Tales for Tots sponsored by Scholastic Canada - Superworm

At our most recent Tales for Tots sponsored by Scholastic Canada, we read Superworm by Julia Donaldson.  It's a wacky and fun adventure starring an unforgettable hero, Superworm!

The kids had so much fun listening to this story and were sitting in anticipation waiting to hear what was going to happen next!  They loved all the colourful illustrations and rhyming lines.

After our story was done, it was time to make some crafts.  In honour of our book, our tots made their very own Superworm.  We used pipe cleaners and beads, to make some fun wiggly worms.  This is a wonderful activity to help improve eye & hand coordination and colour recognition.  We also had some fun downloadable sheets we got from Scholastic Canada that our tots could colour in.

Our theme for January was also all about trains, planes and automobiles.  We had fun making our own name train.  A fun activity to help our little ones learn to spell.  We glued popsicle sticks onto a sheet a paper to make our train track.  We cut out squares which represented the box cars.  On each box they wrote out each letter for their name.  They glued these onto a sheet of paper and used the bingo dabbers to make the wheels.  We drew in a smoke stack and Voila!  They had their very own Name Train!

 

 

 

Our tots couldn't resist in joining the train as we sang around Indigo.  Great exercise and a ton of fun!

 

One of our lucky little members got to take home her very own copy of Superworm!  Congrats!

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This Blog was written by Angela Hickman - mother of 2, momstown Milton member and blogger - Mommy Time Out

Milton moms enjoyed our Tales for Tots Program this month sponsored by McDonald's!

This month our momstown Milton moms and tots enjoyed an extra special Tales for Tots Program sponsored by McDonald's Canada! For a limited time offer (November 4th - November 15th) each child will receive a book focused around healthy eating with every Happy Meal purchased. The books are fun and relatable and encourage the little ones to really think about the food choices that they make. Here is the listing of the 4 books that are available:

The Goat Who Ate Everything – Tells the story of a goat who has a big appetite and struggles to eat right, but when he does, he feels great and becomes the playful ‘kid’ everyone loves.

Deana’s Big Dreams – Shares how Deana, the world’s smallest dinosaur, grew tall by eating right. 

Ant, Can’t – Features Ant, a bite-sized bodybuilder who’s big on encouraging physical fitness through exercise and eating right.

Doddi the Dodo Goes to Orlando – Follows happy-go-lucky bird Doddi, who travels the world. She eats right because this dodo is always on the go-go.

McDonald's will also be releasing monthly e-books, which are available on McPlay™ - McDonald’s Happy Meal app.

 

Our little readers enjoyed listening to The Goat Who Ate Everything and Deana's Big Dreams while snacking on apple slices, yogurt parfaits and juice. The mamas really appreciated the McCafe beverages that they received from our friendly hosts- a book and a coffee what a great way to start the day!

The kids then went to work on their food mobiles that helped them learn about the food groups and having a balanced meal. They were so proud of their creations and were eager to get them home to hang up as a daily reminder to eat right!

After hitting the play land for a little while everyone was ready for lunch. McDonald's had spoiled us with swag bags filled with books, a nutrition guide, and coupons for a FREE Happy Meal - Yipee! A special shout out to the Milton location for ensuring that ALL of our little ones including siblings and the extra participants that showed up received a complimentary meal as well!

McDonald's has come a long way in evolving the Happy Meal to reflect customers’ changing wants and needs. Happy Meals now offer options that include a Danino® Strawberry Yogurt, the choice of apple slices, small or mini-size French fries, and the choice of a low-fat dairy option like 1 per cent white or chocolate milk. It's a great option for families that are on the go and need to grab a quick meal or for an occasional treat!

Here's what our mamas thought about the event:

"Isabella's favourite book is Deana's Big Dream and she was reading it all day.  She loved the fact that the last page is like a poster and was bigger then the book. The cherry on top was the fact that she got apple slices, juice, and a Happy Meal for lunch (a treat definitely). Overall, it was a great day!"                                                                                                           IsabellaEmilia

"Ryan really enjoyed himself. I also like the idea of a book instead of toy. Ryan has been reading them everyday. I also love that the there is healthy options especially since my eldest doesn't like fries."                                                                                                            MandyM

"This was a great event. My daughter enjoyed the crafts and the play area.. But most of all she loved the food and books. She loves to "read" and being able to do that while having some apples and yogurt and knowing these healthy snacks are available with the happy meals makes me feel less guilty about using McDonalds as an alternate for dinner when I need to. I hope they continue with the literacy component books are of greater value and use to children then the toys they get in the happy meals. Great job McDonalds"                                                           VanessaR
                                                                                
"It was great. I enjoyed how everything was incorporated into healthy eating....the books are a great treat instead of a new toy.  I never let my son have McDonald's but now I see the healthy options available. We will definitely go back for a kids meal treat.  So not only was the event fun for my kids but it was insightful for me."                                                                 M. Moscoso


Thanx again McDonald's for including momstown Milton in your literacy launch. All of our participants left smiling from ear to ear!

