support? I know it’s not easy. It’s scary to let them fly. .

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-Lizzie 

SKIP COUNTING ACTIVITY

My six year old has letters and numbers on the brain.  After a bit of a slow-to-warm-up phase, she’s loving kindergarten. Recently, her class has been learning about skip counting. Sloane has taken it to heart and I hear her skip counting her toys, singing rhymes about skip counting in bed at night and using her fingers to figuring it all out.  The other day, as I sat and procrastinated emptying the dishwasher and switching the laundry, an idea popped into my head and a skip counting activity was born.  

Here’s what you need:

Table Salt

A Shallow Tray

A Circle Punch

Cardstock or Index Cards

Black Marker

How-To:

I had punched a lot of circles last week for another project the were working on, so I pulled those out and labeled each circle with a number from one to fifty. 

Then I poured some salt in our tray to make a skip counting base.  

I set it all out on the table and left it to see what Sloane would do.  

After some initial frustration because she couldn’t locate the numbers she was looking for, it was a hit.  She was able to demonstrate a visual representation of skip counting by two’s, five’s and ten’s.  

This activity would be a great number sense activity if you added some mini pom-poms for setting up a number line with the corresponding amount of pom-poms.  In addition to practicing her skip counting, Sloane enjoyed the sensory aspect of running her fingers through the salt, drawing in the salt and making hand prints.  There are lots of great ways to use salt trays to set up an invitation to create.  The best part? Salt is a cheap, readily available, and you likely have it in your kitchen pantry.  Have you used a salt tray? 

Looking for another salt tray activity? Click HERE.

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-Lizzie 

WRAPPED STICK ART

I love this project because everyone in the family can contribute in some way. It is perfect for a snow day spent at home, or a long afternoon in the summer when you’ve got nothing but time on your hands .

In this particular instance, a large wind storm left us this beautiful branch smack in the middle of the yard. The kids and looked at each other and we knew exactly what to do.

First, we dried out the stick for a few days in the basement where it is dry and hot. This also gets rid of any little bugs that might be hanging out inside.

I threw a big drop cloth on the floor and gathered up our materials. We used yarn, fabric scraps, wire, beads, feathers and anything else the children gathered from our art cabinet.

There really weren’t any directions involved. This was entirely about the process, and it happened to turn out to be so beautiful, that it now lives in our living room. The amazing thing about this stick project is that it has been ongoing for a few years. Whenever we find some fabric, interesting yarn or a bead that we love, one of the children pulls the branch out an adds on to it. There have been many new stick projects started over the years, but for some reason, this one was really magical. Sometimes, I wonder if it has anything to do with the tree that dropped it in our yard.…

How do you use gifts from Mother Earth in your art space?

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-LIzzie 

SIGHT WORDS WITH GEM LETTERS

Remember last week when I went on my tangent about reading readiness?

I know that Sloane is feeling ready and excited about becoming a reader so I’ve been pulling out lots of sight word activities. You all requested more activity how-to’s and this one couldn’t have been easier.  

Here’s the deal…I wrote her words on little index cards, poured our jar of gem letters into a shallow bin, and set it out to see what would happen.  

Guess what? She independently practiced her sight words for twenty minutes…didn’t even look up.  She got in the zone and I could see her practicing, testing herself, getting frustrated and working through it, and more.  All from this one activity that took me about five minutes to pull together.  It was a huge win for me.  Have you had any wins lately? We all deserve a little celebration for a win.  Drop yours below.  It does not have to be parenting related! Just tell me your latest win and how good it made you feel. 

Thanks for following along with me. Don’t forget to stay in touch by subscribing HERE.

Join me on Instagram for daily posts and stories!

If you have a new reader in your family, head over to THIS POST by my friend lauren from Happily Ever Elephants.

-Lizzie

HOW TO DYE CHICKPEAS FOR A SENSORY BIN

It’s as simple as that!

-Lizzie

SIMPLE TIPS FOR RAISING READERS AND WRITERS

How can you support your child as a reader in a meaningful way?

