http://www.playtacoma.org/blog/just-fun/ en-us Fri, 18 May 2012 19:51:58 PDT Fri, 18 May 2012 19:51:58 PDT SiteCrafting.com GearBox 1.0.10 http://playtacoma.org/blog/wanted-to-know-big-bird/ The New York Times Q&A with Big Bird, to celebrate Sesame Street's 40th anniversary, made me smile all day. Find out if Big Bird is a natural blonde, the truth about Snuffleupagus and more here. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:47:00 PST http://playtacoma.org/blog/elf-on-shelf/ This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Like most children through the ages, they wanted to know how Santa really knew who was naughty or who was nice. Their answer, as in my own childhood, came in the form of a small pixie-elf. The first time the elf arrived at our home, my children officially adopted him by giving him a name. Each year he would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch the children's behavior and report it to Santa each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the North Pole and was now resting in a new and different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position. Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him but talking to him was a different matter all together. My children shared many secrets with the elf, and while he was under strict orders not to talk to them, the elf was under no such orders where grown-ups were concerned. Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf is watching," for errant behavior to be modified. I never dreamed this simple tradition would lead to so many treasured Christmas memories for our entire family. It is my earnest desire that The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition will bring as much joy to your family as it has to mine. Enjoy this tradition, and MAKE IT YOUR OWN! Visit the official Elf on the Shelf website here. Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:15:00 PST http://playtacoma.org/blog/tv-time-linked-to-school/ Young children who watch a lot of TV aren't just missing out on more stimulating activities. They may also be destined for problems at school and unhealthier habits later in life, new research suggests. Each additional hour of TV that toddlers watch per week translates into poorer classroom behavior, lower math scores, less physical activity, and more snacking at age 10, according to a new study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.Read the full article at CNN.com. Wed, 19 May 2010 09:58:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/child-picasso/ It's a ....!Just days ago, this painting was found in Becka's Studio.  Immediately we were drawn to the artist's rich color choices and fluid brushstrokes and yet we all had different interpretations of the painting.  One person saw a cow.  Another saw a boy on a skateboard.  Now it's your turn to enjoy the painting.  What do you see?   Wed, 26 May 2010 15:57:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/messy-play/ The idea of messy, sticky, ooey-gooey art can be daunting to some parents.  The thought of paint or glue everywhere, let alone something more challenging such as fine glitter or pudding finger paints, is more than some want to take on.  I will say that as a parent of two children myself, there were days I was not sure I wanted to dive into such artistic endeavors.  There are great ways to have these experiences though, and I want to be sure that those of you that may steer clear, have an understanding as to why these types of experiences are so vital to a young child.  More importantly, there are great ways to make this type of art work in your home or outdoors. One thing to remember, your child is not concerned with where this art takes place.  They care about just being able to have the playful and fun experiences that you might be hesitant to try.  So it truly works to put them directly in the tub and let them paint away: try finger paints, pudding painting, spray bottles filled with water colors, or whatever you can think of including the fine glitter or glue.  They can use paper or just paint on the sides of the tub.  Clean up is simple.  It gives them an opportunity to develop their sensory-motor skills and enjoy something uniquely creative and joyful.  Doing these activities work great outdoors as well.  Pick a sunny day and head outside in clothes that can get dirty.  I even suggest that you give pudding painting a try!  You might just  find that you are laughing and having a great time right alongside your child!  Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:23:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/cmt-water-rockets/ Summer Camp 2010 Summer Camps at the CMT! Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:32:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/springtide-press-hosts-childrens-museum/ holiday cards the 19th century way! Last weekend, Jessica Spring hosted us in her beautiful studio to teach us how to print letterpress cards for the Children's Museum's annual holiday card project. Children spent the day hovering over drawers of typeface making sure to touch as many of the tiny metal alphabets as possible, arranging the blocks and setting the type with the skill of a surgeon and cranking out prints on a press from the 1880's. It was a long day of meticulous attention to detail and vision of a finished product. The kids had a blast and the folks from Springtide Press were fun, professional and great teachers. It was very sweet of them to donate their time and energy to pass along a tradition and skill which dates beyond the 1400's. Be sure to see Jessica's studio next month at Tacoma's Art at Work studio tours. Purchase 2010 holiday cards here. Cards produced in collaboration with Springtide Press available in 2011. Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:48:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/fresh-fall-leaves/ Fall is all around us. Leaves are changing colors.  The air is crisp.  And colorful leaves are falling down.  Try this simple activity with your child to help enjoy the beauty of the fall season.  You will need: Collection of leaves Paper Glue   Activity: Go outside with your grownup and collect colorful, interesting leaves. Bring your leaves inside and lay them out to dry. Talk about the different sizes, shapes and colors of your leaves.  How are your leaves similar?  How are they different? Create a leaf collage by gluing leaves to a sheet of paper.  Make sure to use enough glue so that your leaves stick. Tell your grownup about your collage.  What colors did you use?  Did you make a pattern?   What is my child learning? Collecting leaves provides time for outdoor play and physical activity. Gluing leaves and creating collages develops fine motor skills, focus and concentration. Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:53:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/winter-sparkle-dough/ Looking for a fun indoor activity to engage your little ones?  Try one of our favorite playdough recipes with a special wintry touch!  You will need: 3 cups Flour 1/2 cup Salt 2 cups Hot Water 3 tablespoons Vegetable Oil 2-4 drops Food Coloring Glitter!   Mix all the dry ingredients together.  Slowly stir in the hot water with food coloring and continue mixing.  Turn mixture out onto a smooth surface; it will be a little sticky.  Knead the dough and slowly add more flour until the right consistency has been reached.  Look at all the glittery sparkles in your dough!  Feel free to add more glitter if your dough doesn't feel sparkly enough! *Store your Winter Sparkle Dough in an air-tight container. *While this is a great activity to do with children, an adult should measure and stir-in the hot water.  Once the dough has cooled a bit, invite your child to help with the kneading process. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:33:00 PST http://playtacoma.org/blog/indoor-hideaway/ Does all this cold, snowy and wet weather have you and your family stuck in the house?  Why not help your kids build their own indoor hideaway with things you already have, build a couch fort!!! All you need is some couch cushions, blankets, and maybe some clothes pins. You can help your kids transform your whole living room into a secret fort and supply them with flashlights and snacks to keep them busy for hours.To learn how to build an indoor fort and many other fun things, click here. Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:13:00 PST http://playtacoma.org/blog/art-sparks/ Pencils, rubber bands, and bottle caps, oh my! When put together like that, they make a pretty cool contraption, don't you think? But what, exactly, is that cool contraption? That, my friends, is a paint catapult. A paint catapult? I asked the same question when Erika told me what she was going to be doing at Sparks. I knew what a catapult was, and I know a thing or two about paint flying through the air (it comes with the territory, when you work at a children's museum), but paint and catapults never connected in my mind. Luckily, that's what Sparks is here for! What is Sparks? It's a themed program we host here at the museum every Saturday that's meant to spark your creativity and imagination. With various subjects, like painting to music and book making, there's something for everyone's unique style of creativity.  The theme of the morning on April 7th was Catapult Painting. After some free play time in the museum (what's a visit to the museum without some playtime?), everyone gathered in the program room, where Erika read a story, and then led our little artists in some catapult construction. Once the "weapons of art construction" (as Erika calls them) were built, the paint was flying through the air onto a wall covered with paper. I'm a big believer that messy fun is some of the best kind of fun, so flinging paint at a wall is my idea of a good time. The kids (and their parents) seemed to agree.  Catapult Construction Loading up the catapults He shoots, he scores! So, are you looking for something to do with your little artist on a Saturday morning? Check out Sparks!  Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:17:00 PDT