Activities to do with your child on a Snow Day

So it's only January and that means we still have a few more months of winter.  Chances are we are going to see a few more snow days. 

The question is: What can we do with our little ones on these days?  

 

Here are some fun craft and learning activities that will make the kids forget about school.

1)  Design a treasure hunt with clues that will take the kids around the house, searching for hidden household odds and ends. Tuck a measuring cup on a bookshelf or hide a book under the rug. The winner earns a piece of candy or gets to decide what the family plays next. The hunt is the fun, no matter what the results.

2)  Pull a children's book off the shelf and create a play. Improvise costumes from clothes in your closet. Practice the play throughout the day and perform the skit after dinner.

3)  Make Edible Snowflakes - Fold flour tortillas in fourths and use scissors to cut shapes out of the folds, just like when you cut a paper snowflake, Brush with melted butter. sprinkle on cinnamon sugar and bake at 350 degrees until crispy.  Yum!

 

4)  Freeze Dance - Put on some music and let the kids get some energy out by dancing. When the music stops they have to freeze in place. Anyone who moves while frozen is out. The winner is the last person dancing.

5)  Fill a few spray bottles with a few drops of non toxic paint and water. Bring in a pan of fresh snow and let the kids spray paint on snow. Talk about how the colors blend to make new colors and what happens when the colored mixture hits the snow. This activity is a fun art and science project rolled into one.

How ever you choose to spend your Snow Day - Be sure to make the most of it and Enjoy!

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

Milton families had a Deep Sea Adventure at our Backyardigans Themed Music and Movement Program

momstown Milton held a special Backyardigans themed Music & Movement program this month .  Families came to join us for a  deep sea adventure that was filled with arts & crafts, singing songs, and movement to keep the little ones entertained.

Parents were delighted to grab a cup of java at the coffee station (courtesy of our friends at Coffee Craze ) while the kids enjoyed the event held at The Dance Class. There was no shortage of activities to try out. All three studios were filled with engaging and exciting things to do for all ages.

In room #1, our friends from Harmony Is - Kindermusik lead an intimate circle time to give a taste of what to expect in their classes. The kids were moving and grooving and enjoyed exploring new instruments including the fishy shakers!

 

 
Studio #2 was filled with lots of activity stations to keep our little ones active. Rob from Trainers on Site set up his Bosu Balls that the kids had to balance on to avoid falling into the sea. It was great seeing how determined they were not to loose their balance.

 ALKEGOLF had a mini putt area where the little ones learned how to hold a golf club properly.  It was fun watching the excitement of our little ones connecting and sending the ball towards the hole.  I'm pretty sure we have the next Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson right here in Milton:)

Toys Trunk kept our infants / toddlers busy with a play area made especially for them.  They had a great time in this section discovering cause and effect toys.

Room #3 was our arts & craft room.  Princess Parties Plus sent a special guest -a lovely mermaid from the Sea with shimmering make up to transform our party goers into beautiful creatures from the sea.

In their newest live tour- The Backyardigans: Sea deep in Adventure- the Backyardigans go underwater, exploring coral reefs and meeting new friends like Octopus and Dolphin.  Michelle Hawco from Remax helped our little ones create jelly fish and Scribble n Splatter made handprint/footprint crabs to go along with our under the sea theme.

One of the favorite crafts of the day had to be the melody making Rainsticks.  Camp Kidstown had the kids "shaking it up" with this fun project.

Our friends at Change It Up 360 got us up off our feet and dancing!

Alas the adventure had to come to an end but not without one lucky mama going home with a family 4 pack of tickets to the show - Congrats! 

The fun doesn't have to stop here!  If your little one is a fan be sure to join The Backyardigans Live Tour as they visit the Toronto Sony Centre on April 19, 2014 presented by Koba Entertainment.  


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

Post Alpha-Bits Cereal helped us with our spelling at our Alphabet Play Program!

Our momstown Milton tots had a blast using Post Alpha-Bits Cereal to practice spelling their names at our Alphabet Play Program! Our featured letter was "N" and we decided to gear the program around names and numbers.

