Is It Spring Yet?

by Kelly Miller

Here is a fun game to play!  Get the children outside and let them work on their observation skills.  Each player gets one point for every sign of spring they find.  This game is meant to be played over a period of days.  To add interest have the children come up with a list of their own of "spring things" - enjoy!

                                                                  

-the sounds of spring: peepers, frogs and toads

-thunder
-music from an open car window
-a woodpecker
-a bird signing
-a plant emerging from the ground
-a bud on a tree or bush
-a flower in bloom
-a mushroom
-sap oozing from a tree
-a dog or cat shedding
-a brightly colored bird
-a salamander
-a newborn animal
-a turtle sunning on a log
-a baby out in a stroller
-a screen where a window used to be
-laundry hanging out to dry
-bathing suits in a shop window
-someone in-line skating or skateboarding

Scarfed Potatoes!

by Kelly Miller

My daughter and I were at the library recently, and we found a unique craft book:  Kid Made Modern by Todd Oldham.  Oldham states his book is inspired by mid-century modern design.  We immediately went home and started planning activities. 

Scarfed Potatoes was perfect for us.  "It's easy to make a potato printed tube scarf out of a cut up t-shirt printed with Marimekko inspired geometric patterns, " Oldham states.  And he is right! 

Supplies:  XXL white t-shirt, potato, fabric paint, scissors, knife

1.  Make a stamp by cutting potato in half, and then slice a square stamp form into the cut face.  Remove the side pieces away from the square form by slicing inward along the side.
2.  Cut across the t-shirt just under the sleeve and cut off the hem (you will have a rectangle shape of fabric).  Slide a piece of cardboard or foil inside the shirt to prevent the ink from going through to the other side.
3.  Hold the round end of the stamp, place stamp onto fabric paint and stamp your pattern on the fabric.  Follow washing directions on your fabric paint.

This book is worth reserving at the library.  Other fun projects include making your own building blocks and making a purse out of an envelope and duct tape.

Safe Sleep for Babies

This article comes from Hennepin County MN website - the link is posted below.

April 4, 2011 - Safe Sleep for Babies is an information campaign designed to save babies lives by educating their caretakers about safer sleeping arrangements.

The need was recognized by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, which reviewed five years of infant death data and discovered clear patterns of unsafe sleep arrangements. They include infants sleeping on soft couches or in adult beds.

Just by taking a few simple steps for safe baby sleep, an estimated half of all Medical Examiner-certified infant deaths in sleep-related environments may have been preventable.

The Safe Sleep campaign is a partnership among Hennepin County staff from the county's Human Services and Public Health Department and a number of community and government agencies that deal with children. They are working together to get the word out about the Safe Sleep Top 10 Tips.

Kiddywampus

Are you looking for drop-in arts and crafts, storytime and playtime?  Check out Kiddywampus in St. Louis Park.  They have Open Studio, Kiddyplay, Kiddyparties and KiddyClasses (including camps).  http://www.kiddywampus.com/

Unemployment as a Nanny

Regarding Nannies ran this on their blog and we thought it would be helpful to you. Thanks to Regarding Nannies http://regardingnannies.com/ for letting us share this.


by Tom Breedlove, Breedlove & Associates


In the last couple of years, most American workers have felt the financial trauma of being unemployed – either personally or through someone close to them. It’s a scary feeling to suddenly find yourself without a job and desperately wondering how you’re going to pay for your next meal.

To help alleviate the financial anxiety of joblessness, each state has established an unemployment system to help workers make ends meet while they look for work. The state systems each utilize a general fund, which is paid for by assessing each employer with a small tax on each dollar of payroll.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!