April Village Playday

In honor of Earth Day on April 22nd, we made RECYCLED PAPER with the Thames & Cosmos Recycled Paper Press Experiment Kit for our Village Playday activity.

This science kit is intended for ages 8+,
but with help from an adult it was a fun activity for children as young as 3.

I saved all of the gift wrap and tissue paper scraps left over from the presents that had been wrapped the day before, along with the sports section of the news paper that someone left behind on The Salon at Kids Club waiting bench, and cleared out the hole punches of their tiny paper dots.

I tore and cut the paper into small pieces and mixed them up in a bucket with lots of water and let the whole slurry soak over night. This gave the paper a chance to break down and the fibers to separate. The next morning it was all mushy and ready to be made into a new sheet of recycled paper.The kids had a lot of fun touching the mushy paper pulp in the water.

I helped dip the provided trays into the paper pulp and water mixture and shake the tray so that the pulp was in a relatively even layer. I placed the layer of mesh over top and let the kids use the yellow tool to press out as much water as they could. This step was very easy for the toddlers to do without help from an adult. Since it was the second to last step, it gave the children a sense of accomplishment, being able to see that they pressed the paper into it's final product.

Here it is!

A beautiful piece of recycled paper!

If I do say so myself, we made the most beautiful recycled paper I have ever seen because we started with such fun and colorful gift wrap paper. Which we just happen to have lots of left over scraps in our recycling bin everyday.

What activity do we have planned for our May Village Playday?

Something SUPER special!!!

A LIVE IN-STORE PERFORMANCE WITH CASPAR BABYPANTS!!!

Tuesday May 17th

performance will start at 10:00 a.m. sharp

Listen to music, watch videos, and read more about caspar babypants on the web here:

http://www.babypantsmusic.com/fr_home.cfm

Staff Game Night!

 Have you ever stopped by the store on a Sunday evening and seen us around a table playing games?

What were we doing? Staff Game Night!

We all get together once a month on Sunday after the store has closed and play games. We do this so that we can explain them to you in much better detail than just reading the blurb off the back of the box.

Here is what we played this week:

Dixit

2010 Spiel des Jahres Winner

(prestigious German board game award)

We all had a lot of fun with this game!

Dixit is a party game best played with 5 or 6 players, but can be played with as few as 3. The manufacturers suggested age is 8 and up, but we felt like this game might be difficult for some, not all, eight year olds. The playing time is approximately 30 minutes. Dixit is in the same vain of party games as Apples to Apples. Each player has a hand of 6 cards with different images on them. One player is the storyteller each round, and the storyteller moves clockwise around the table with each subsequent round. The storyteller chooses an image from their had and expresses the idea of the picture to the other players. The instructions for the game state that the player is to give a sentence, but we prefer the alternate rules MUCH better. We played the game such that the storyteller could express the idea of the image in any way they wanted; sentence, one word, song lyrics, movie quote, interpretive dance, and in once case a really loud scream.

 After the player has expressed the idea of their card, each of the other players much choose a card from their hand that they think could also, in some way, be described by what the storyteller just did. These cards are shuffled and displayed face up in a line for everyone to see. Each player uses their voting tokens to secretly vote for the card they think is the correct card that the storyteller was describing.

If the vote is unanimous, either all players vote for the correct card or the incorrect card, the storyteller receives no points and all other players score 2 points. The clue that was given was either too easy or too hard! The goal of the storyteller is to give just enough of a clue that some players get it, but keep it a little obscure so that it stumps some of the players. In the case that some players vote for the correct card and some vote for the incorrect card the following points are scored:

3 points for each correct vote to the storyteller

3 points for each player that votes for the correct card

1 point for the player that put down a card that receives an incorrect vote

 The game ends when the entire deck of cards has been used. The player with the most points wins!

Quelf

The card game version

This is the card game version of one of our favorite adult board games, Quelf! It is played much like the board game but simplified. This would be a better version to play if you have less time or are camping and don't want the hassle of the board and game pieces. This game is for ages 10 and up and best played as a party games with all your best buddies. The sole purpose of this game is to look like an idiot and make your friends laugh so hard they cry. A game of Quelf can take anywhere from 30 minutes to all night. 

There are 5 types of cards; Stuntz, Scatter Brainz, Roolz, Showbiz, and Quizzle. 

• Stuntz cards make you perform ridiculous acts and daredevil moves.
• Scatter Brainz cards make you choose one of two topics and everyone gives answers until no one can think of a valid one like; "Ways to get your leg out of a spring-loaded, steel bear trap" or "Brands of Lipstick"
• Roolz cards give you a crazy rule to play by for the rest of the game. Kelly had to say 'Funny, I thought farming was outlawed in that part of the country!' every time someone drew a card.
• Showbiz cards make you mime, sing, tapdance, draw, do impressions, write poetry...
• Quizzle cards are trivia questions and brain teasers. These cards must be read by another player.