We started off by making personalized name plates that the kids could hang on their bedroom door. They had so much fun searching through all of the letters to find what they needed to spell their names and even shared between tables in order to complete the task.

We did have to replenish our supplies a few times due to letters going missing to hungry tummies. Did you know that Alpha-Bits Cereal is a source of 9 essential nutrients and an excellent source of Iron and Thiamin. It's not only a great way to start the day but also makes a tasty snack when on the go!

Once we were refueled, we focused on a numbers matching game and then participated in an active spin the number game. The little ones practiced counting out loud as they had to perform various tasks depending on what number the spin wheel landed on.

Learning can be fun. With a little imagination and creativity you can capture your child's interest to explore and excel. Be sure to register to be momstown member so that you can join us at our next Alphabet Play Program!

Think Twice Before Purchasing Eyeglasses Online

When seven-year-old Julia was first examined by her Optometrist four years ago, she was diagnosed with amblyopia in her right eye. Amblyopia is a common condition in children that occurs when one eye is weaker than the other, and prevents the proper stimulation in the brain needed to develop clear vision.

If not treated early enough in childhood, it can lead to permanently blurred vision in the affected eye, inability to see in 3D, and difficulties in school.  Julia’s Optometrist prescribed glasses for her and instructed that she patch the better eye each day to strengthen the eye with amblyopia.  Julia followed these instructions carefully and attended many follow-up visits with her Optometrist to monitor her progress and ensure that improvement was being made.   Eventually, she improved from a poor 20/80 vision to almost 20/20 (perfect vision) in the weaker eye. 



Last year, Julia’s mother brought her to the Optometrist for an unscheduled appointment to check the accuracy of the glasses that she had just bought for Julia online.  She purchased two pairs on the internet for $50. After examining the glasses, Julia’s Optometrist discovered that the glasses were improperly manufactured and advised her mother not to allow Julia to wear either pair because they were a serious threat to her vision. The glasses were so far off from the correct prescription that Julia’s amblyopia was at risk of returning in the right eye. To make matters worse, the lenses of both eyes were not positioned correctly in front of her eyes.  

Julia’s Optometrist re-made the glasses with the correct prescription and took accurate measurements to ensure that the lenses were properly positioned in the frame.  He then adjusted the glasses so that they fit comfortably on her face and didn’t hurt her behind the ears.  The glasses were also re-made with polycarbonate lenses, a quality material that meets safety standards for breakage resistance.  


When glasses are purchased over the Internet, there is a significant risk that the glasses will not be made accurately or made according to the specified prescription. A recent study that showed nearly half of all glasses (44.8%) ordered online either had the incorrect prescription or did not meet physical parameters to provide enough protection to the wearer.  The lenses or frames may also not be suitable for the prescription or may not meet specific visual requirements. 


When purchasing frames and lenses, proper measurements should always be taken.  Your Optometrist should also inspect all frames and lenses at the time of dispensing so that they are custom fit for each person and the lenses have been evaluated for accuracy.  Only your Optometrist has the expertise to ensure that your eyewear is properly made and correct for your specific needs.  


Story courtesy of: The Ontario Association of Optometrists

If you do have any questions or concerns please contact Dr. Phil at Milton Optometry. 

momstown Milton Mom of the Month - January 2014: Amanda Ott

Name: Amanda Ott

Age: 34
Born In: 1979
Children’s name and age: Joshua, 2y9m, Elijah 8m

Childhood Ambition: To be a mommy, of course!

Fondest Memory:  Figuring out I was pregnant using an Italian pregnancy test in a pay toilet while on Capri Island on our honeymoon.

Wildest Dream:  Sleeping through the night again!

Proudest Moment: Whenever my kids are polite, or share without cajoling.

Biggest Challenge: Getting my kids to be polite or share without cajoling.

Perfect Day: A nice hike with my family followed by a gourmet picnic lunch, and a glorious nap. Then babysitting for the night so my husband and I could go out for a great dinner, and sleep somewhere WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. 

First Job:  Day Camp Counsellor

Indulgence:  Chocolate – and just recently I fell in love with Flourless Chocolate Cake!!!

