Boca Beth

Boca Beth sent us several bilingual products to help us learn Spanish quite a while ago (and I'm FINALLY getting around to writing a review!). We have the Boca puppet, the I Like Animals dvd, the My First Songs in Spanish cd, and the Boca Beth coloring book.

O LOVES to watch the dvd, and she especially loves the 5 Little Monkeys song and the bonus songs at the end of the dvd. I like that the Spanish words are written at the bottom of the screen during the dialogue, which makes it easier for me to read and follow along with the dvd. I REALLY wish that the words to the songs were printed on the screen as well.

The cd and dvd pair English and Spanish vocabulary and are great for learning basic Spanish vocabulary. We practice our Spanish during circle time in the mornings, and the cd is a great way for us to sing and learn at the same time.

O always makes sure that she has her puppet when we play the cd or watch the dvd. Sometimes she won't say the Spanish words, but the puppet usually will :) This is the only Spanish dvd we've watched, so I don't have anything to compare it with, but we enjoy it, and I feel like O and I are both learning from it. I really prefer the method of pairing English and Spanish words together rather than the immersion method which is why this program appeals to me. Check out the Boca Beth website for more information and for free Spanish flashcards and activities.

Phew! Glad to get this review posted...it's long overdue. I stopped taking products for review for a while, but I've started accepting products again. I've got some GREAT things to tell you about over the next few weeks!

Wee Squeak Shoes and a Giveaway!!!

Cara from Wee Squeak Shoes contacted me a couple of months ago about reviewing a pair of Wee Squeak Shoes. Wee Squeak shoes are adorable shoes for kids that squeak when they walk. (Luckily, the squeakers are removable!)

O and I chose the shoes that she liked, and she was SO excited to receive them in the mail. She put them on and took off! She ran in circles through our kitchen and den for a LOOOOOONG time. I told her to slow down, and she said "I can't! The shoes won't let me!" I had no idea that a child could/would be SO excited about shoes. She loves to dance, and she thought it was just wonderful that she squeaked as she danced.

The shoes were also a great diversion for E when she cried. O puts them on and dances in front of E, and E just stares and stares :) O has been wearing the shoes constantly for about 3 weeks, and they still look brand new. They are very well made, and she is able to easily take them on and off independently.

We get lots of smiles and questions when O wears the shoes when we are out and about. They are great if you are trying to encourage your child to walk on their heels. O tends to tiptoe when she walks, so we tell her to make sure she squeaks when she walks so she has to use her heels.

These shoes have been so much fun, and I can't wait until E starts walking...she'll definitely be getting a pair :) Post a comment on this post to be entered into a giveaway for a pair of Wee Squeak shoes of your choice. Make sure to leave your email address, so I can contact you if you win. The winner's name and address along with your shoe choice will be sent to Cara at Wee Squeak shoes, and she will send the shoes directly to you.

I'll let O choose a number on Friday night, so you have until then to comment. Spread the word :) The giveaway is for US residents only...sorry about that :(

Montessori Baby Toys

If you're looking for the perfect gift for your Montessori baby, this is it!
These sweetly simple Montessori baby toys are sold in a set by Pinkhouse Handworks, and we were so pleased when Janice agreed to send us a set to review. The toys are from or inspired by the Assistant to Infancy Montessori training for ages 0 to 3.


The 5 toys included in this set are a crocheted rattle, interlocking discs, wooden grasping beads, egg and cup, and peg and cup. The toys are intended for babies ages 3 months and up, and an information card is included that gives the approximate age at which to offer each toy and the purpose of each.



I love the simplicity and beauty of these toys. The rattle fits perfectly in E's hand, and she immediately and happily put it in her mouth :) I'm looking forward to introducing the other toys to her as she gets older. Make sure to check the Pinkhouse Handworks Shop for more simple and sweet Montessori baby toys.

Edit to Add: Pinkhouse Handworks is offering FREE SHIPPING on the set of Five Montessori Baby Toys.

Bambu Kids Kitchen Utensils

Amy from Let's Explore sent O this set of 5 child sized kitchen tools (as part of a VERY generous "big sister" gift). The kitchen utensils are 9.5 inches long and are made from organically grown bamboo. They are finished with a natural food safe oil. The set includes a serving fork, rounded spatula, spatula, round spoon and long spoon. O enjoys using them to "cook" in her play kitchen, but they are also great for "real" cooking :) I love that the set is made from organically grown bamboo and is therefore environmentally friendly. I'm sure we'll be using this set for years of cooking fun!

These fun utensils are on sale this weekend at Let's Explore.

Christmas Dollhouse Pillowcase

Ranee from Ranee Day Crafts sent us this amazing pillowcase dollhouse to play with and review. I love all dollhouses and making an interactive dollhouse out of a pillowcase is such an original and innovative idea.


