Creative Play Baking Sweet Shop with Cardboard Stove
In this edition of, What She's Wearing Wednesday, catch the KCC Kid, Mayhem, in "Sweet Shop". A video in the "Little Rascals" style. She's baking bread in her upcycled cardboard kitchen stove, wearing her chef hat tutorial, and having fun with her best kitty friend. Enjoy! The toys in the video were donated by Alex Toys. You might also like our KCC Kid's Spy Video, "Monster Trouble" that highlights their super sleuthing toys. We had lots of fun making these videos.
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)
We wish you a Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a Christmas Eve filled with warm memories and stockings full of happiness. Here are a few photos from around our new house (old farm houseand a poem about our night before Christmas. We'll celebrate with a Christmas Eve children's service and then our older children and close family friends will stop by on the eve of Jesus birth for a gift exchange. Christmas day, we'll make the trek over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house. Enjoy!
Stockings hung by the piano with care.
'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, every creature was stirring except for the mouse. The stockings drooped from the piano with flair, hanging onto their reindeer hooks with special care.
Droopy stockings on heirloom piano.
The children wrestled each other banging heads, while double vision sent them straight to their beds.
Snowy day play! We were blessed with a white Christmas.
A
nd, Mom with her nurturing and Dad with his crap Tried to settle us down with Angry Bird Apps. When from the kitchen there arose such a clatter, I stopped playing to see what was the matter.
Snowy Christmas Village courtesy of my Grandmother.
My small sister shot past me like dynamite Knocking me into the wall causing a fight Shattered glass and spilled milk were on the clean floor And crumbs fell from kitty's mouth as he cried for more. When what to my wandering eyes should appear ~
Oops, Grandma got tun over by a reindeer.
Waving his finger in the air, a red suited man stood in a fog standing next to the trash can. With his furrowed white eyebrows and crumpled red nose I knew in an instant it must be St. Nick. More rapid ranting than Mommy's his reprimands came And he pointed and shouted and called us by name. Now Jake, now Mayhem, now Tigger please listen...
Santa and the Misses.
Why aren't you sleeping? Are those bumps on your head? March up those stairs and climb into your warm beds.
My heirloom talking tree courtesy of my Grandfather. He sings and scares!
So, up to our bedrooms sister and I flew with thoughts of toys and fears of Santa too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the wall the kneading and pawing of each little claw. As, I covered my eyes listening to the sound up the stairs my bad kitty lept with a bound.
An heirloom "robot" Santa.
Santa cleared his throat and his belly it rumbled He tripped on the cat and on the floor he tumbled. The bundle of toys he had flung on his back flew out onto the floor emptying his red sack
Santa Claus?
I s
nuck out to spy on old Mr. Kringle His cheeks were flushed and his smile had lost its jingle He surveyed the damage and gritted his teeth And the cat, it encircled his feet like a wreath.
Santa Bunny got covered in snow.
Hey, at least it's not a duck.
Covering my face and trying not to laugh I saw St. Nicholas twitch his nose at my cat. He flew up landing next to the Elf on the Shelf. And I laughed when I saw it inspite of myself.
Infamous heirloom Elf on the Shelf.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon led me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word but went straight to his work collecting the toys then he turned with a jerk. And laying his hand under the kitty's back he scooped it up giving its head a light pat.
Heirloom elf ousting the angel.
Shaking from side to side he gave a little laugh And said, "Listen naughty cat, it's time you had a bath. Instead of punishment, he handed me the cat At least without our cookies he's a little less fat.
Tips for Playing and Working with an Autistic Child
Tips for Working with a child with Autism.