Last Big Purchase: Ball pit

Favorite Movie or Favourite Sport? Ultimate Frisbee

How long have you been a member of momstown Milton? Since 2011

Describe your experience as a momstown member?  It is always great to meet and talk to other moms.  Everyone I’ve met has been very nice and inspirational, and it sure helps to have adult conversation in the day.  I would recommend it to any new mom!

We would love to have you join us and become part of our momstown Milton family!

 

Register here for your 6 week FREE trial.

Christmas traditions: Finding a balance between giving and receiving this holiday season

When I think of the word tradition, all I can think of are the actors from this year’s production of Fiddler on the Roof screaming “TRADITION! Tradition.” The honest truth is that I’ve never been a stickler for tradition but I do make one very big exception during the holiday season.  After all, what more is a tradition than something to look forward to, year after year, Christmas after Christmas!

Of course Christmas traditions vary the world round. While in some countries, knowing that each family is celebrating the same way is a tradition in itself, the beauty of Christmas in Canada lies in the understanding that each person has a unique way to ring in the holiday season. Moving away from its religious roots (to what is, I’m sure, the chagrin of church goers everywhere), these traditions are based primarily on memorable moments passed on from generation to generation and celebrated with friends, or family… or both!

Needless to say, going to church remains of the most celebrated traditions of the holiday season; from the Christmas greetings exchanged with a smile, to the singing of Christmas hymns, church going can be a peaceful and joyous experience even for those of us who don’t practice. For many who don’t share in the Christian faith however, Christmas has become not only a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, but a time to revere in the warmth and charity of mankind.  In fact, one of the most touching traditions trending in recent years is the putting aside of time during the days leading up to Christmas to volunteer as a family at a food bank, or hand out food to those in need. Other families have taken to giving donations as presents, buying each other a goat that has been sent to a family in need on the other side of the world, or dropping off gifts to terminally ill children on Christmas day.

As a new parent, thinking ahead to what kind of Christmases I want to share with my growing family, I can’t help but think what an incredible example traditions like this are during what many consider a holiday characterized by greed and overindulgence. That being said, I’m not going to put a charitable donation in my daughter’s name during the years where Santa is supposed to be climbing down the chimney and scattering gifts around the tree. So, I guess the best any parent can do is to try and strike a balance of sorts. Christmas doesn’t need to be all about the presents, but assuming you don’t shower your kids with gifts on a regular basis, giving them a present or two come Christmas won’t turn them into spoiled brats or bestow upon them a sense of entitlement that wasn’t already planted. In fact, showing gratitude around a dinner shared with loved ones is one of the best ways to teach your kids just how lucky they truly are, the whole year round.

Blog written by Arden Jobling-Hey: new mom, momstown Milton member, travel fiend, freelance writer and blogger at www.thefriendlygiraffe.com.

"O" is for Ornaments at our Post Alpha-Bits Sponsored Alphabet Play Program

Since it's December and Christmas is quickly approaching, we decided to have some fun with the Letter "O" at our momstown Milton Alphabet Play Program sponsored by Post Alpha-Bits Cereal!

The first thing that came to mind was Ornaments so we quickly got to work making colourful bow wreathes and "O" chains that we could decorate the tree with. The links helped the kids practice their hand - eye coordination and we incorporated some ABBA patterning to work on colour recognition.

 

While we were busy making our crafts, Post Alpha-Bits Cereal was made available for the kids to munch on. It was a great snack to have on hand for hungry tummies and with 9 essential nutrients plus an excellent source of Iron and Thiamin, the mamas were happy to let their kids have as much as they desired.

After all that hard work and snacking, it was time to get up and get active! We played a game of "over and under"  and the kids had a blast jumping over me and then crawling under my legs. We also practiced "open" and "shut" by doing jumping jacks. A great way to reinforce opposites with these eager, busy learners.

Congrats to our lucky little lady who won a box of Post Alpha-Bits Cereal to add to her pantry at home. I know what she'll be having for breakfast tomorrow!

Join momstown Milton next month when we host another Alpha-Bits Play Program focused on the letter "P"!