The dollhouse pillowcase is completely handmade, and each one is original (I prefer for my kiddos to have original, creative, handmade toys rather than mass produced factory toys). When I unwrapped the dollhouse, I was impressed with all of the detail work. (It must have taken FOREVER to sew!) The front of the dollhouse opens to four rooms. You can roll it and tie it with ribbons while you play and button it closed when you are done playing. The dollhouse features 4 rooms...a bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. The kitchen has a refrigerator that opens, and it is filled with tiny food...cupcakes, grapes, and bananas.

O was very excited to see the gingerbread men cookies on the kitchen counter along with the potted poinsetta by the stove. The living room has a Christmas tree, and O said that the stockings hanging from the fireplace are one of her favorite parts of the house. The bathroom has a bathtub with a fuzzy towel, a pedestal sink, and mirror. The bedroom is my favorite part of the house. The beds have quilted bedspreads with O and E's initials on them.

The dollhouse pillowcase comes with a hand painted peg doll who is super cute. O also immediately moved her miniature wooden family into the house. O loves to tuck her dolls in the beds at night. The dollhouse pillowcase zips onto a pillow, and when O is not playing with it, I just zip the wooden dolls into the pillowcase to keep everything together.

The dollhouse pillowcase folds up nicely, so it is great for travel. O has also enjoyed taking it in the car unfolded with a pillow in it. She sat it on her lap for the whole ride, and she could either play or rest on it :) We are going on vacation in a few weeks and this dollhouse is one of the only toys we'll take with us (other than books and a pack of new puzzles).

O is ready to go with this fun, handmade toy!

There are only a couple of these dollhoses in the shop, so if you want a one of a kind, handmade gift for your child, you need to act quickly!

Mimi the Sardine Apron

Amy from Let's Explore sent O this Mimi the Sardine apron as a "Big Sister" gift, and we love it! While I love the design, the BEST thing about this apron is that it has a fine acrylic coating (not plastic/PVC or oil cloth), which makes it SO easy to clean! O uses this apron when she paints, cooks, and when she eats. It is a wonderful bib (O tends to get VERY messy when she eats!) since it covers her shirt and pants. I love that I can just wipe it off rather than having to wash it every time she uses it. I was relieved to see that paint (washable tempera paint) wipes off just as easily as food. The straps are adjustable which means that O will be able to use it for years. It also has a pocket for her to hold her paintbrushes or other art supplies while she's hard at work :)

As you can see in the picture, she also likes to wear it just for fun! She's wearing the apron over her beautiful silk dragonfly wings :)

ShapeScapeS...Oh My!!!

Amy from Let's Explore sent us a set of ShapeScapeS to try. My first impression was that the set was much bigger than I expected. I usually overestimate the size of things that I buy online, so I was surprised to see that the set was much bigger than I expected.

ShapeScapeS is a "Sculpture in a Box" activity that is really amazing! The set contains over 90 whimsical, high quality plastic shapes. ShapeScapeS was created by Los Angeles sculptor Peter Mayer with intention of providing children with the opportunity to expand their spatial skills and color awareness. ShapeScapes can be transformed into sculptures, wall hangings, or mobiles. The possiblities for open ended, creative play are endless!


I think ShapeScapeS will be a great way for our family to jumpstart a "Family Art Night!" O had a little trouble putting the pieces together. She handed me the pieces and showed me where she wanted them, and I pushed them into place. After a little practice, she was able to be more independent with building her creations by herself. The age range for this toy says ages 6 and up...O is 3, so it's not surprising that it was a little difficult for her at first. It is, however, a great fine motor exercise, and her hand and finger muscles were getting lots of work :)


I love that O will have an easy, non-messy way to create 3d art (I don't typically mind messes, but it is nice to be able to create art with no mess!). I also love that ShapeScapeS is a toy that O will not grow out of...I can easily see her enjoying this toy for many, many more years, and since we are known for saving everything, she may be playing with this ShapeScapeS set with her own children one day :)


Extension activities that I've planned for ShapeScapeS include laying the pieces on paper to create 2d art. It would be fun to trace the shapes and then color or paint them to create abstract art. I also plan to trace to shapes onto felt and cut the shapes out to create a 2d ShapeScapeS felt board activity. I may also take pictures of a few designs for O to recreate. I can easily imagine setting up a Montessori tray using the ShapeScapeS set :)

Let's Explore is having a sale on all of their building toys, so check them out! Everything in the building section is 15% off until November 15. O will be getting a Made By Me Truck in her Christmas Stocking this year, and we love our Twig blocks! I am also very intrigued by the Dado Cubes , and I may add them to O's Christmas wish list (that her grandparents request each year).

