Make a Joyful Noise Outside With a Wooden Xylophone!

The Curriculum team at The Children's Center of Austin is always looking for ways to keep the students active and engage all the time. We consider our playgrounds and fields as an extension of our classroom. On occasion, we find that our students looking for other activities which make sound or noise. We found a really great "how to" for an xylophone to add to our playground!

If you choose to build your backyard xylophone, here's a list of what you will need. 

• Three 2x4x8 dried kiln (steer clear of pre-treated wood, it's bad for young children)

• 15 feet of rope

• One wooden dowel 

• heavy duty stapler and staples (upholstery stapler will do the job)

Measure, cut, and sand your xylophone wooden bars.  Start by cutting the 2x4x8 pieces into 9 wooden bars.  Cut as follows: 36", 34", and 26". It's helpful to keep these 3 sets of cuts together. The next set of cuts are as follows: 30", 24", 22", and 20".  You last set of cuts are 28" and 32".  We used a belt sander to smoother the corners and the wood. 

Measuring, cutting, and sanding take up the most time. Assembly is a breeze! Measure and mark the center of each wooden bar. Start with the 20" bar and then measure out 2" from the center making a mark for which the rope will be stapled. The 22" should be measured 3" from the center, and continue adding 1: from the center to the next larger bar.  Find the middle of the rope and leave about 1' of slack to tie the xylophone off.  Start stapling the rope at the marks on the first "note" and leave 1 1/2" of space between notes as you staple.  (why 1 1/2"?  because that's what the scrap wood is).  Making certain the centers are kept in line.  Don't cut the ends at the long side, as they will be used for tying up the xylophone too.

When you hang it, the angle and enough slack on the rope of the xylophone will have an impact on sound so play around with it to get the best sound from yours. Sand the dowels and used them as mallets. You could even use traditional marimba mallets if you wanted to. Marimba mallets can be purchased at a music instrument store. Make joyful noise and enjoy!

"Want Nothing Time"

You probably engage in "want nothing time" with your child don't even know it!  To be there for your child, to be in their presence, simply sitting with them for even a small amount of time reaffirms that your child is valued and important.  For your child, he will understand that he does not have to constantly try to impress you to get your attention.  You are coming to them to share time together.  For you, "want nothing time" can also serve to empty your busy mind of distractions and just be with your child.

This idea is part of "30 Days to Transform Your Play", and what a great series it is!  Read all about it here.


Source: "30 Days to Transform Your Play". Kate. aneverydaystory.com. April 13, 2014.

On-the-go coversation games

Since my kids were small, we've played a handful of games in the car on the way to work, school, and on errands.  It's amazing how fun they still are after several years!  These games are often a great way to get my children to converse with me, and for me to connect with them, so I don't feel like just a chauffeur!  Our favorites are "guess this character" and reading half of a road sign so they can guess the other half.  Here's another idea that's great for on-the-go fun that will have you and your child talking!  Thanks to Family Fun magazine for this idea.

Vegan Pumpkin Nut Muffins

Cooking vegan/vegetarian food for Thanksgiving is not as difficult as it once was. And in some cases, like this  delicious recipe, the recipes are better than conventional ones!

This recipe is courtesy of Doron Petersan, of Sticky Fingers Sweets and Eats.

Ingredients:

1/3 c non hydrogenated vegan margarine

2/3 c sugar

3/4 c canned pumpkin

1 t vanilla

1/2 c non dairy milk

1/4 c oil

2 T water

1 T molasses

1 1/4 c all purpose flour

1 c whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t nutmeg

1/4 t ground ginger

1/4 t salt

1/2 c toasted pumpkin seeds

1/2 c walnuts, toasted and chopped

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a muffin tin with liners.

In a mixer, cream margarine and sugar with paddle attachment.

Scrape the bottom of the bowl down and add pumpkin. Mix.

In a small bowl, whisk together the vanilla, oil, soymilk, water, and molasses. Add to the sugar mixture and mix until combined.

In a large bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.

Add to the wet ingredients until just mixed. Do not over mix. Fold in the pumpkin seeds and walnuts, by hand.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of each muffin comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Halloween Costume Ideas for Families

Infant Angry Birds Costume

Halloween is truly a family event, and what better way to celebrate than with themed 
costumes for the family! When your children are small, they will enjoy dressing up to match mom and dad. That won't be the case for long, parents, so enjoy it while you can!

Spirit of Halloween Alvin Costume

Here are some ideas for themed Halloween costumes:

• Angry Birds
• Raggedy Ann and Andy
• Madagascar 
• Toy Story
• Crayolas
• Peanuts
• Sesame Street
• the 60s
• Scooby Doo
• Star Wars
• Alice in Wonderland
• Grease
• A-Team
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (and Chippettes!)
• Barbie, Ken, Skipper, etc
• Tetris Blocks
• Beekeepers and bees
• Pac Man and Ghosts
• Fly Swatter and Flies
• Care Bears
• any of your family's favorite movies, games, or books!