I feel the same way about play as I do about learning to read. I believe that if you are respectful of your child’s need to play and explore at a developmentally appropriate level, you are already WAY ahead of the game when it comes to reading readiness.

First, know that reading and writing readiness is DEVELOPMENTAL. It is different for every child. Like many of you, I need to remind myself this very often. It is so hard not to compare your child to siblings and peers. I’m speaking from my own direct experience. I struggle with this almost daily. 

Here are some simple, easy to follow ways that you can support your child in his or her journey to becoming a confident reader and writer:

Having a print-rich environment is always a good idea.  Lots of books,magazines, signs, and opportunities to see print as meaningful.  I bet if you look around your home, you already have this.  See? Told you that you are already ahead of the game! 

Show your child that his or her words matter. This means writing down what they say, listening carefully when they are telling you a story, or when they want to sing you a song.    For little babies, this includes sounds and verbalizations.  

Sing! Lots of us sing to our little babies, but then we begin to feel silly as they get older.  Don’t stop singing! Make up funny songs, silly words, or even sing what you are about to do.  All of this word play is tremendously helpful in growing our children up to be confident learners.  

Show your child that his or her mark making, scribbling, invented spelling matters. Do this by turning your entire attention to their work. Listen and look. Do not put your own spin on it, just listen and nod encouragingly. Instead of asking what they drew, just notice details aloud and then see what THEY say about their work.  Listen carefully.  

Show your child that YOU read and write every day. Think out loud when you are writing. Model your thinking. Get in the habit of doing this (it feels super weird at first but is a real game changer with all kinds of learning with children). 

Write and draw what they say. When they are telling you a long story, made up or true, grab a pencil and let them watch you write it all down.  They can revisit it later.  Maybe they will even illustrate it.  Don’t make it hard though, or you’ll never do it.  Any old scrap of paper will do.  

Give your child access to books and open ended art materials. This can be as simple as crayons and blank paper. 

Label items that your children already know. When Nate was little, I made labels with letters or words on familiar items like the milk pitcher and his bed. He would “read” the words to these very meaningful objects and see himself as a competent and capable learner. (Hmmm, maybe I should do this for Sloane.)

Place value on time spent with books and stories.Spend time reading separately but together. Sometimes we all sit and read together, but silently, each in our own books. Yes, small children can do this. It takes practice and modeling.

Keep note pads and paper everywhere. Write and draw your child notes. Even when they are small. I like to leave a note under their pillow, or in the bathroom.  It’s okay if they cant read yet! It is a fun surprise to discover and you can read it to them. Show your children that print and marks are important and necessary. 

Most importantly, DO follow your child’s lead. If he’s not ready, he’s not ready. Don’t forget…Kindergarten now is what first and second grade was in years past.

Develop a love of learning in general and all will be well. Always encourage risk taking, question asking and mistake making.  

Of course, there are apps and reading programs that will teach your child to memorize words and letters from a very young age, but they lack relevance.  In order for your child to learn the love of reading and writing that will last a lifetime they need meaningful, rich  connections to the work they are doing. This happens over time. This happens with intention. This happens when we value our child’s individual development and life experience. 

Over the next few weeks, you might see me working with Sloane on her literacy journey. She is “there”. She is ready. I know this because I see her thinking constantly about sounds and letters. I see her making sense of text in context. She’s sounding out street signs, menu words, etc. She’s beginning to label her own pictures and she’s spending lots of time reading to her dolls and stuffed animals.

