Tag Archives: live in childcare

Winter Fun

Check out the APIA Winter Fun Pinboard on Pinterest for some fun ideas on these cold snowy days

Snowman Slam {Game for Kids}

Posted by Crystal Underwood
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/12/snowman-slam-game-for-kids.html

snowman slam game

This game is fun for the whole family, and you likely have most of the materials to make it already on hand.

Snowman Slam Materials

  • White cups
  • Black & orange craft foam or construction paper
  • White socks
  • Glue
  • Scissors

To make the snowmen: decorate six white cups using black and orange craft foam.  To make the snowballs: tightly ball up three white socks.  That’s it!

This game is so easy to make, and kids have so much fun with it.  The idea is simple; toss the snowballs to knock down the snowmen

snowman slam 3

Such a simple concept and yet so much FUN!

Snowman slam 6

Snowman slam 88

Childcare focus

At some point this winter your host child will probably develop a fever, i.e. a body temperature that is higher than the normal 98.6 F.  It is very important to realize that fever itself is not an illness-only a symptom of one.  When your host child has a fever, his/her heart rate and breathing will speed up slightly in addition to feeling slightly warm. She/he may appear flushed and perspiration may be present as well.  Do not give medicine to your host child with out the permission of your host family.  There are strict guidelines for dosages and they MUST be followed.

Hints for success

stay in touch with your community counselor, RSVP* and attend cluster meetings, or if you can not, call her back or reply to her email.

* *RSVP is an abbreviation for the French phrase “Répondez s’il vous plaît”.  It translates to “please respond”. In the US, failure to reply to an RSVP request with a confirmation of one’s attendance or absence is considered rude.

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
– Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream Quote

Martin Luther King Jr. was an important leader of the civil rights movement here in America during the 1950s and 60s. The holiday was created as a day to remember his fight for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all races and peoples and as a time to remember the message of change through nonviolence.

Here are some links about the history of this holiday including a biography of Dr. King, a quiz for kids and a junior crossword.  Maybe you can do something special with the kids to acknowledge the day.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mlkbiospot.html

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mlkjrday1.html

To read the full I Have a dream Speech go to:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

New Year’s Eve

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December 31 – New Year’s Eve

Chances are you have to work tonight, so after the kids go to bed, sit down and watch Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve and think about how to make 2014 better.  Before they go to bed, you and the children can choose simple “New Year Resolutions.” Or create a keepsake of the year that is ending by making a time capsule or a scrapbook of memories. Include what are cool, slang words, popular activities, clothes, games, names of popular songs or games, and a picture of the hottest toy. If you are making a time capsule, put a date on it and decide when they will open it – in a year, 5 or even 10. Don’t forget to include a photo of you and the children! Tomorrow, the first day of the New Year, is a federal holiday.

Bicarbonate of Soda Day

December 30- Bicarbonate of Soda Day – Bicarbonate of soda, also known as baking powder, has many household uses including cooking, cleaning and medical uses. But it can also be used for a very simple and fun science experiment suitable for ages 7 and older.

Check out this video on how to make a Baking Soda Volcano.  The kid on the video is doing a great job explaining everything.  He has many other fun science experiments for kids.

Baking Soda Volcano:

Create quite a fizzle by mixing baking soda/sodium bicarbonate with vinegar.
You need the following:
Baking Soda, Vinegar, a plastic container such as a milk jug, paper towels to clean up.

How to do the experiment: Place some of the baking soda in the container; pour in some vinegar and ….Watch what happens.

Make your own play dough!

Play Dough - Kevin JarrettMake your own play dough! –Play dough is the perfect modeling material for children. Their small hands can pat, poke, pinch, roll and knead it into many shapes. Keep it in an airtight container to use another day, or let it air dry into favorite shapes.

Measure 2 cups of flour, one cup of salt and 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar into a bowl. Add 1/4 cup of oil to one cup of water in a separate bowl then add the mixture to the dry ingredients. For colored play dough, squeeze 10-20 drops of food coloring into the water before you add it to the mixture. Cook the dough at low heat in a wide pan, stirring constantly until it becomes rubbery. Remove the dough from the heat and knead it for a few minutes. When it cools the kids can play too!

Photo: Kevin Jarrett