L is for Letters at our momstown Alphabet Play Program sponsored by Post Alpha-Bits Cereal

Our momstown Milton Alphabet Play is already popular amongst our members so when we announced that Post Alpha-Bits cereal was sponsoring the event for the next year our mamas quickly went to work signing up for everyone that they could possibly get into. Mamas love the educational component that is emphasized each week in our programming through books, songs, activities, tracer sheets and crafts.

This week we were working on the letter "L". Our focus was letters so we started off with a simple "L" craft with alphabet letters. The craft was left as an "open" concept to decorate as they wished and our little eager beavers decided that they would use the letters provided to spell out their names.

We then moved on to an identification activity. Flashcards were held up with pictures and the kids had to shout out what letter the picture began with. Mamas helped by overemphasizing the beginning sound to get the kids on the right track - A-A-A-Aligator.

Snack time - I mean craft time. Actually it ended up being both! Each person received their own cup of Post Alpha-Bits cereal to match to an Alphabet Letters worksheet. Kids couldn't resist popping a couple into their mouth as they searched for the corresponding letters.

After tasting a few, one at a time was not fast enough so they actually started to drink their cups and filled their mouths with as much as they possibly could.Needless to say I was reaching for the box to top up the cups 2-3 times! The moms didn't mind one bit since they were aware that Post Alpha-Bits cereal provides a source of 9 essential nutrients plus is an excellent source of Iron and Thiamin.  

We moved over to our next activity which was magnets. These are always a hit with the little ones so my Melissa and Doug Alphabet Magnet board was quickly surrounded by keen helpers to place the letters in the correct order. I did learn that smaller case letters did present a bit of a challenge for this  young crowd but with a little direction we were able to complete the task.

We ended off the program with each participant getting to take an entire box of cereal home with them and taking pictures in front of the pretty blue sign that the kids couldn't take their eyes off of!

A big shout out to Post Alpha-bits for the free swag and for being so generous in sponsoring our Alphabet Play Program for the next year!

momstown Milton kicks off a new French Literacy Program: Contes pour les bouts d'choux sponsored by Scholastic Canada

We are all proud of our beautiful nation, Canada, and its two official languages: English and French.  On January 16, 2013, the momstown Milton moms and tots were bursting with pride and excitement as they headed over to the Indigo bookstore for an  interactive French Tales for Tots: Contes pour les bouts d'choux story time sponsored by Scholastic Canada!

The featured book this month was Mon Ami Henri by Philippe Beha and the theme for the session was body parts (les parties du corps). Upon arriving to the bright and colourful Indigo store, the little ones were put to the creative test by making face puppets inspired by one of their real-life friends or by the delightful whim of their imaginations of what exactly Henri might look like?  

To help the tots become comfortable with French vocabulary, Madame Liz, would ask them repeat body part names and associate them back to their own puppet creations. They took to the task with gleeful enthusiasm. "Le nez!" they'd exclaim with excitement while gesturing at the noses on their puppets or their own face.

The tots then assembled in a circle on the floor to sing a "hello my friends" (bonjour mes amis) song. Their young but strong voices filled the air with happiness. Passers-by stopped with their children and grandchildren to find out what all of the buzz was about and then of course, they just had to join in on the fun too!

After the rousing rendition of the bonjour mes amis song, we moved on to a body parts song (to the tune of head and shoulders, knees and toes). "Tête, épaule, genoux et pieds!" Little hands and feet got busy grooving to the beat.

Then it was time to settle down for a story. The group gathered close together as Madame Liz read the featured book Mon Ami Henri. (With each page read, an English translation was provided). In the story, a young boy describes his best friend, Henri, and the children were mesmerized by the description of Henri: petit (small), frisé (curly hair), deux grands yeux noirs (two large black eyes), des tâches de rousseur sur le nez (freckles on the nose) and une sourire jusqu'aux oreilles (a smile that reaches to his ears). They happily followed along with the story using their puppet or own body parts for emphasis. 

Once the reading aloud of the story was done, the children then bounced off the floor and back to the craft station to review their colours in French. Each child was given a sheet with the colours in French and crayons so they could fill in the circles on the sheet with the appropriate colour. Little hands scribbled furiously to get the job done! We then reviewed all that we had learned together to gather a complete description of their friends - blue eyes, black hair, white teeth, etc..

After the review was completed, it was time for a few final songs. We sang "Alouette" and shrieked with delight and practically did a little dance showing off all of our body parts as they were announced in french. 

