Looking for something fun...your kiddos will love this one! You will need:
brown/nude pantyhose, balloons, and a red nose (clown nose from Party Station or red paper with vasaline on back to make it stick.)

WHAT TO DO: Have a race, make it a fun craft, or costume play time. Your kiddo will love "stuffing" each leg with balloons. Put panyhose on head, stick on nose...if a race, first kiddo to assemble and SING "RUDOLPH the Red Nost Reindeer" Wins! Talk about laughter and an afternoon of fun!

So the winter weather is finally here! Some things to do while stuck inside...
1. Take some photos. Capture the wonderful things in your home right now while you can. Better yet, have your little kiddo take the pictures. It is neat to see what is important to them.

2. Drink Hot Cocoa with your kiddo and READ!! Did you know, children should hear two-three stories a day? If they are school age, then consider at least one or two reads...so that leave one more as a family.
Make it a DATE! You child will feel so wonderful just getting the time in and making it special with goodies, blankets, pillows and STORIES!

3. Work on the Santa Letter! There are 5 parts to work on with your child: Heading (the date), Greeting (Dear..), Body ( all the good things to share), Closing (Love, Your friend, ) and Signature (signing name). This is a time to work in a learning standard as well as share with your kiddo. If you have little ones (first grader or younger, pick a few words for them to identify and circle as you write the letter).

4. ZANEY BRAINY: Please go visit www.spellingcity.com
This website is just amazing! You can help your kiddo learn all kinds of words whether it be word lists from school, words they are just interested in, theme words..You type the words into a word bank and SURPRISE! Many, many activities to do right there!

5. Make Christmas, Holiday or Winter cards for a nearby hospital or nursing home. (Fresh baked cookies would be WONDERFUL too). There are times when we need to teach our kiddos about compassion and giving. It goes back to just being a good person. There are so many near and dear that need that extra bit of love. So, take an evening talk with your kiddo about giving. Share some of your talent with them. Go. Go to a place that could use that bit of extra CHEER. Share the GOOD!

SOLID to LIQUID:
nd learning begin. This was tonights holiday goodies. If you live locally, check out SWEET PENNY's Candy shop in Brunswick, Ohio. The ladies that own this wonerful and yummy place will help you out with any baking or candy making questions. Here, we made homemade peanut butter cups. The lesson: SOLID and LIQUIDS. We worked on delicious treats but focused also on using HEAT to change something (chocolate) to a liquid (melted chocolate) back to a solid when refrigerating to cool down. Also, use this time of making goodies to have your child MEASURE! Talk about almost full, half full, teaspoon, tablespoon.

HOMEMADE MARSHMELLOWS:
When making homemade marshmellows. Check out this site:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemade-marshmallows-recipe/index.html

This is an easy recipe to use with your kiddos. Also, these marshmellows are the BEST! Again, explore liquid and solids!

BOOK UPDATE:
The weather is changing...this week we should see SNOW! Great time to check out Bonobo Kid's RAINY DAY LESSON. The story's focus is weather and why we have it...rain or snow!

The books just came in so they will be off into the mail this week! Thank you for ordering! Tomorrow I will be signing and getting them ready to ship!

 

A few things to share:
Countdown to Christmas. Just wanted to share our first photo. You will see that it is simple and just a glimpse of what we are doing: We attended our local parade! Santa stopped in and was the highlight.
BRAINY ZANEY TIP: Kyla's journal - "Santa came and was checking on boys and girls. Where was his reindeer? It's pretty warm out that night."
                              Jalyn's journal - "Santa is really checking on me! Mom I am going to be good. No fits. I love him."

This is what they said that night. It is written on an index card. SIMPLE. The girls are working on writing their names and putting a circle around kindergarten words: is, the, me, I.

So ...try this! Snap quick photos. Have your little Bonobo Kid journal just a smidget. Smile.

Holiday Craft. You will need large, clear glass bulbs.  (JoAnn's, Pat Catans, Hobby Lobby, even Target has these), Paint, acrylics work best. Use your child's finger. Paint the whole index finger white, press onto the bulb. Dap white paint under the finger impression. You have a snowman standing on white snow. Decorate with colors - scarf, carrot, two eyes etc.. Spray with sealant. This is an easy decoration to add to the tree as well as gift for the grandparents...now that's being ZANEY BRAINY!

Coming Soon. We will share some simple holiday treats for your kiddos to learn from! Have the HOT COCOA ready!

SHARE:  Please share what your family does in getting ready for the holiday fun. Leave a comment! We can compile a list for other families to read and learn.

This post has a few things to share....

BRAINY ZANEY activity to do with your kiddo...Write out directions on how to cook a TURKEY! (or ask your little kiddo and write what he/she says) It's amazing at the things they remember or 'think' on how a turkey should be cooked!

SHARING IDEA: This website was sent to me by a dear friend...I must say it's exactly what we love to have when family 'downtime' is needed:
http://insidetv.aol.com/2009/11/22/holiday-tv-schedule-2009/

This is the GUIDE to the holiday shows and movies for the season!

If you are looking for something to do with your family and children, check out:
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/
Ali Edwards takes pride and joy about everyday life. Her recent posts are about putting a book together for the holidays to document each day, leading up to Christmas. It's a countdown to CHRISTMAS. You can make this a family project and capture the holiday season. It is a time to let your kids be creative and take a moment to appreciate the season and all the wonderful happenings. TAKE A LOOk! Amazing work and ideas.

Lastly, dates will soon be available to do a workshop with the first Bonobo Kid story!

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the holiday!



 

Just a zaney brainy reminder: IT's TIME to give THANKS. Help your child understand what thankfulness means. Talk about these words: appreciation, sincerity, kindness, compassion...these are some big words with alot of meaning behind them. Kids love learning the BIG words. This is a week to take time to talk about how we use these words and how we treat others.

This is getting back to the basics of being just GOOD people.

Being thankful...that is what children are talking about. Over the past week, teachers and families are taking a look at all the things in our lives to be THANKFUL for.

Here is a little activity to do with your little ones:
Make a WOVEN mat. You will need 11x18 piece of paper. You will need to gently fold in half making one-inch cuts from end to end, but leaving an inch on each end un-cut. Using one inch paper strips (11 inches long for each) Share with your child how to weave the paper...BRAINY ZANEY TIP: show pattern of the weave, talk about what an inch is.

Then, get out the PAINTS and have some fun with your child's handprint!

On the day of Thanksgiving, have each guest write on one of the "squares" from the weave something they are THANKFUL for ...this will be a wonderful moment in your day for everyone. You will see the many thanks others have!

 

Are you thinking TURKEY? It's that time. Soon families will be spending time and being thankful. Stay tuned! Bonobo Kid will be sharing some creative ideas to do inorder to get ready for the holiday as well as some kid friendly links to help your kiddos stay occupied at home while on holiday!

This is the first post ever for Bonobo Kid. Who is this little monkey? He is the guide to each child's learning journey. Being a Bonobo Kid is taking the curiosity and thoughts that are in our minds and finding the anwers to the way things work.
     TODAYS ZANEY BRAINY TIP of the DAY: Look in the morning at the frost that is on the grass and trees. On your way to the bus stop or in the car talk about the frost. Touch it. What does it mean to be cold? Your child is thinking about it..

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "There is nothing more personal than the choices we make about how to raise our children." Lucy Calkins