Make-A-Face

I purchased a Melissa & Doug Make-A-Face Sticker Pad from Amazon.com ($5.99) because it looked like something that I would have loved when I was a kid.

I was right!  It is super fun!  D and I made a bunch of faces today.  We got a little carried away because it really was a lot of fun.

The sticker kit comes with 20 big sheets of blank faces and lots of stickers.  You choose your girl's eyes, mouth, eye brows, glasses, necklaces, earrings, headbands, and barrettes.

We're going to try to wait a while before we do any more so that we can make the fun last.  But even after the blank faces are all used up, we'll have extra eyes and mouths and accessories leftover.  So we can draw our own blank heads to use with the rest of the stickers.

Our Beans Are Growing!

Last week, Thursday, we planted bean seeds in one of our raised beds.  We planted two varieties:  green pole beans and yellow wax bush beans.  We've been making sure they get lots of water (kids love watering).  Many of our seeds have already sprouted!

Yesterday we read one of our "Let's-Read-And-Find-Out-Science" books called How A Seed Grows.  And we started more pole bean seeds in an egg carton, just like the book instructs.

We also started a variety of seeds (pumpkin, pea, bean, spinach) on a plate using a few layers of wet paper towels.  These will be easier (less messy) for us to observe each day and sketch in our journals.  Yesterday they were hard dry seeds when we started them.  Today they've nearly doubled in size as they've been absorbing water.

So far, this is not D's most favorite activity but I hope she'll like it better when she can see the roots starting soon.

Parts of a Flower

We sculpted flowers  out of clay, painted them, glued them to a sturdy piece of board, and labeled their basic parts.

We've also been drawing flowers that we pick from the garden in our journals.  We've drawn shasta daisies, marigolds, zinnias, snapdragons, catchfly, and daylilies.

The Bieber/Gomez Wedding (Barbie Style)

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez

The Wedding Party:  Salena's Sister, Justin,
another bride's maid, Salena, and Salena's
mother.

   












We were playing Barbies today and our barbie Bieber got married to our barbie Salena Gomez in a lovely ceremony near the front door.

Salena's sister was the maid of honor and her mother walked her down the aisle.  Instead of rice, we threw confetti at them.  They had a reception in the my-little-pony park where these wedding photos were taken by D who was also the wedding planner for the event.

Last Day of School is June 12th

The last day of school in the Milwaukee Public School System for this school year is fast approaching!

Do you know where your school age children are going to spend their days this summer?
Hopefully, it's with us!

For the summer months (June, July, & August), Tadpoles Pollywogs & Froglets Daycare is offering a 10% discount!

Your school age child could spend their summer days with us exploring nature outdoors, doing art activities, playing games, learning about science, and reading books that interest them!

For more information, please call (414) 510-8694 or e-mail:  frogletsdaycare@gmail.com

More Music!

 

Adding more music to our kid music library!  Additional selections include:

• Lisa Lobe & Elizabeth Mitchell - Catch The Moon
• Putumayo Kids Presents - Hawaiian Playground
• Putumayo Kids Presents - Caribbean Playground
• Putumayo Kids Presents - Brazilian Playground
• Putumayo Kids Presents - European Playground

Picking Strawberries

Picked this whole basket of strawberries from our garden this morning.

It's great for kids to learn where food really comes from.

Kids are more likely to try different foods if they had a hand in growing, picking, and preparing the meal.  Real concrete experiences!  It gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Looking for quality child care?

Look no further!  

Tadpoles Pollywogs & Froglets Daycare is now enrolling.  I can accept 3 children for the summer as self-pay while my license is pending.  (I will be able to accept W2 after the license is finalized.)

Since I'm just getting started, I'm offering a 10% discount for the months of June, July, and August.

Tadpoles Pollywogs & Froglets Daycare provides a child-centered environment where children learn through play, experimentation, observation, and hands-on activities.  The emphasis is on developing language, creativity, science, and self-help skills - all while having fun.

Other benefits:  home cooked meals and snacks, familiar home environment, and individual attention.

Unlike other daycares, I do not require parents to provide disposable diapers or wipes.  Plus, I consider "full-time" to be up to 55 hours / week because although a parent may work 40 hours / week, there's also daily commute time and lunch hours to factor in.  Other daycares start charging extra after 40 hours, but not me.  I believe daycare should make parent's lives easier, not more complicated.

For more information, please call (414) 510-8694 or e-mail:  frogletsdaycare@gmail.com

Promoting Literacy & Community

The Grand Opening of my mom's Little Free Library is on Saturday, May 26th at 11AM in front of our house.  There will be free cookies and of course free books!

Having a free library in front of the daycare is just another way that we aim to create and support a language rich environment.

*UPDATE*
May 31, 2012
It's been just 5 days since the grand opening and things are going great!  People have taken over 2 dozen books already.  And there are new books everyday as people have been donating daily.  It's neat when I get to see people stop and check it out.

Post Site Visit To-Do-List

I've been told that this is a pretty short list.  Here's what I have to do before sending in my official licensing application:

• Scrape flaking paint off my neighbor's garage
• More firmly secure cables on my other neighbor's house and on my house
• Paint backdoor threshold and door frame
• Put a lock on my laundry chute
• Put a lock on my cabinet containing personal toiletry items
• Secure the cables and cords to my computer
• Get a kid size sleeping bag for mildly ill children to use
• Get one additional sleep mat
• Get or make sheets for sleep mats
• Assemble emergency kit
• Gather up extra kid clothes
• Fix corner of my neighbor's fence that is falling apart
• Make floor plan
• Submit Registry application
• Fence off AC units
• Change batteries in smoke detectors
• Get 2 more carbon monoxide detectors
• Get an infant feeding seat (a bouncy seat)
• Get a riding toy or 2 for younger kids for outside play

* I'm crossing things off, as I complete them!

Living & Dining Rooms - Almost Ready!

Well, my site visit from my technical advisory is tomorrow!  I'm thinking things look pretty well set up.  Everything is labeled and ready to go.  These are pictures of parts of the living room and dining room.  There are lots of books and toys and open floor space for playing.  I think it looks kid-friendly but still looks like a home at the same time.  I've seen pictures of other home daycares where it looks like they tried to mimic a large institutional daycare center and it ends up looking hideous.

Outside Toys & Activities

Here's what I've got in the way of outside toys, so far.  There are watering cans, kiddie garden tools, kiddie garden gloves, hula hoops, balls, insect nets, insect jars, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, bubbles, boats, a badminton set, and sandbox toys.

I'm also starting to get the outdoors set up.  Today I brought out all the patio furniture and set it up.  For the daycare, I've also got a sandbox, water table, and a slide.  I'd still like to get a riding toy or two for the younger kids.