Our fun French time didn't end before our special Scholastic Books draw. Our lucky winner who funnily enough bore a strong resemblance to Henri (the character in the book) was delighted to take home the book to add to his own personal library! 

It was over all far too soon and as we bid au revoir to our amis, we weren't sad as we knew that we'll all be back next month for another exciting Contes pour les bouts d'choux. 

We would love to have you join us for French Tales for Tots/Contes pour les bouts d'choux  sponsored by Scholastic Books next month at Indigo - Milton. A fun way for kiddies to learn and practice French in a group!  Register here for your 6 week FREE trial.


Written by Liz Marques Kogan, a mother of two girls, and momstown Milton member. You can check out her blog at: www.orchidaforever.blogspot.ca 

Wishes come true at our momstown Milton Scholastic sponsored Tales for Tots program.

Our  momstown Milton monthly Tales for Tots was a magical event! It started off at Indigo Milton with our  Scholastic Canada sponsored book “Wishes” by Jean Little and was a perfect fit for our early literacy focused program to help set the mood for a very special gathering. The rhyming format immediately captured their attention and the illustrations used soft colours with reference to an array of items that a child could easily relate to.  

 

"If wishes were ice cream,
our cones would be doubles.
If wishes were soapsuds,
we’d blow shining bubbles"

 

Our craft was Shooting Stars, to go along with the book. The kids got to practice their hand / eye coordination weaving the thread through each hole. It also helped to improve on focus and patience to complete the weave around the entire parameter. We were able to practice our counting as we threaded each hole  They turned out so beautifully!

 

Supplies needed:

•   star hole punch (or another type will do)

•   Foam Stars

• shiny thread - for weaving

•  streamers / crepe paper

• glue

• scissors

 

After making our craft, we gathered in our circle and sang “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and we recited the poem “Star Bright, Star Light”. We went around the circle and had each child recite their wish out loud. This was a great activity that encouraged everyone to use their imaginations and to take the time to day dream including the mamas. It was a real eye opening experience to listen to the simple things that each child wanted  and it got me thinking of what my hopes and dreams were and how many of them I had achieved to date.  

 

I do  know we fulfilled one wish that day by sending home our sponsored book with this lucky winner! Congrats.

 

 

I wonder how many other wishes  will come true?

 

Thanks everyone for coming out! Be sure to join us next month when we will be celebrating fall! All you need to do is sign up for a momstown Milton membership which is only $45 for the entire year. You even get a 6 week free trial membership to check us out first!

momstown Supports The Telling Tales Festival at Westfeild Heritage Village

Mark the Date: Sunday, September 16th, 2012

for the Telling Tales Festival!

 

As you pass through the Westfield Heritage Village "Gates of Time", you will be delighted to discover a world that existed before the internet and video/computer games… Here life can be simple, and stories come alive! Storytellers will hold crowds spellbound in the Native Village.

 

Preschoolers especially will find a world of things to do in our Large Meadow: Musicians, puppet shows, “learning through play”, crafts and much more. Plan to visit the Telling Tales Giant Book Swap and Shop Tent, a place to bring your slightly worn children's books, donate them to literacy and, if you choose, purchase second hand titles for just loonies and toonies.

Find out more information here: www.TellingTales.org

 

PLUS! don't forget to "LIKE" them on Facebook to participate in contests happening from now until the Festival!



momstown Milton: Tales for Tots - Finger Play with Scholastic's Old MacDonald Had a Farm Puppet Book

Today was a great day to be on the farm! Well, actually, we weren't at the farm, but we pretended we were at our momstown Milton Tales for Tots program at Chapters Indigo. It was a real 'hoe-down' with some children bringing farm animal toys from home, and most just excited to be doing things that have to do with their favourite subject in the whole world: Old MacDonald Had a Farm!

We started off looking after the little children by organizing a bit of colouring of different animals you would see on the farm that was found and printed from the Internet.

The older children got into the groove, the farm groove that is, by prepping themselves for the craft that day which was construction paper pigs.

             
              Craft items included:

              -pink & black construction paper
              -glue
              -Google eyes
              -pink pipe cleaner

               Voila! A pink pig!












Afterwards we of course sang Old MacDonald Had a Farm and many other farm animal songs (there are SO many!) And when it came to reading, the little ones were very excited because today's book donated by Scholastic Canada was Old MacDonald Had a Farm, the finger puppet version! Their little eyes smiled with enthusiasm.

Our grand prize winner for this book was Zachary! Perfect: he is 18 months and looooves animals!

Thanks everyone for coming out! Our Early Literacy Program - Tales for Tots is just one of many educational based programs that momstown Milton offers on a monthly basis!
 
Sign up today for our free trial membership and see how much fun and interactive learning can be!