Product Reviews

I have several product reviews coming up that I thought I'd tell you about...shoes from Wee Squeak Shoes, nursery decor from CSN baby, handmade gifts from Ranee Day Crafts & Kolon Beanie, Spanish curriculum from Boca Beth, and toys & other things from Let's Explore. Make sure to check back frequently for these reviews!

Spinny Speller

We LOVE the Spinny Speller!!! Amy from Let's Explore sent O a Spinny Speller as a "big sister" gift, and we "play" with it everyday. We leave it on our kitchen table and have fun making real and nonsense words during our meals. O has become VERY interested in sounded out words since we've had the spinny speller, and I've heard her on many occasions trying to sound out words that she sees around our house.

The Spinny Speller is 5 inches long and is made of hardwood. It has 3 four sided blocks that can be used to make 3 dozen "real" words and countless "nonsense" words :)

My Beautiful Dragonfly...Sarah's Silks

O loves to fly around like a dragonfly while she wears her beautiful silk dragonfly wings from the Let's Explore Shop. The wings are made of light, airy silk and are hand dyed. The color combinations are beautiful, and O alternates between being a dragonfly and a butterfly. I love how the ties cris cross over her chest and tie around her waist rather than tying around her neck. She holds the wrist loops in her hands to spread her wings as she flies. Playsilks are the number 1 toy in our household, and these wings are a wonderful addition to O's creative, open ended play. Luckily, for you the wings are ON SALE at the Let's Explore Shop! I've already placed my order, and my sweet girl will be getting a silk cape and a silk fairy skirt for Christmas (I can't resist a great deal!). Thanks, Amy!

The No Cry Sleep Solution

I recently received an email from Elizabeth Pantley, author of the No Cry Sleep Solution, asking me to link to her new website by providing a quote from one of her books (and she would also link to my site). As I perused her website, I realized that her timing couldn't have been more perfect as O had been gradually getting more and more off schedule with her naptimes and bedtimes. She was typically not going to bed until 11pm or later, and our nighttime routine was taking more than an hour. I found these 8 tips from the No Cry Sleep for Toddlers and Preschoolers to be very helpful:

Eight Sleep Tips For Every Child


The following sleep ideas are of value to almost any sleeper, regardless of age. These tips can bring improvement not only in your child’s sleep, but also in her daytime mood and, last, but certainly not least – improvements in your own sleep and outlook as well.

1. Maintain a consistent bedtime and awaking time seven days a week.

Your child’s biological clock has a strong influence on her wakefulness and sleepiness. When you establish a set time for bedtime and wake up time you “wind” your child’s clock so that it functions smoothly.
Aim for an early bedtime. Toddlers and preschoolers respond best with a bedtime between 6:30 and 7:30 P.M, and most children will actually sleep better and longer when they go to bed early.

2. Encourage regular daily naps.

Daily naps are important since an energetic child can find it difficult to go through a long day without a rest break. A nap-less child will often wake up cheerful and become progressively moodier, fussier or hyper-alert as the day goes on, and as he runs out of steam. Moreover, the length and quality of naps affects nighttime sleep – good naps equal better night sleep.

3. Set your child’s biological clock.

Take advantage of your child’s natural biology so that he’s actually tired when bedtime arrives. Darkness causes an increase in the release of melatonin, the body’s sleep hormone, and it is the biological “stop” button. You can help align your child’s sleepiness with his bedtime by dimming the lights in your home during the hour before bedtime. Exposing your child to morning light is like pushing a “go” button in her brain — one that says, “Time to wake up and be active.” So keep your mornings bright!

4. Develop a consistent bedtime routine.

Routines create feelings of security. A consistent, peaceful bedtime routine allows your active child to transition from the motion of the day to the tranquil state required to fall asleep. A specific before-bed routine naturally and easily ends with sleep.
An organized routine helps you coordinate the specifics that must occur before bed: bath, pajamas, tooth-brushing. It helps you to function on auto-pilot at the time of day when you are most tired and least creative.

5. Create a cozy sleep environment.

You may have never given much thought to where your child sleeps, but it can be one of the keys to better sleep. Make certain the mattress is comfortable, the blankets are warm enough, the room temperature is right, pajamas are comfy and the bedroom is welcoming.

6. Provide the right nutrition to improve sleep.

Foods can affect energy level and sleepiness. Carbohydrate-rich foods can have a calming effect on the body, while foods high in protein or sugar generate alertness, particularly when eaten alone. A few ideas for pre-bedtime snacks are: whole wheat toast and cheese, bagel and peanut butter, oatmeal with bananas, or yogurt and low-sugar granola.