Sloane is six. Nate was developmetally ready when he was four.  Ruby was probably five and a half. Guess what?  It doesn’t matter. Look around at your friends. Do you know how old they were when they said their first works? When the took first steps or mastered the potty? Nope. Because it doesn’t matter in the long run. So try, as hard as I  know that it is, not to RUSH reading and writing.  Enjoy the journey. And when you child wants to read to YOU at bedtime? Grab a big glass of wine… it takes A LOT of patience and time ;)

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-LIzzie 

HOW TO TRAVEL WITH KIDS AT AN ALL INCLUSIVE IN MEXICO

Last week we had the pleasure of taking a vacation with the kids to Playa Mujeres, Mexico.  Before we ever book a trip, my husband and I set some intentions. We decide if we want to do a trip or a vacation. A trip is where we know it will be a lot of work on our end, and that we will plan on sight seeing, adventuring, and WORKING. We go somewhere we’ve never been, eat the local food and push ourselves and our children to embrace a new landscape. OR, we decide that we want to freeze time for a second, relax, and just enjoy being together. That means we stay mostly in the resort, say yes to late bedtimes, lots of ice creams, and night swimming. We lose all sense of day and time and just BE with the kids and with each other.   This trip was most certainly a vacation.  Sloane just turned six and still has trouble keeping up with Nate and Ruby.  It would not be fun (for anyone) to drag her around a new city or time zone.  We wanted something simple, relaxing and fun for everyone.  

WHERE WE STAYED:

We chose Playa Mujeres because the flight was not long, it has good proximity to the airport and the weather is amazing.  We used a local travel agent, Vacations by Heather, and she helped us a find a resort that was in our budget.  We stayed at Dreams, Playa Mujeres.  The room was clean and spacious, the view was beautiful and food was good-enough.  I like staying at an all-inclusive with the kids because they can eat as little or as much as they like, whenever they want.   Takes the pressure off.  It also helps us to budget and stay on track, which means less stress for us.  

BE PREPARED:

I did a ton of front-end loading before we left.  I packed our favorite travel art supplies, snacks and toys in easily accessible pouches for the airplane, restaurants, and pool side.  When were in the airport and the kids got antsy? Boom.  Out came  Magnetic blocks.  When my girls needed some quiet time and I didn’t want to leave the pool? Out came my pouch filled with watercolor paper and Ooly travel watercolor kit.  Masterpieces were made and I didn’t need to turn away from my book and my cocktail.  

Also? We brought devices. The children were allowed to use them on the airplane, and for a little while each day while my oldest babysat in the room and my husband and I snuck downstairs for a quick kid free cocktail.

WHAT WE PACKED FOR THE AIRPLANE (click the image for the link):

WHAT THEY WORE (click image for links.):

If you liked this post, you might want to check these out as well:

HOW TO TRAVEL WITH YOUR KIDS AND ACTUALLY RELAX

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR KIDS WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT THEM

This blog post was not sponsored in any way, but does contain some affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children. -Lizzie

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR OWN PEG PEOPLE

My little one is turning six today, and one of her favorite things is to pretend. She loves to play with her favorite little peg people from Grimm’s Wooden Toys, Grapat, and Teeny Weeny Toys. She also loves to make her own people. We keep blank, unfinished peg dolls in our art cabinet along with lots of loose scraps for creating and new peg people are born into her collection weekly.

Today I am heading into her Kindergarten class to share her love peg people and dollhouse play with her classmates. We are going to read a favorite book of ours, This Is My Dollhouse, by Giselle Potter. I adore this book because it explores the joy and creativity involved in creating your own play materials. It also explores friendships and feelings, which I love.

After the book, the children will have the opportunity to create their own peg doll. I scoured the art supplies that I already had on hand and created the tinker trays you see here. I encourage you to use what you already have, but I have also listed all of the materials that we used at the bottom of this post.

This project was inspired by my wonderful and brilliant friend, Bar Rucci. You can see her post here. Also, Sloane’s birthday party was held at our favorite local art studio, Oh Canary Art, where the children decorated dollhouses. You can read all about that party on my friend Natalie’s blog.

Doll House

Peg People

Kwik Stix

Elmer’s Glue Pen

Tissue Paper Squares

Chenille Stems

Wool Roving

Fabric

Washi Tape

Pony Beads

Buttons

Kid Scissors

Have you done a project with your child’s class? How did it go? -Lizzie

SIMPLE ART- NOT CRAFT- ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN

When you think of art with children, you probably think about a “craft”. With crafting, there are specific instructions, materials, and a desired outcome. There is a certain age range for a project and there is a beginning, middle and an end.