We are sharing some tips for working with a child with autism. I know, I know, you don't want to use the words Autistic child, but these words help those who aren't as in the know find this information when searching the web. After several years working with children of all ages, races, and denominations, I have tips for playing and interacting with an autistic child, and all types of childhood disorders, diseases, or states of mind. Let's face it, there is no such thing as normal! Social Interaction is a key concern for parents with a child who has Autism. Remember, play is the work of children. Does your child engage with you or with other children while playing? If your child has been diagnosed with Autism, the answer is more than likely no. As parents or caregivers you can adjust your style of play to make playing with a child with a sensory processing disorder more enjoyable for everyone involved. Making small adaptations to the environment will help parents to observe and begin to understand how their child’s mind works. Forget how you remember playing as a child; be open to a new way of playing and a different kind of interaction. All children like to make their own decisions and choices. If you set up several stations with various types of play opportunities, your child may be drawn to one or more of them. Don’t jump in or show too much excitement. Sit back and become a silent observer doing research while your child explores his new environment. At first, it may be interesting but intimidating for the child. Let them explore or simply observe the invitations you have provided for play. Perhaps, you have ordinary cardboard boxes in varying sizes. Leave some empty to let your child explore his imagination. Fill others with different types of toys. Depending on the age of the child, make appropriate “toy” choices. A box filled with pots, pans, and wooden spoons is a scientific experiment. Contain your desire to show your child how to bang on the pots or wear one as a hat. Let your child teach you how they want to play. A simple thump on the pot could frighten the child and ruin the experience for everyone. The idea of wearing the pan as a hat could also discourage the child. In the coming days or weeks, as your child becomes more comfortable observing or playing with the toys, you can slowly introduce your style of play. Sit across from the child; don’t worry if they are not watching you. Just play.Gently, put the pan on your head. Pretend to stir soup in a pot. What happens if you scrape the bowl? Observe how your child reacts, but don’t force or ask them to play yet. Be patient; if your child isn’t interested today, move on to a new toy. By playing by yourself, you are demonstrating how to play, how you play, and letting your child know it is okay to play alone. Remember, it is okay to play alone! All children learn through play, so never discourage them. In time, your child may begin to feel less threatened.They may do what you do, or they may choose a toy and hand it to you to see what you will do with it. If they don’t, keep trying with quiet encouragement. Keep experimenting with new ideas, but always watch your child’s facial expression and body language. If they don’t like what you are doing, change it. Hopefully, one day your child will accept your invitation to play. Need some more ideas? Here are ten sensory play activities for kids.
With a involvement in a Community Service Project, we can change the world one person at a time. How to teach kids to give back is an important lesson for adults. Giving back makes you feel good. Here's just one of the many ways our team participates in community service every year. Enjoy!
Not so very long ago, a man, a sleigh, and some special gifts started a revolution.
How to get Involved in a Community Service Project
It isn't as hard as you may think. You know the story, Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Pere Noel- no matter what names you use for Santa Claus, you'll uncover an original story based on a local humanitarian. You might say, Santa started a revolution! You can start one too. You can start at home with your own kids.
Teaching kids to help others in need is a lifelong skill with extraordinary benefits. The first step requires you to get involved in a community service project. Share your talents within a group or organization in your neighborhood.
But, I don't have the time
But, I don't know of any organizations
I'm shy
I just don't know where to begin
Our kid Volunteer elves.
Me neither! Do a search for local organizations or service projects for kids in your town. I wanted to help save the world. I didn't have much luck. So, one day, I decided to start teaching kids to change the world. Working with kids to build their self-esteem is rewarding. So many kids and adults think they have no gifts or talents to share, but they do- they just haven't discovered them yet. Teach your kids to give back early to help them understand everything they have to offer.
Mayhem with her Rudolph nose. Come get your face painted!
One day, a young woman had an idea. She decided to teach her kids to give back at Christmas. She asked for their input on ideas for things they could do. They wanted to help as many kids as possible. This idea gave birth to Santa's Elves of Indy.
Tracey Thomas is the chief Elf. I help her out with creative fundraising and special events. My kids are very involved. Mayhem is constantly coming up with things to sell, so she can donate money to Santa's Elves.
She wanted to draw caricatures of the guests at our FREE COMMUNITY EVENT, Saturday, Sept. 28 (2013) in Indianapolis. She wanted to draw each person as an elf. Chief Elf, Tracey, would describe this as "getting your elf-on"!
Oriental Trading donated many fun items for our event.
We couldn't do it without the help of our partners. Oriental Trading has graciously donated many fun items for use at our event.
What is there to do? Come join the fun at Santa's Family Reunion and Elf Picnic. Play a game of soccer with the Elves, enter a corn hole tournament with the Santas, go elf bowling, join Santa's family to make a toy or craft, experience vendors of all types, and enjoy entertainment throughout the event. There's even a jail and bail to help raise money for gifts.
The elves provide more than just toys. We work to raise money for clothing and food as well. Our goal is to help families in a temporary bind to give them a little pick me up and a pat on the back to let them know they can do it! But, we can't do it without you. We need your donations of toys, clothing, and cash so we can continue to help families at times when they needed it most- not just at Christmas.
Central Park in Heartland Crossing, Camby, Indiana.
That's a strike in Elf Bowling!
We're having so much fun playing with the elves!
Thanks Oriental Trading for the letters to Santa and fun stickers!
Dear Santa Claus, thanks for all the great things you do!
How to make clay is simple: Here are some recipes.
