Storage Tote Bag

My Never Ending Battle With The Toys!

JJ is such a boy.  He has more cars and trucks than a toy store.  I just can't keep up with all of them, they are all over the house.  No matter how I separate and organize them they are still everywhere. We have so many containers filled with them I just can't take it any more.

Last week I saw a new item.  There is was, a dream come true.  A large tote bag with handle, a must since we have to carry all our vehicles up and down the stairs and from room to room.  The best part, it had emergency vehicles all over it.  A favorite in our house. There was no question about it, I had to have this tote.

Our tote arrived today!  It is so much better than I had expected.  It is made of a nice sturdy canvas. This will make it easy to wipe down and clean.  There are 2 long straps that are securely fastened. Upon opening it, there are 2 metal rods.  One on either end of the bag.  These fold down into the tote and are attached to the bottom of the tote with velcro straps These rods are what give the tote the support it needs to stand open on its own.

This tote measures about 24x12x12.  It is huge!  It is so big that JJ can fit in it.  I especially love that it can hold some of his bigger sized trucks as these are what we really have a hard time storing.  Today we emptied 4 bins of trucks into this tote and there is still room for more.  I highly recommend getting one.

This tote is not just for children.  They have many patters to choose from.  You can order yours here: http://www.shopserendipitystyles.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html#2622

Sandbox

Let Your Imagination Run Wild In The Sandbox

Today is Father's Day!  So in honor of Grandpa, I made JJ a "real" sandbox today.  JJ has one of those plastic turtle sandboxes.  Each summer we get him a bag or two of sand to go into it.  Though the sand never seems to stay in the box.

This year, JJ is really into his construction vehicles.  So he pours the sand onto the patio to create a construction site.  This gives him room to move around freely.  However, it leaves a big mess all over the place.  Especially in the house as we have to walk through the construction site to get in and out of the backyard.

I grew up in a different generation.  We didn't have all these plastic toys.  Grandpa made us everything we needed.  I would say he built us a sandbox but that is an understatement.  I'm guessing it was about 24 feet by 24 feet.  Seriously it took a whole dump truck of sand to fill.  Growing up we lived in this sandbox.  There was plenty of room for everyone.  So I truly understand JJ's need for space while working in the sandbox.

No being that handy I did what I could with what I had.  Thankfully I found enough wood in the shed that was already cut to size.  All I had to do was nail it all together.  The boards were even painted. They may need a little touch up here and there but for now they will do.

I placed an umbrella holder in the middle then lined the sandbox with foam play mats. The box got four 50 pound bags of sand.  JJ was in heaven!  He climbed right in with his steam roller and started making roads.

The sandbox is a great learning activity for young children.  It incorporates fine motor skill like scooping and pouring with cognitive skills like problem solving.  It also fosters imagination which is a skill many of today's children lack.  I'm hoping JJ spends hours in his sandbox like I did at his age.

Happy Father's Day Grandpa!  Thank you for the wonderful experience that I can now pass on to JJ.

Gardening with Children

Every summer I plant an herb and vegetable garden in the backyard.  The past 2 years have been a little difficult with JJ running around.  My gardens have not turned out as I had intended but they have grown and produced.

Children learn by seeing and doing.  So why not give your child their own garden to tend to. Give them a small section of your garden or find a small place where they can start their own.

The first step in acknowledging the importance of the work they are doing in the garden by providing the appropriate tools. This is not the same as playing in the sandbox.  So go out and get them a "real" set of gardening tools of their own. There is nothing worse than using cheap plastics sandbox toys for gardening tools. 

The first phase of the garden will be fun.  Your child will enjoy clearing the ground and planting the seeds.  The second phase will start out with a bang but your child may fizzle out as the growing process is slow.  Pulling weeds and watering dirt can get boring after a few days.  Don’t give up on your child’s garden.  Tend to it for them during this lull.  Once the plants begin to grow and your child can physically observe the changes, they will be drawn back in.  The final stage where they can reap the rewards of their labor will have them rushing to the garden each day.  Show them how to determine what is ready to pick and what needs to wait a little longer.  But don’t stop there. Continue on to the kitchen and learn how to use your crops.

What are some good things to grow with children?

I find it good to either start with things they like.  Strawberries are easy and have a short cycle and will not grow all summer.  Or with a theme.  We enjoy the pizza theme, tomatoes, scallions, peppers, basil and oregano.  Once everything is ready, we make a pizza with all your ingredients.  Pumpkins are fun as well.  They grow big and are ready right around Halloween.  There are just so many options with gardening.  Most of all have fun and let them do.