When I think about art for children, I think about the process. I think about materials that offer a range of experiences, and how children in different stages in their development will interact with the materials.

On most afternoons in our home, I set out a snack and a simple invitation to create. When the children arrive after school (often with friends in tow), I like to create an atmosphere where they can relax and unwind from a long day. Even if it is only for a few moments before we all rush off to the next thing, I want them to feel a moment of calm and connection . This simple activity takes only moments to set up, but provides hours of creating for a large age range of children. It is not messy and can be “grazed” on, as the children see fit. There are no directions. The children interact with the materials and create in any way they want.

SUGGESTED MATERIALS:

Tempra Cakes

Oil Pastels

Brushes

Roll Paper

HOW TO SET UP:

First roll out your butcher paper and cover the table. Tape it down for stability. Next, Find a large tray or book and trace rectangles onto the paper. Why? Sometimes a defined space is more welcoming for children to dive into than a large blank slate. It also just makes for a unique, open ended canvas for creating. Set out your paints and oil pastels and a jar of water and brushes. Keep a towel handy for any spills. Prime your paints by pouring water directly onto the tempra cakes. Allow your child to experiment with the materials. You do not need to give instructions or micro manage the work they are creating. In fact, claim a rectangle for yourself and get lost in the oil pastel. They are so satisfying to rub across the paper. Let your child discover the paint-resist on their own. You do not need to rush in and show them. They joy is in the discovery!

PRO TIPS:

• Teach your child to swish their brush five times around the paint cake in order to get a rich and vibrant swash of paint.

• Prime your paints by pouring water directly onto the cake prior to use

• Put on some chill background music to set the mood. We love John Mayer, Amos Lee, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jack Johnson, and Ray LaMontagne.

• Let your child work at his own pace. He might work for a few moments and wander away, then return again in a little while.

• Use materials you already own. You can adapt this activity multiple ways to fit your needs. This does not need to be complicated to be engaging.

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Read more posts like this one below:

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-Lizzie 

HOW TO ENCOURAGE BLOCK PLAY AT HOME

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I love when we all chat about blocks. They are my absolute favorite item for PLAY. Lots of you are purchasing them for your home and classroom. They are certainly an investment, and I want to make sure that your children are actually using them.

Below you will find a simple guide to encouraging block play at home or in your classroom.  Three simple steps.  If you decide to follow them, let me know what works and what does not.  

BLOCK PLAY SIMPLIFIED:

1. Edit Your Space

2. Organize The Materials

3. Hang Out With Your Blocks

EDIT YOUR SPACE:  

Walk out of the room where your blocks live and then walk back in.  What is the first thing you feel when you walk into the room? Is there a designated space for block play? How is that space defined? Is the flooring sturdy and even or is it covered in a lumpy, uneven carpet? 

My first bit of advice is to move some things around to make a designated area for building.  There are two reasons for this.  One, it shows your child that you value block play.  By creating a physical space designed for building, you are helping your child to focus on creating without distraction from his or her thoughts.  Think of it like this.. Do you have a designated space where you work? Maybe a desk or a table that holds your computer, important documents, and some reference books? It's easier than just plopping down in the middle of a chaotic, messy room and pulling out your computer, right? Same thing with building and playing.  

This space does not have to be large, just make sure it's big enough for your child to move around and build without getting in her own way.  If there are little siblings in the picture, it might help to put this space in an area that is protected from unsteady toddlers or speed crawlers.  Maybe you could put a small block shelf in your child's bedroom or perhaps in an area of the house that his little sibling cannot access.  (My sister put her block area in an enclosed pen to keep the little ones out and the builders building! Genius.).

ORGANIZE YOUR MATERIALS:

How do you store your blocks? Are they all dumped into a bin, stuffed behind the trucks and puzzles? You are not alone. I think most homes have an abandoned pile of wooden blocks somewhere in the playroom. I want you to  pull them out and sort them by shape.  Your child can help you or you can grab a coffee and go it alone while listening to an awesome podcast.  I'd go the podcast route, but that's me.  