Saving Money for the Holidays

I have recently have gone back to work from the best year of my life being at home with my little girl, but like most new moms I now have to worry about a whole bunch of expenses I did not have to worry about before. We now have to pay for our child care provider, diapers, clothing, medication, an education savings account and of course the holidays… that being said my husband and I wanted to sit down and figure out how to make next Christmas less stressful in terms of money. We also did something similar to this for our wedding years ago. We sat down and figured out how much money we needed for the holidays as we have a HUGE family, and lots of gifts to buy for nieces, nephews, parents, friends, our little one of course and if there is money left over gifts for each other. You can try one of these methods and feel free to alter it to best suit for your family based on what you want to or need to spend.

 

The first method is finding out what you want/ need to spend and saving what you need per week to achieve your goals. So if you have 20 people to buy for and you spend $50.00 a person, then you would need to save $1000.00 for next Christmas. An easy way to save following this method is by taking the $1000 and divide it by 52 weeks, so you would put away $19.23 every week until Christmas. Ways to put away money are simple… start a money jar or envelope where you put them out of site and forget about them. Start an additional bank account where you automatically transfer the $19.23 every week and you do not access it until Christmas. You could also throughout the year add money if you happen to have a month with extra savings.

 

Recently I was online browsing Trusper (a great APP) and I saw another method of saving money which is similar in the sense that you put money away every week but instead of dividing what you need by weeks, you put money away in the dollar increment as it is for the week in the year.  Take a look at the chart below for a guideline:

 

Week 1 - $1	Week 12 - $12	Week 23 - $23	Week 34 - $34	Week 45 - $45
Week 2 - $2	Week 13 - $13	Week 24 - $24	Week 35 - $35	Week 46 - $46
Week 3 - $3	Week 14 - $14	Week 25 - $25	Week 36 - $36	Week 47 - $47
Week 4 - $4	Week 15 - $15	Week 26 - $26	Week 37 - $37	Week 48 - $48
Week 5 - $5	Week 16 - $16	Week 27 - $27	Week 38 - $38	Week 49 - $49
Week 6 - $6	Week 17 - $17	Week 28 - $28	Week 39 - $39	Week 50 - $50
Week 7 - $7	Week 18 - $18	Week 29 - $29	Week 40 - $40	Week 51 - $51
Week 8 - $8	Week 19 - $19	Week 30 - $30	Week 41 - $41	Week 52 - $52
Week 9 - $9	Week 20 - $20	Week 31 - $31	Week 42 - $42
Week 10 - $10	Week 21 - $21	Week 32 - $32	Week 43 - $43
Week 11 - $11	Week 22 - $22	Week 33 - $33	Week 44 - $44

It is the same idea where you put the money in a jar or envelope out of site or in an additional bank account that you set up for gifts. By next Christmas you will have saved $ 1378.  If you have more money at the beginning of the year vs. the end, you could always reverse this method where you start week 1 with putting away $52.00 and work lower every week.

 

Keep in mind momstown  Milton always provides wonderful discounts at stores as well as amazing support for holiday savings tips in terms of making your own gifts. You could always make some homemade ornaments, art, cookies etc.… there are lots of ideas and support when you make it out to one of the local momstown events. I know from experience there are a lot of events and support through momstown Milton.

 

I am a huge believer of out of site out of mind, so if you can put this money away and forget about it in terms of not touching it, you can definitely make the holidays less stressful in terms of money. Also if there is ever a week you are having a hard time with the amount to put away, double up the next week or if you are using the chart above on the small amount weeks – add some extra. Just don’t keep putting off until the next week or the next week because then you will be stressed out trying to make up the amount and chances are you won’t be able to catch up.

I am starting the chart method as of January 1, 2014. I just need to figure out if I will be saving starting at $1.00 or $52.00. I will make it my resolution as well to relieve a bit of stress and added pressure the holidays bring. Who knows if it works out, maybe I will adapt this means of saving for our house fund or a vacation fund as well.
 

 Happy Savings and Merry Christmas all!

 

Written by Jacqueline Bellmore-Kinney,momstown Milton Member and Mom to a beautiful little girl!