Vitamin deficiencies that are due to consistently unhealthy food choices can affect a child’s overall health, including her sleep. Make your best effort to provide your child with a daily assortment of healthy foods.

7. Help your child to be healthy and fit.

Many children don’t get enough daily physical activity. Too much TV watching, coupled with a lack of activity amounts to a sedentary lifestyle – which prevents good sleep. Children who get ample daily physical exercise fall asleep more quickly, sleep better, stay asleep longer and wake up feeling more refreshed.
Avoid physical activity in the hour before bedtime, though, since exercise is stimulating and has an alerting effect – so they’ll be jumping on the bed instead of sleeping in it!

8. Teach your child how to relax and fall asleep.

Many children get in bed but aren’t sure what to do when they get there! It can be helpful to follow a soothing pre-bed routine that helps create feelings of sleepiness. A common component of the bedtime ritual is story time, and for good reason. A child who is listening to a parent read, or tell a tale, will tend to lie still and focus on the story. This quiet stillness will allow him to become sleepy.

Commit to working with these eight ideas and you’ll likely see improvements in your child’s sleep, and yours too.

While we already did many of these things, there are definitely areas that we need to work on. Her website is full of great ideas, and I'm excited to see that she has downloadable newsletters for parents. This is a great resource that I can use with parents that I work with as well as at home!

How to Build an A

Guh-guh and Grandpa gave O this book for her birthday, and it is quite a hit. O enjoyed making all of the letters, and she especially liked making an O. She thought it was interesting that you only had to remove one piece to turn an E into an F. I wish the book came with lowercase letters, too. I'm planning on making a set using foam core board eventually....

Playscenes at the Let's Explore Shop

O LOVES this playscene! We've left it out on our coffee table, and she spends a lot of time playing and pretending with it. I love to listen to her talk in different voices for the different people in the scene. This is a great toy for open ended, imaginative, pretend play. I also love the fact that the it folds up nicely and takes up very little space :) It will be a great toy to take on road trips and for times when we have to wait (at the dr, etc.). The playscene measures 9 x 12" when it it closed, and it comes with more than 50 reusable stickers (The stickers are similar to the colorforms that I had when I was a child).

Amy has several great playscenes at the Let's Explore Shop. I LOVE the Garden Fairies playscene, and I bought it months ago to give O for Christmas. I also bought the Fairytale Theater Playscene months ago...I think I'm going to save it for her Easter basket :)

Three Peas in a Pod

Ema gave O this very special "big sister" gift when O came to see her in the hospital the day after she was born. I debated over whether to have Ema give O a gift, but when I saw this pea pod gift set I knew it would be perfect. I love the fact that it is handmade and so original. It is beautifully made and perfect for imaginative pretend play. O loves it, and I'm sure it will be an heirloom toy that she'll one day pass on to her own children.

Magnetic Dress-Up Dolls

O LOVES her new magnetic wooden dress-up dolls! These were a birthday gift, and they are definitely one of her most played with gifts :) She plays with these dolls everyday, and I am planning on eventually making an O doll that is the same size. So many plans, so little time... The dolls are made by Melissa and Doug. They are very sturdy and will last a long time...if we don't lose the pieces :)

When I Make Silence

I bought this beautiful little book from Montessori Mama for O's Easter basket. We've read it several times, and I've planned to incorporate it into our daily activities. Today was the day that I finally was organized enough to do it. We read the book and "made silence" right before we went downstairs for naptime. O LOVED the book AND making silence. After I read the book, she insisted on having a turn reading it. I was so glad to have this book as it is the perfect way to introduce "making silence." I'm looking forward to making it a part of our daily routine. Thanks to Montessori Mama for writing this sweet and beautiful little book!

Bendaroos

A reader sent us a pack of Bendaroos to play with and then review a few weeks ago, and we've been playing with them ever since!

The set comes with over 500 pieces of wax coated strings (very similar to wikki stix) that can be used for open ended, creative play. A design booklet comes with the set, but I found the designs in the booklet to be frustrating and difficult to replicate. Obviously, they were impossible for O to replicate (since she's only 33 months old!), and she was not at all interested in even looking at the booklet. She loves to make abstract sculptures and shapes. In this picture, she is making a "flower."




O was THRILLED when I suggested using the bendaroos in conjunction with her sandpaper letters, and she immediately chose the blue pack of bendaroos (blue is her favorite color).




We also decided to make even more letters and shapes with the bendaroos using her pipe cleaner letters. This kept us occupied for a while!




O also LOVED cutting the bendaroos with her scissors. The bendaroos are definitely going to make learning letters, words, and shapes more fun. I also think they are great for making 2d pictures and abstract 3d sculptures. However, we will skip the design booklet ideas :)