Once you have them sorted by shape, decide on a shelving system.  My father-in-law built us a custom shelf to house our blocks (love him so much).  You can use a shelf designed for blocks like this one, or use one that you already have.  Better yet, check out your local Facebook swap sites for an IKEA hand me down.  However you decide to obtain a shelf, just get one.  Trust me, it makes all the difference in the world in how your child will use the blocks.  

When you have your shelf in place, lay out the blocks according to shape and size.  You can organize them in a manner that makes sense for you and your child.   I try to make sure the larger, heavier blocks are on the bottom, but I'm not sure it really matters.  The most important thing is that each shape is visually represented and can be easily accessed by the child.  

HANG OUT WITH YOUR BLOCKS:

Huh? Yup. Just do it. (read on)

The hard part is over and all the really great learning and engagement is about to happen.  Invite your child into the space that you have created.  Show her how you've arranged the materials.  Ask her what she might build? Will it be a house for stuffed animals or a parking garage for her race cars?  Will she build flat or will her building be tall? 

With reluctant builders, I might 'pre-build.'  That means I might lay out a very simple structure and ask the child how he can add to it. Then follow his lead.  He adds a rectangle, you do the same.  Try to mirror their block building behavior.  Once they get going, you can slowly step back and let them go.  Remain interested, but do your own thing.  You want to encourage independent play.  

When I notice my children haven't been building a lot, I do one thing and it works EVERY TIME.  I sit in our block area.  I just sit there quietly and read on my phone or read a book to them.  They usually want to go wherever I am.  If I am in our block area, that's where they will be.  If those blocks are organized and displayed in an inviting fashion, they can't resist them.  And that, my friends, that's where the magic happens.  

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LANGUAGE PROMPTS TO ENCOURAGE BLOCK PLAY:

• Which shapes will you use first?

• How can you use these squares to make a long, flat line? How can you use them to make a tall, standing up line?

• Which blocks would make a sturdy base for your building?

• How can you make a house for your lovey? Will it be tall or will it be down low? Will it have a roof or a door or will it be open?

• Can you make a pattern using the blocks?

• Which block do you like? What do you like about it? How can you use it in a building?

MORE TIPS TO ENCOURAGE BLOCK PLAY:

• Snap photos of your child's block building on your phone. Print them out and bind them together with a binder ring and a hole puncher.

• Hang the photos around the block area to inspire your child.

• Add a small basket of people and a small basket of cars to the block area. See how it changes the play.

• Encourage your child to make signs for his or her buildings with a basket containing small pencil and papers. Just remind them not to write on the blocks.

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I could write about the benefits of block play and how to encourage block play for hours and hours.  Do you want to pick my brain? I want to know WHAT you all need help with when using blocks in your home or classroom.  Join the conversation over on Instagram, where I will be answering all of your questions.

WHERE TO BUY UNIT BLOCKS:

Our collection has been built over the course of ten years. Some of ours are from my own childhood. We’ve also added at birthdays and holidays. Wooden blocks are expensive and I do not recommend that you buy a whole ton at once. Your child will be overwhelmed, and you will be out a lot of money .

Here is a link to a great starter set of wooden unit blocks: CLICK HERE

GIFTS FOR FIVE AND SIX YEAR OLDS

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1. Penelope Play Tent / 2. Angel Mouse in a Book / 3. Sunny Days Purse / 4. Luckyjuju Hair Clips / 5. Dress-Up Headband /

   6. Little Brother Stuffed Toy Mouse in a Box / 7. Toy Camera / 8. Baby Doll / 9. Maileg Stuffed Animal & Play Set /

   10. Cuddle + Kind Skye the Mermaid Knit Doll / 11. A World Full of Animal Stories/ 12. Guardian Angel Mouse /

   13. Big Sister Stuffed Toy Mouse in a Box / 14. See-Ya Kids Suitcase / 15. Giant Playsilk / 16. Strolley Basket

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Here’s how to shop this guide: Click the words below the image to be taken directly to the coordinating item. These are affiliate links, which means I get a small finder’s fee when you shop them. This costs you nothing. Thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children. xo, Lizzie