Each card has 3 options and players have to announce a number, one, two, or three, before drawing a card and cannot change their mind once they have seen all three options.

Some of our favorites from Sunday night were when; Pam, our resident grandma, had to give herself a wedgie and walk around the store, Debbie had to hum a Hawaiian song and do a hula dance, and Tricia had to poke herself in the forehead with her thumb every time someone drew a card.

Village Green!

Well, it wasn't as warm and sunny as last year, but we still had fun this year at Village Green. The theme of our booth this year was BUGS!

We had four super fun games for kids to play:

Game #1: Name that bug!

We had eight kinds of bugs for kids to name; the most tricky ones were the preying mantis and the scorpion. A lot of kids thought the scorpion was a lobster. I suppose that's because we don't often see scorpions around here, but we see lobsters all the time!

Game #2: Ladybug Life Cycle Stages

This game was a challenge for both the children and their parents! Most people did not even know that ladybugs go through metamorphosis like butterflies. The common mistake was to put the pupa second (in third spot above), and the larvae third (in second spot above).

We had all stages of the ladybug life cycle on display for everyone to check out in our

Ladybug Land by Insect Lore.

Game #3: Draw what you see!

Take a look in our Creature Peeper by Insect Lore and draw your observations of ladybugs. I really liked the artistic touch that this child had.

Game #4: Butterfly Life Cycle Stages

Use the Life Cycle Stages Stamps by Insect Lore to put the stages of a butterfly in the correct order.

Stage 1: eggs, Stage 2: caterpillar, Stage 3: pupa or chrysalis, Stage 4: adult butterfly

PRIZES!!!

After all the games have been played, each kid gets to take home a Little Bug Locket by Insect Lore with ladybugs inside!

You can find more photos on our facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=280155&id=101309500963&l=b429330833

 

Math Gear Fast Facts!

Okay, I admit it, I personally love math. I have, on occasion, been called 'a human calculator'.

These super cool self-checking flashcard books from innovative KIDS make math fun for everyone, I promise!

The books come in four versions; Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division.

Each book starts and finishes with 'Fun Facts'.

The book I am using for demonstration purposes is the Multiplication book, the 'Fun Facts' that it includes are:

Multiplication is just another way to write addition;

3 x 4 is the same as 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 or 4 + 4 + 4.

The numbers in the two-digit products of the 9 times table, all add up to 9:

9 x 2 = 18...1 + 8 = 9,

9 x 3 = 27...2 + 7 = 9,

and so on.

To multiply any number by 10, just add a zero to the end of it! For example:

3 x 10 = 30

12 x 10 = 120

137 x 10 = 1370

To multiply a number (up to 9) by 11, just write the number twice! For example:

3 x 11 = 33

7 x 11 = 77

The genius part about these books are the slide wheels. You simply turn the wheel clockwise to create the desired equation.

What's the answer? Think you have it? Check under the ? flap.

When you flip through the book from 'front to back' you get the equations for odd numbers 1 through 11, and when you flip through the book 'back to front' you get the equations for even numbers 2 through 12.

These books are great to use with your kids as an alternative to flash cards. Kids can use them with your help or even by themselves.

Since they are bound in a book format, there are no cards to lose!

New Recommendations for Car Seat Safety

New car seat recommendations were released yesterday, March 21, 2011, from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Here is a brief overview of the current recommendations:

Birth - 12 months

Type of seat: Infant car seats and rear-facing convertible car seats

All infants under 12 months should always ride in a rear facing car seat. Infant-only car seats can only be used rear-facing, convertible car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for rear-facing position, allowing your child to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat- Fuego

1 - 3 Years

Type of seat:

Convertible car seats and forward-facing car seats with harnesses

Keep your child in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible. Your child should remain rear-facing until at least age 2, or until he or she reaches the highest height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer, whichever occurs last.

Recaro ProRIDE Convertable Car Seat - Envy

4 - 7 Years

Type of seat: Booster seats

Your child should ride in a forward-facing car seat with harness until he or she has reached the top height and weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

Recaro Vivo Booster - Crimson

                                                      8 to 12 Years

Type of seat: Booster seats and vehicle seats with a seat belt

Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seatbelt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the chest and not on the neck or face. Most children will need a booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years old. Children should ride in the backseat of the vehicle until they are 13 years old.

