Need activities for your bored kids?

Check out this review for Leap Frog TAG and SavvySource on my review blog, The Chunky Purse (I know, I need to update more now that I'm not doing as many reviews. Sorry.) For those of you with toddlers and preschoolers, you will love this review. Thank me later. See my note at the bottom of the post, too. All of this is related to this crazy-big sidebar widget to the right. It will be there a while so get used to it. lol

Vacation doesn't start for a little while. I'll be posting some more between now and then.

Thank you for visiting today.

Did you like this blog post? Please consider subscribing here:

Subscribe in a reader

I laugh at your messes

It was a typical afternoon.

I said, "Paint your bellies."

They looked shocked, but game. And that is how it all began ...

It didn't take long before smiles curled up on their faces.

Or, until they realized they didn't need paper or canvas or even their own bodies.



Then their little brains took over, and that's when the real fun began ...

Purple paint below their feet; slippery slides they do make.

Purple butts, in our hair -- we had paint, everywhere!



Pure success.

Great satisfaction.


A little swim, afterward.

This creative activity was inspired by both the book First Art, and the blog Pepper Paints, which I found via the new and really cool Blog Nosh Magazine.


Thank you for visiting today.

Did you like this blog post? Please consider subscribing here:

Subscribe in a reader

Outside the box mothering

Before my sadness slump over the last couple weeks, I had been inspired to live a more creative life. A couple of books -- The Creative Family and First Art -- and blogs such as this one and this one as well as some personal goals and ideas led me to want to do fewer structured activities and more free form art and nature appreciation activities. I also wanted to spend less time writing and more time creating other things.

I've been trying since the very beginning to foster a great imagination and I see that progressing greatly in Jadyn and Liana. For a long time we've been eating imaginary things and those things recently have been jumping off the pages of our books, such as all the berries in Jamberry and the apples in The Giving Tree.

I practically lived an imaginary life during most of my childhood. While I didn't necessarily have one imaginary friend, I did have a whole gang of them.

I worry about what happens to our imagination and creativity as adults. Rules become so important; creation and ideas so much less.

Of course, I have all of this in my mind as a mother -- yes, even when a bit depressed about other things.

And so my slump did not, fortunately, mean I stopped following the creative path. I'm still on it, and trying to find my way back to those days of free-flowing art forms like oral storytelling and drawing for no reason.

In the past seven days, I filled my camera with photos of the girls doing various activities meant to foster their creativity and love of the world around them. Check back tomorrow for the ultimate toddler painting party. For now, here's a few free ways to nurture creativity with toddlers:

Letterboxing: This is a new activity for us but it's become quite the fun thing to do. First, we love going to parks and as part of the summer reading program we are searching for insect stamps at many local parks. I love how we get to explore, get exercise and do something with purpose. Of course, the stamps aren't just for the book. They get put all over the arms, legs and belly.Nature hikes/museums: If someone would have told me about a free museum with a great little trail that's perfect for toddlers, I might have pitched a tent and moved in two weeks ago. Seriously, it's a great find for those of us limited with what we can do with our toddlers. Here, we are visiting the museum's special reptile exhibit, and following the trail -- which includes going through a pretend rabbit hutch. How awesome is that??


Music, of course: I have tons of songs downloaded and we try to incorporate natural music elements into our days. We listen to a lot of folk since it has a natural tone and sound for toddlers. But, I try and change it up a lot, too. Here, we are just a few blocks from home listening to a local children's music band, The Stephen Courtney Band, that played for free this past weekend. I really enjoyed it, and I think the girls did as well -- at least for their first concert.


Thank you for visiting today.

Did you like this blog post? Please consider subscribing here:

Subscribe in a reader

For those with young children

I've reviewed Baby Bug Magazine and you should check it out if you have a toddler or three at your house. Baby Bug is not to be missed.

Thank you for visiting today.

Did you like this blog post? Please consider subscribing here:

Subscribe in a reader

Fun, fun, fun

Do you have any new Fun for Moms ideas to share this week? Time has slipped before my eyes and I have evidence of fun, but it will have to be posted later today.

In the meantime, how about linking to a post you've written in the past that involved having some Fun with your Kids ... doesn't have to include pictures or it could. Doesn't have to be long, but it may be.

What's your idea of having fun with your kids? Leave a comment or a link with Mr. Linky.



Thank you for visiting today.

Did you like this blog post? Please consider subscribing here:

Subscribe in a reader