GIFTS IDEAS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

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1. Personalized Name Tracing Board / 2. Lacing Shoe / 3. Natural Wooden Lacing Toy / 4. Vanilla Peppermint Playdough Jar/

   5. Scented Playdough / 6. Pounding Peg Game / 7. Ball and Pot Sorting Toy/ 8. Miniature sight words matching game /

   9. Felt Stuffed Alphabet / 10. Big Future Toys Magnetic Wooden Blocks / 11. Alphabet Learning Tiles /

   12. Plush Hedgehog/ 13. Classic Dollhouse /14. Number Tracing / 15. Uppercase and Lowercase Alphabet Tree Slices /

   16. 110 Number Board

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Here’s how to shop this guide: Click the words below the image to be taken directly to the coordinating item. These are affiliate links, which means I get a small finder’s fee when you shop them. This costs you nothing. Thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children. xo, Lizzie

GIFTS FOR TWEENS

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1. Rivet Kids Be A Good Human T-shirt / 2. Rivet Kids You Are My Sunshine T-shirt / 3. Swiss Army Knife / 4. Flying Handbook /

   5. Hemp Necklace / 6. Nobody’s Perfekt T-shirt / 7. Wander & Wonder Geometric Beanie /8. Healing Crystal Wands /

   9. Ceramic Fragrance Diffuser / 10. 24 Mile Range Walkie Talkie/ 11. Dead Sea Bath Salts / 12. Coconut Milk Bath Soak /

   13. Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera / 14. Bath Bombs / 15. New Yorker Jigsaw Puzzle / 16. Kid Made Modern Set /

   17. Multicolored String Lights / 18. Meri Meri Mini Unicorn Sticker Roll / 19. Cabinet of Curiosities / 20. Felting Wool Set /

   21. Work Hard and Be Nice To People Wood Sign / 22. Wooden Chess Set / 23. Pilot Parking Sign / 24. Krafty K Face Mug

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Tweens can be hard to shop for. These are the actual items that my tweens will be receiving for the holidays this year. If you see them, don’t spill the beans!!

Here’s how to shop this guide: Click the words below the image to be taken directly to the coordinating item. These are affiliate links, which means I get a small finder’s fee when you shop them. This costs you nothing. Thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children. xo, Lizzi

WHAT TO WEAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS- KIDS EDITION

I scoured the internet to find your kiddos cute, cozy, and functional wear for the holidays. Whether you are somewhere warm and beachy or cold and snowy, your little ones will be looking and feeling great! All you have to do is click the coordinating text below and it will take you to your product. These are affiliate links. That means I get a small kickback from the brands featured at no cost to you. It’s kind of like a finders fee! Thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children. xo, Lizzie

P.S. Only get this stuff if you want your kids to be twinning with mine…. My cart is full of everything on this list!

1. Solid Swimsuit Swim Trunks with Elastic Waist

2. Alpine Village 2-Pack Bandana Bibs

3. Primary Puffer Vest

4. Oeuf Organic Crown Hat

5. Gold Star Tutu Skirt

6. Rash Guard Swimming Tee SPF50+

7. Swimming Bottom Bikini Skort UPF50+ Swim Skirt Rashguard

8. Callum Water Resistant Chelsea Boot

9. Primary Holiday PJ Set

10. Primary Mittens

11. Stars Organic Cotton Fitted Two-Piece Pajamas

12. Party Stripe Dress

13. cotton poplin tie in Stewart black tartan

14. Solid Hooded Fleece Sleep Robe Bathrobe

15. Primary Beanie

16. Kids' backpack in buffalo check

17. UGG Kid's Tasman II Suede Slippers

18. Kids' 1998 rollneck™ sweater

19. Petite Plume Beatrice Nightgown

20. Kids' Sorel® for crewcuts Cheyanne II lace-up boots

TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR CHILD TO THE DENTIST

Are you avoiding taking your little one to the dentist? It can be a daunting experience when you and your child are unprepared. It can be a fun and healthy habit when you are prepared! Read on for tips on taking your kids to the dentist, and why we choose The Silverstrom Group in Livingston NJ.

