Science and Engineering for Girls

My 7 year old daughter has shown an increased interest in science and how things work, my 5 year old loves to investigate and opening things to see what is inside. After a colleague mentioned a new toy called GoldieBlox which encourages girls engineering concepts I had to buy it as a Christmas present. Keeping a girly feel to the toy and designed in a way girls think and look at things, it is intended to get girls more into thinking beyond dolls yet it includes a toy dog and other characters. I think they will both enjoy it and I will post images and review more once they have played with it. 

I found these test tubes with experiments included that I think are great stocking stuffers for kids. My girls want to make snow so now they can and how your body can create energy which lights up the tube. Finally how sand can stay dry in water. I think these are all great products for girls who want to know how things work. All kids want to understand why things do what they do and girls more than ever should be encouraged to investigate. 

Instead of the usual dolls, kitchens (which they have) I think it is also important to mix it up with toys that are fun but they learn at the same time.

Pro D Day - Puppet and Theatre Making

Pro D day was spent at Port Moody Art Center, creating a lovely puppet theatre and puppets. The centre is lovely and has some very experienced staff. They have courses for everyone but I love the sessions for the kids. They really know how to get them creating and experimenting.

These are the characters for their stage. 

Arts and Crafts

The local art center, Place Des Arts, had a free lantern making open day for kids. They made lanterns and paper flowers and clay owls. It was a great afternoon spent creating.

Paper flower

 Lantern. Made with a bottle.

 Paper Lantern

Paper Latern

How to Make a Dancing Puppet

A dancing puppet

 Supplies: Glue, dole/rod, pipe cleaners, eyes, glitter glue, polystyrene ball, cotton wool or pom pom balls, wired ribbon. 

 Wired ribbon.

• With a pencil pierce a hole into the polystyrene ball. Insert the dole into the hole and securely place, you may need glue for added security.
• With the pom, pom balls glue to each side of the polystyrene ball to make the ears, or create hair, whatever works for you. Be creative.
• Add the eyes to the ball. Use a pen or glitter glue to add facial features.
• The piping can be used to create the arms, wrap it around the dole and tie at the back and glue to secure. 
• The wired ribbon acts as the clothing, cut a nice length of the ribbon and wrap around the body (dole rod), glue to secure.  

Share you dancing puppets :)

Halloween is Coming.

At Art Knapp garden centre; one of the Hallowe'en displays.

Their displays are fantastic. They have a haunted house which my eldest insisted on going into, it was pretty, scary and awesome, in her words. They have free and paid activities for different age groups which I think is fantastic. There is a horse carousal, crazy golf, bouncy castle, climbing frame, swing tyres, photo opportunities and more.

Great times.

Happy Thanksgiving Eh!

Ice Skating for Kids

  

I just love how kids can take a task and get on with it. Should they fall they get back up, nothing phases them too much. It has been a few years since we took the kids skating, well actually I skated as a kid but have not been on the ice since. The girls are taking to the ice nicely. Lots of tumbles but they are learning to get back up, not to be defeated and practice, practice, practice. 

I love the lessons in life.