Tetris Family Costume

Have some ideas for a great family costume?  Leave them in the comments below!

Let's Make a Pinhole Camera!

Ever wonder how pinhole photography works and how to make a pinhole camera? Highlights Magazine has a simple to follow tutorial. 

Here's what you will need to do to get started!

Start with an empty cardboard box. A round oatmeal box works well. Punch a hole in the center of the bottom by pushing a pencil through it.

Now place a piece of waxed paper over the open end of the box and hold it there with tape or a rubber band. Your pinhole camera is complete.

Sit in a dim room that has a bright object in it, such as a lamp or a window that lets in daylight. Lay a blanket over your head and the pinhole camera.

Hold the camera at arm's length, with the waxed paper toward you and the punched-out hole sticking out from under the blanket. Point the camera at the bright object. On the surface of the waxed paper, you will see a picture of the object—backward and upside down.

A real camera uses the same principle as your pinhole camera except that a real one does the job better. A real camera holds a piece of film instead of waxed paper. That film is coated with chemicals that are changed by light. They make the image into a lasting picture.

In a real camera, the lens does the same kind of job as the little hole—it forms a backward, upside-down image. But the lens lets in a lot more light so the film can do its work quickly. Have fun!

Fun Games to Play with Your Baby

Playing games with your baby helps fit the puzzles pieces together as your baby grows. Playing with your baby is vital to your baby's social, emotional, and cognitive development.  Playing with your baby will also help to improve your relationship.

So what sort of games should you play with your baby? A game can be anything. Our infant teachers have put together a book of pictures for each baby. Each picture has pictures of their family, pets, and their favorite toys. The teachers identify the pictures to the baby. A game of peek a book, hiding toys under a small soft blanket, and finger-plays are also great simple games to play with your baby.


Here are a few things to keep in mind when you play games with your baby:

• Repetition is so important for your baby. Introducing a new game might not work the first time. Practice make perfect!
• Babies can become over stimulated. If you find that your baby cries during the game, it might be time to move on to a quiet activity such as showing your baby pictures books, singing songs, or even just cuddling with your baby. 
• Incorporate tummy time, sitting up, and some other developmental essentials into the games. Tummy time just by itself is no fun at all but placing a toy within your baby's reach can certainly pass the time. 

How to Teach Children to Care for Pets

This month our children are learning more about animals and their habitats. We recently invited a petting zoo to our school and the teachers were so amazed with how careful our children were with handling the animals. Many of the children at our school have pets at home and have lots of opportunities to show kindness, respect, and love towards an animal. If you are thinking about getting a pet for your child, here are a few tips.

1. Do some research about which types of pets are a good match for your child. Some pets require lots of time and attention and may not be a compatible match for your child.
2. Make your home pet friendly. Store any chemicals in a lock cabinet and remove anything off from the floors that you wouldn't want for your pet to get into. Tie up loose cords and other objects that could potentially harm your pet. It's similar to baby proofing your home. 
3. Educate your child about pet temperament and animal care. Many pet stores and animal shelters offer training. Talk to other people who have pets as they may offer a lot of insight. 
4. Help to make your child's pet transition a smooth one. Your child's pet may be frighten or apprehensive at first and your child may want to play with your pet right away. Remind your child to be patient and allow time for the new pet to get use to their new environment. 
5. Teach your child to be gentle with their new pet. This is one the most important lesson children will need to learn. A great way to teach your child to be gentle to visit friends or relatives with pets. If your child is having difficulty being gentle towards a pet, then it may not be the right time for a pet.

Teaching your child to care and love a pet is fun and a rewarding experience. It also teaches your child responsibility. 

Balancing Parenthood and Work

More and more parents are finding themselves traveling for business. When parents travel for work, it may cause a disruption in the child's daily routine and sometimes lead to behavior issues because children don't necessarily understand why mom or dad is away on business. So how can you help your child cope while you are away?

 We have some ideas!

1. Use Skype or your iPhone to connect with your family at home while you are away. While a phone call is nice, it can be comforting for your child to see your hotel and your current surroundings. This is also a great time to check in with your child about their day, discuss homework and activities.
2. Because you are away doesn't mean your household should be put on hold. If you have the help available, continue to schedule your child's play dates, dance lessons, etc. Keeping routine in your household will actually help reduce disruption in the household and keep your child busy. 
3. Keep ready-made meals in the freezer. Home cooked meals are the staple in any household and who wouldn't appreciate a home cooked meal you can just throw in the oven?
4. Mom and Dad need to be on the same page when either of them is away. Keep a binder with useful information such as medical records, a list of activities for each child, contact numbers of babysitters, physicians, activities, and any other information one might need.
5. Don't forget to bring a surprise for your child when you return and set aside some "we time" with your child!