Clek Olli Booster - Red Skurvy

Helpful links for more information:

AAP UPDATES RECOMMENDATION ON CAR SEATS

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/carseat2011.htm

NHTSA RELEASES NEW CHILD SEAT GUIDELINES

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2011/NHTSA+Releases+New+Child+Seat+Guidelines

CAR SEAT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILDREN

http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/Traffic%20Injury%20Control/Articles/Associated%20Files/4StepsFlyer.pdf

CAR SAFETY SEATS: INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES FOR 2011

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token

Kyle's Big Day!

We were so glad to participate in Kyle's Make-A-Wish VIP day at U Village!

Kelsey and Kelly waiting for Kyle to walk the red carpet.

We arrived at the red carpet early and got a great spot right at the front. We made signs a few days before, but his buddies arrived with an even BIGGER sign!

Soon after Kyle's friends and neighbors started lining the red carpet waiting for him to come out of the Apple store. The entire staff of The Ram came out to welcome him to lunch! We were all clapping and cheering when he finally emerged, holding his new MacBook Pro.

While Kyle was eating lunch we hurried back to Kids Club to prepare the dressing room for his arrival. We chose five outfits, eight hats, and six pairs of shoes from Sole Food for him to choose from.

"Cool!"

He was super excited. He started flipping through the outfits right away, picked out his favorite and put it on.

Thumbs up! This was his first pair of skinny jeans, "They are really comfortable!"

Top to bottom: Madness Hat by Quicksilver (see last photo), Hangin Ape Short Sleeve Tee by Billabong, Backbone Zip Hoodie by Quicksilver, Everglory Twill Jacket by Quicksilver, Young Gun III Jean by Quicksilver, Kids' Hiker Street Socks by Smartwool, and B La Cripta Dos Mid Shoe by Vans.

After picking out a snazzy new outfit, Kyle was treated to a Kids Club shopping spree: Anything he wanted from the store. He picked out a Lego set and Yahtzee!

One last photo and he was on his way to The Confectionery, where the phrase "Like a kid in a candy store," will become a dream come true!

Come back and visit us!

Everyone at Kids Club hopes to see you again really soon, Kyle!

It takes a U Village!

Okay, so you've heard the old adage 'It takes a village to raise a child,' but I say it takes a U Village!

There are so many great kid-friendly shops, restaurants, and activities in U Village! You just can't get this experience anywhere else.



Of course, I have to mention Kids Club and The Salon at Kids Club! Your one-stop-shop for everything you need.



I really like this well-worded description of Kids Club by Jane Keller Watson, NWsource Editor:

'If you're a parent, this small independent toy store/children's boutique/kids' hair salon in the heart of University Village could become your home away from home. The store carries a well-edited and high-quality selection of baby gear, toys, games, puzzles and books as well as fashionable clothing, shoes and accessories for infants through the tween years. The experienced sales staff is knowledgeable and helpful, and the kid-focused hair salon at the back of the store makes getting a haircut a fun experience, even for squirmy little ones. Nursing moms will appreciate the sitting area and restroom near the back of the store, and little Thomas the Tank Engine devotees won't be able to tear themselves away from the train table -- no matter how many times Mom says it's time to go.'



If you need some new kicks you must head over to Sole Food for the best selection of children's shoes, not to mention all of the great ones for mom's and dad's too! Sole Food is locally owned and operated by the same owner as Kids Club. They have knowledgeable long-time employees that are dedicated to helping you find the right pair of shoes for your little one. Every shoe is thoughtfully ordered with specific attention to durability and cool factor. Some great brands you can find at Sole Food are See Kai Run, Camper, Keen, and Kickers, just to mention a few.



Like painting with the little ones, but not the mess you have to clean up afterwards? Make lovely painted ceramics at Paint the Town, and best of all, the take care of the mess! Paint the Town is a do-it-yourself ceramics painting studio that is super kid-friendly. There are hundreds of ceramic items to choose from, ready for your child's artistic touch. They will even host your next birthday party! Bring your little one in to make a hand-painted mug for a mother's day or father's day gift for your spouse.




Cook with your kids! Have you seen the show on the Food Network, Worst Cooks in America? I'm certain that as children, their parents were not in the kitchen cooking with them. Teach your kids simple age-appropriate skills that will stay with them for their whole lives. Mrs. Cooks carries a great selection of supplies, like adorable little aprons and kids spatulas, that will make cooking with your little one lots of fun!



Village Playdays is a weekly event at U Village hosted at a different store or restaurant every Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am, that offers a free activity to entertain your little one. Past Village Playdays at Kids Club have included face painting, a puppet show, crafts, a Caspar Babypants concert, and lots more! Check often for the schedule of Playday events on the U Village webpage: http://www.uvillage.com/village-playdays/