M is for Mommy M is for Magic

You need: 2 cups plain flour (all purpose) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 cup salt 2 tablespoons cream of tartar Up to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right) food colouring (optional) few drops glycerine (optional- adds more shine!) Method: Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil in a large mixing bowl. Add food colouring TO the boiling water then into the dry ingredients (colour optional) Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, combined dough. Add the glycerine (optional) Allow it to cool down then take it out of the bowl and knead it vigorously for a couple of minutes until all of the stickiness has gone. * This is the most important part of the process, so keep at it until it s the perfect consistency! * (If it remains a little sticky then add a touch more flour until just right)

Shape Up! Two-year-olds often enjoy manipulating shape toys. The process of learning shapes takes time– kids don’t just “get” that a triangle has three sides and three points from the beginning. With a two-year-old, the first stage in the task of learning shapes is beginning to recognize similar or matching shape. The best way to teach your toddler about shapes is to look at the environment he is in and encouraging het through repetitive practice to see the world as being made up of the wonderful shapes! Have children make shapes with their body and see if you can make shapes as a family. Pose questions such as "How can we....?"or "What if we...?" and let them go! You don't need to buy expensive things, use cups, bowls and Tupperware. These simple shape activities will help your child shape up her shape recognition skills: Shape Sort .   Have your child help you clean out your food storage container collection. Ask her to help you match the lids to ...

Add a colorful description . Always add a color word when talking about items in your environment. For example, instead of “Can you bring mommy the ball? Say “Can you bring mommy the red ball?” Find colorful foods . Parents are encouraged to feed children a colorful diet to aide in balanced nutrition. Take advantage of the rainbow of foods on your plate everyday by asking your little one to show you the red food on her plate or ask her what color her peas are. As eating is something that is done several times daily, simply taking a moment at each meal and snack to notice colors will make your child more aware and interested in colors. Color your bath time . Adding food colouring to her bubble bath can help children become aware of colors. You can ask them what color they would like their bath to be and create it using 2 colors if necessary. This is also a great introduction to the science skill of color mixing. Bath crayons (washable soap crayons used to write on the ...

1 My baby likes to write Grandma a "letter." I open up a blank document on our laptop and set the font to a large size, and he types letters and numbers. 2 This one is a winner – it's called "What's on my butt?" You lie face down on the couch and try to guess what object your kiddo has perched on your tush. "Is that a cement mixer on my butt?" Just getting to hear you say the word "butt" is the best thing that'll happen to your kid all day. –   The Dadler 3 My newly crawling baby plays a mean game of fetch, which is lots of work for her and not much for me! –   witlwhlil 4 We have a baby dance party. I turn on some kids' music videos, sit on the couch, and have them dance for me. Sometimes they put on a parade, wearing kooky costumes and prancing around with paper flags or colorful socks. –   RenaissanceMother 5 My daughter and I set up a tent, which I lie down in. She pulls out a pile of books and we prete...