Top Preschool Book Picks

Credit to Barnes and Noble

Our children's literature month has come to an end. The children enjoyed the Usborne Book Fair, the Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash,  and the field trips to Barnes and Noble. The children were exposed to so many wonderful book titles and here are some of their favorites.

We Are in a Book by Mo Willems

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling.  Gerald can. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In We Are in a Book!, Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read but what will happen when the book ends?

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

The bear's hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear's memory and renews his search with a vengeance.  Told completely in dialogue,  this delicious take on the classic repetitive  plays out in sly illustration laced with visual humor--and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke. 

Press Here by Herve Tullet

Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising book instructs the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children and adults alike will giggle with delight as the dots multiply, change direction, and grow in size! Especially remarkable because the adventure occurs on the flat surface of the simple, printed page, this unique picture book about the power of imagination and interactivity will provide read-aloud fun for all ages!

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he's determined to get it out. But how? Well, by knocking it down with his shoe, of course. But strangely enough, it too gets stuck and the logical course of action is to throw his other shoe.  Only now it's stuck! Surely there must be something he can use to get his kite unstuck. An orangutan? A boat? His front door? Yes, yes, and yes. And that's only the beginning.

Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton

George is a dog with all the best intentions and his owner, Harry, has all the best hopes that George will be a well-behaved dog when he leaves him alone for the day. When George spies a delicious cake sitting on the kitchen tabel, his resolve starts to waver. You see, George loves cake. It's so hard to be a good dog when there are cats to chase and flowers to dig up! What will Harry say when he gets back?

Introducing Scissors to Young Children

We often are asked at what age is it appropriate to introduce scissors to young children.  We believe it is appropriate to introduce scissors to children age 2 1/2 and older under close supervision.  Introducing scissors will encourage your child to use the tiny muscles in his/her hand since they will need to open and close their hand.  These are also the same muscles needed to hold a pencil, hold a tooth brush, and assist in gripping objects.  Using scissors also helps your child with their hand and eye coordination. Hand and eye coordination helps children to self-feed, throw a ball, and even put a puzzle together.

So you are ready to introduce scissors to your child. Where and how do you introduce this new skill set? We find that Fiskars scissors would make a great first pair of scissors. Allow your child to hold a pair of scissors and provide your child with guidelines about what is acceptable to cut (paper) and what is not acceptable to cut (anything that isn't paper.)  Encourage your child to open and close their hands using the scissors. Our school coordinators recommend that your child start by snipping the ends of a piece of paper. Once your child is proficient with snipping at the ends of a paper, encourage your child to cut through a piece of paper.
When your child is comfortable enough with cutting through pieces of paper, challenge your child by drawing a dark 1/2" line onto a piece of paper. Practice makes perfect! Happy scissor cutting!

Thanksgiving Tree for Kids

Thanksgiving Tree

When the turkey is history and the kids are restless, here is a craft from Amanda at iVillage.com that is easy and also has a great message!

You will need: 

Poster board

Construction Paper

Scissors

Glue

Marker, Crayons or Colored Pencils

How to do it:

Cut a piece of brown construction paper into the shape of a tree trunk with branches. Glue the tree trunk to the poster board. Help the kids trace their hands onto the construction paper. In each hand, let them write things they are thankful for (or write for them) and cut out the hands. Glue the hands on the branches as leaves".

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese!

Gluten Free Holidays

Holidays are a wonderful time to gather together and share in the joy of family. This means FOOD! If you have a gluten allergy or sensitivity in your family, try this awesome baked mac and cheese recipe...they are shure to thank you!

Ingredients:

For the casserole:

12 oz gluten free penne pasta

For the sauce:

2 T light olive oil or butter

2 T sweet rice flour

2 1/2 c milk or soy milk

1 1/2 c shredded aged sharp or mellow cheddar cheese

3/4 c small curd cottage cheese

1/2 t sea salt

1/2 t Dijon or honey mustard

1/4 t freshly grated nutmeg

1-2 T dry sherry or white wine

For the topping:

1 c Crunchy Gluten Free Bread Crumbs

Sprinkle of dried basil and parsley

Instructions:

To pre cook pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and partially cook the pasta- just to al dente. Drain pasta and rinse under cold water. Set aside.

In a sauce pan, heat olive oil to medium heat and whisk in flour. Cook for about 10 seconds and slowly add in milk. Keep stirring and bring it to a bubble and reduce heat to low. Add cheese, cottage cheese, nutmeg, salt and mustard. Stir. Add sherry or wine. Continue stirring and heating until the cheese melts, a couple of minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine pasta and cheese sauce. Stir,

Sprinkle top of casserole with breadcrumbs and basil.

Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes until heated through.

Serves 4.

Thanks to the wonderful goddess at glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com for this amazing recipe!

Kids and Computers

Whether we like it or not, kids and technology is a combination that is here to stay. With all the rewards that come with learning the ins and outs of computers and the internet, there are also quite a few risks.

The absolute best thing you can do as a parent is to set rules, as well as a good example.

Parenting.com offers some good advice on the topic:

1. Set up a where. What areas are technology free in your household? Bedrooms are difficult to monitor after lights out so younger children may be better off with access to a computer in a study or office.

2. Definitely decide on a when. Mealtimes and other family times are important to spend together without interruption.

3. Get Internet savvy. GetNetWise.com offers some tools to limit what your kids can access online as well as limiting time spent on the internet as well.

4. Have an open discussion about what is and what is not allowed to be done online. Younger children will probably benefit from a safe list of what sites are allowed.

5. Follow your own rules! If mealtimes are off limits for technology, parents should lead by example! Obviously, there are some occupations that are not limited by set hours...but do your best to limit yourself as well.

6. Decide which social media sites will be allowed and which ones aren't. The USA requires children to be over 13 in order to create profiles on most sites that can be accessed by adults as well. Play by the rules and allow children to create only profiles on sites that are aimed at kids.

Above all, talk to your kids about the dangers that can be found online. Let them know that not everyone will be exactly who they say they are and giving out personal information can be dangerous.

Halloween Costume Ideas for Toddlers

With Halloween around the corner, cute Halloween costumes are everywhere! From homemade to mail order, here are some of the most adorable costumes for toddlers that we could find!

From PennyWitch on  Etsy.com 

 Etsy. com has some amazing handmade items, from hats to capes and other accessories to head to toe unique costumes for your toddler. Since the shop owners have sometimes modeled the items for sale on their own children, they tend to be a little more practical!

One Step Ahead has a pretty big selection of costumes available for order...infants and toddlers.

The Spirit of Halloween has a gigantic selection of costumes for all shapes and sizes of infant and toddler. Their costumes tend to be more mainstream, but sometimes a little guy just wants a Spiderman costume!

If your toddler doesn't really have much interest in a full costume, there are a few accessories that can bring out the Halloween spirit in even the fussiest dresser!

• Tutus and leotards
• Feather Boas
• Wands
• Crowns and Jewelry
• Crazy Socks!
• White T-Shirts and fabric markers and they can make their own!

OneStepAhead.com

The Spirit of Halloween Costume Shop

      Happy Halloween to all of our Families!

Playdough Recipes

Kids love playdough. It is a universal truth. And, just as universal truth worthy, is the fact that playdough gets left out, eaten, fed to the dogs, shoved in the couch cushions...and sooner rather than later, it's time to buy more!

But, it's even more fun to make your own- Here are some awesome tried and true playdough recipes that are  super easy to make!

Remember to store playdough in an airtight container to keep it fresh. You can also add a little vanilla to keep it smelling sweet!

Colored Playdough

Materials

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• Food coloring
• Saucepan
• 1 cup flour

Directions

1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
2. Remove from heat and add flour.
3. Stir, then knead until smooth. The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist the temptation to omit this ingredient if you don't have it on hand.
4. Store this dough in an airtight container or a Ziploc freezer bag.

Kool-Aid Playdough

Materials

• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 cups water
• Saucepan
• Food coloring, tempera powder, or Kool-Aid powder for color
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 2 tablespoons alum

Directions

1. Combine salt and water in saucepan and boil until salt dissolves.
2. Remove from heat and tint with food coloring, tempera powder, or Kool-Aid.
3. Add oil, flour, and alum.
4. Knead until smooth.
5. This dough will last 2 months or longer.

Salt Playdough

Materials

• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup flour plus additional flour
• Saucepan

Directions

1. Mix salt, water, and flour in saucepan and cook over medium heat.
2. Remove from heat when mixture is thick and rubbery.
3. As the mixture cools, knead in enough flour to make the dough workable.

Thanks to FamilyEducation.com for the awesome recipes!

Summer is just around the corner! Are you ready?

Can you believe that summer is just around the corner? The Children's Center of Austin is preparing for this year's summer camp! The curriculum coordinator and teachers are so excited about this year's theme entitled, "Summer Under the Rainbow". We have planned fun and exciting field trips, scavenger hunts to places such as Bob Bullock Museum, take a dip in our school swimming pool, and reconnect with friends from last summer!  The summer enrollment packets are ready and our space is limited.

 Please stop by the school today. Our school address is 6507 Jester Blvd, Building 2, Austin, Texas 78750 or give us a call at (512) 795-8300, and reserve your spot!