We've been crafting with Air-Dry clay. We purchased a clay kit and then we also made our own clay at home. It can be used with a Potter's wheel or shaped into free forms for home school art projects. Enjoy!
Air dry clay pig and diy homemade clay recipes.
Attach pieces by adding a little water to each piece. This is Jake's Pig (From Jake's Journey in Art). He enjoyed playing with the clay just enough to complete the assignment.
Alextoys.com sells boxes of air dry clay refills perfect for your animal sculptures.
Clay is wonderful for Sensory play. In the homemade recipe below, just add some scented oils like vanilla or cinnamon. TOUCH, SMELL, TASTE (I don't recommend it), SEE- hmm... When it dries you can gently tap it onto the table for SOUND encompassing all senses or get CREATIVE and make a rattle/maraca or a base for a drum just stretch tissue paper over the top and attach with a large rubber band.
Mayhem made many animals and embellished each one.
The baubles in the photos above came with the air dry clay refill for the pottery wheel from Alex Toys.
How to make Homemade Clay Recipe:
Click here for how to make clay without cream of tar tar Easy/recommended for preschool and early elementary 1 cup flour 1 cup water 2 tsp cream of tartar ¼ cup salt 1 tbsp vegetable oil food coloring (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized pot. Decide on a color for the clay. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly. The dough will eventually become difficult to stir, and it will stick to the spoon. At this point, dump the dough onto wax paper. Allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes, and then knead it until it is smooth. Store the dough in a plastic container or a plastic bag when not in use. Refrigerate the clay when not in use. Homemade Clay can be painted and it will last for years to come. Make cute Holiday Gifts: Think napkin rings, 3D wall hangings, necklace medallions, trivets, and pretty catch-all bowls.
Looking for Toddler or Preschooler Activities? Try this: Sensory Dough playtime Activities. Recommended Reading: Craft a Minecraft Marshmallow Pig
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)
Stuck Inside on a Snowy or Rainy Day? Make staying at Home with the Kids a fun adventure with these Activities
In this list of 10 fun things to make at home, we've included something for boys, girls, preschooler, and teens. Kids of all ages will enjoy these fun activities to do inside on a rainy or snowy day! Best of all, you don't need a lot of fancy supplies or expert crafting skills.
Rushed Time before School can Turn into Memorable Moments with a Daily Conversation added to your Family Mission
Make everyday count with Breakfast conversation bites.
If you are like me, your early morning routine is rushed, scattered, and not always in the best of family spirits. We try, but getting ready and organized for school is hectic. If only, we were well organized and had enough time to prep he everything the night before- but our lifestyles don't always allow for such structured free time. I'm a Homeschool Mommy. It sounds far easier than it is - well, it did to me. As the principal, teacher, gym instructor, and music director, (plus my full-time job as a social media manager) life is often stressed, and I rarely have time to focus on the little things... the important things.
Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats® and Scholastic partnered and then contacted me to write about #mini-missions™ it hit home. We do a lot of things for others. We are always up to something for community service or helping friends. It is time to focus on us! So, this week, we did just that. Thanksgiving is nearing, and it is a good time to remember what we are thankful for this year. Our Mini-mission is to continue to collect toys and clothing for area Christmas drives. November is a great month to collect donations as people are beginning to get into the holiday spirit. Sometimes, we collect gift wrap and tape to donate. Other times, we get clothing, books, or toys. Always, we remind ourselves how giving back does the heart good.
Each day at breakfast, we focused on a simple conversation starter. This is a great way to learn more about your kids' interest and what makes their mind tick. My children love to explore theoretical concepts... you know, why is the sky blue? So, I went with it. Plan out a conversation starter each day. Do your homework. If you are going to ask and answer questions like, 'why is the sky blue', you better know your stuff. Research ideas online the night before. Here are a few of our conversation starters, and the fun answers we came up with for our conversation bites #mini-missions™.
Day One
Q: What is your favorite memory from helping with community service this year?
A: I don't know.
Momteruption: Try again.
A: Cake Pops?
Momteruption: What about them?
A: They were good!
Momteruption: Well... they were good weren't they, but what else?
A: I am happy April made the cake pops and donated her time for Santa's Elves of Indy.
A: I was happy to help Daddy that day.
Mom: It is nice to spend time as a family working to help others!
Day Two
Q: Today is the first day of the rest of your life what are you going to do?
A: Ride on Nebu (our pet bird.)
Momteruption: Try again.
A: Ride on a Tiger.
Momteruption: Something, you can do today!
A: I don't know.