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TIP ONE: READ LOTS OF BOOKS ABOUT GOING TO THE DENTIST

Reading books is a great way to introduce new experiences to your child because it stimulates their curiosity about the subject, as well as offering them a chance to gain mastery over something new. There are so many good books about going to the dentist. Head over to your local library and check out a whole stack! (We especially love THIS Mister Roger’s book.)

TIP TWO: PLAY ‘DENTIST’ USING DOLLS

Set up a make-shift dentist office using your child’s toys. It doesn’t need to be perfect and you don’t need to buy anything. Do you have a dollhouse? Maybe some blocks, magnetic tiles, or even a shoebox? Use your imagination! Show your child what happens at the dentist by practicing on her baby dolls or stuffed animals. Walk them through the experience using toys or dolls. These can be ANY dolls- stuffed animals, robots, even dinosaurs. Use whatever your child loves. You will help them feel ownership over the situation by “walking” the doll into the “waiting room” and pretending to wait. ‘Notice’ (out loud) the things you might see at the dentist office.

Here are some examples of language you might use:

• Look! There is the receptionist behind the desk. Let’s go tell her your robot’s name and why she is here. Let’s help your robot introduce herself and write her name on the sign-in sheet.

• What can your dolly do while her mama is filling out those grown-up papers? Should we give her a toy to play with?

• Let’s take the dinosaur into the pretend office. Look at that chair and all those tools! I wonder what they might be for.

• How is your dolly feeling? Is she excited about the chair that moves up and down, or maybe she’s feeling unsure. How can we comfort her?

  Follow your child’s lead. Have the pretend dentist come in and count the doll’s teeth and pretend to brush them. You get the idea, right? It may feel a little silly, but your child will love it. This kind of play will help them process the new experience of going to the dentist.

TIP THREE: YOU PRETEND TO BE THE PATIENT

Have your child pretend to be the dentist and check your teeth. Let her count them and brush them while you lie on the couch. Then switch roles. Invite your child lie on the couch while you brush her teeth and count them. Then do the same thing with other household members or friends. Have fun with it, I bet your child will too!

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We recently had all three children’s teeth cleaned at Dr. Gary Silverstrom’s office in Livingston, NJ.

The moment we walked in we were greeted by the cheerful staff, who assured me that I didn’t need to shush my children or keep them sitting still in the chairs (phew)! The kids were each given a swag-bag containing a stuffed animal and other goodies. As a mom of three, I often feel like a traveling circus when I enter a quiet office with my crew, but this office was ready for them.

After a few moments, we were escorted into the exam room, and guess what… Sloane’s favorite show was playing on the TV. She was floored. She literally couldn’t believe that going to the dentist meant cuddling with a new stuffy AND watching a show! Sloane is a generally slow-to-warm-up five-year-old, and I nearly melted in relief to see how comfortable she felt here. The hygienist was warm and friendly, and very tuned into each child’s personality. I was so impressed with the way the staff tempered their approach to the age and developmental stage of each of my three children.

They had Nate, my eleven year old, chatting about his favorite topics in no time. Ruby, who is nine, was feeling anxious about some yellowing on her front teeth that developed this summer. She was worried that she would be scolded for not brushing well. The exact opposite happened. The staff explained to her how that kind of marking develops and assured her it was through no fault of her own. Then they proceeded to polish it right off! Ruby was thrilled.

Dr. Gary Silverstrom and staff were so wonderful to work with, my kids are actually looking forward to their next dentist appointments! If you are local to NJ, I highly recommend you check them out for your entire family’s dentistry needs.

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*This post was sponsored by The Silverstrom Group. All thought and opinions are my own. If you decide to check out The Silverstrom Group, mention The Workspace for Children and receive $100 new-patient courtesy.