Momteruption: Well.. I would try to be more positive from this day forward and always think about what I can do to make life better.
A: I will take care of the chickens!
Momteruption: *sigh* Well, that's a good start.
Day Three
Q: Why is it important to sit down and eat a healthy breakfast?
A: Because food is fuel!
A: Because you are hungry and need food to live.
Momteruption: Those are both good reasons. Food is like fuel it gives us important vitamins and mineral.
Kidteruption: Yeah, like these on the Frosted Mini-Wheats™ box.
Momteruption: Exactly! It is a part of a healthy breakfast, we should have fruit and milk or juice too so we'll be ready to learn!
Kidteruption: Like Bananas!
This is just a sampling of our conversation bites. You can see, it is harder than it looks, but as the days the progressed, the kids began to warm up to the idea :)
Breakfast before School: Introduction to the Every Day is a Big Day program
When your family completes a Mini™ Mission, you can earn free Scholastic books for your family and a chance to win prizes for your school and community. Visit scholastic.com/minimissions to register your family for the Every Day is a Big Day program. Each month, log in and complete a new Mini™Mission to earn 2 free Scholastic books for your family.
When your family completes a Mini™ Mission, you are also entered into a sweepstakes where 131 prizes will be awarded to schools and communities each month. Download free monthly stories chronicling Mini’s™ adventures against the evil Skipper. Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats® and Scholastic have partnered to bring you the Every Day is a Big Day program, created to benefit families, schools and communities across the country.
Your family is invited to complete monthly Mini™ Missions to get free books for your family. Also, each month you’ll be entered into a sweepstakes for the chance to win one of 131 valuable prizes for your school and community. As you earn books and enter the sweepstakes, your family is sure to have a blast and learn something new along the way!
Start here and register for your first monthly mission!
This is a sponsored conversation by me on behalf of Kellogg's(R) Frosted Mini-Wheats(R). The opinions and text are all mine.
This sponsored post and giveaway is a partnership with Nakturnal. #ad
Are you looking for things to do with kids in Indianapolis? We're always on the hunt for fun, kid-friendly activities in Indy. (#IndyFun) If your kids like to tinker and build things and are into LEGO® or other building block toys, you'll want to try out a Snapology.com for your next birthday party! Snapology is a play place for kids of all ages. Keep scrolling for information on a kids' business opportunity and a fun giveaway- just in time for the holidays!
To get everyone in the party spirit, we're giving away a LEGO® brick set of the Snapology Mascot Sebastian Gator - recommended for ages 6 & up. Deadline for entry in Wednesday, Nov. 15. To enter the giveaway, just comment on this post! Just comment why you think this is a great idea for a business! #giveaway
Snapology encourages learning through play. It's a great place for after schoolers, preschoolers, homeschoolers, and anyone who is looking for something fun to do with kids in the Indy area. Check out this franchise video to learn more.
Some Fun and Affordable Birthday Party Themes include:
When you have a birthday party at Snapology, a certified Snapology party facilitator will set-up, conduct activities and clean up. You can sit back and enjoy your child’s big day. Snapology parties are designed to be fun and affordable for families.
Snapology is also a great place for scouting events, after school fun, preschool, and special needs programs. Snapology provides interactive, STEM / STEAM programs for children featuring technology and popular building toys such as LEGO® bricks and K’Nex®.
In Indy West, Snapology is currently serving recreation centers and schools. If you are interested in a Snapology franchise, check it out.
Arvind Gupta makes toys from trash on his fabulous website offering many recycle crafts for kid, arvindguptatoys.com He offers a great how to make a balloon car tutorial printable pdf.
Visit Arvind Gupta Toys for the tutorial.
Michael Floyd of BalloonHQ offers a balloon car tutorial for making a car out of balloons for a kid's birthday party. Not sure Id' have the patience for this one!
Balloon Car from Michael Floyd looks like Barbie might like to take a ride in this one.
My favorite site for balloon art has to be The Balloon Pastor he has balloon pictures of full-size car costumes for kidsincluding a Tow Mater. You'll have to hop over to check them all out. Here's an example of his work, Lightning McQueen balloon car. Finally, PBS Design Squad has some great balloon science projects which are fun for a kid's party or perfect for a homeschool project. Show your magic trick skills with this unpoppable balloon trick or 2-wheel balloon car tutorial.
Unpoppable Balloon Party Trick from PBS Design Squad.
How to make a 2 Wheel Balloon Car from PBS Design Squad.
Cardboard Toilet Tubes turned Holiday Hats How many rolls of toilet paper do you go though each month? We've got to recycle that ca...
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