Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Infants and toddlers Making Music

Jamming with Jude is cheap, and requires no musical background or ability!  Simply turn over a few buckets, pitchers or flat-surfaced objects, grab something to bang with, and sit yourself down.  (Jude's first choice for sitting was the dog, but he quickly found out that dogs like to move to the beat of a drum, too!)
Since I wasn't too terribly coordinated to drum, Jude handed me two wooden blocks for clapping to his tapping, which worked out great!
Please share some of your musical meetings with your grandbabies!
Making music,
Bubbie and Jude

Related Articles:
5 Musical Instruments to Make at Home
Introducing Toddlers to Music
Infants and Toddlers Making Music

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Grocery Shopping with the Kidlets!

Taking the little ones shopping for groceries doesn't have to be a problem, especially if you follow the rules:
1. Shop at off-hours (2 a.m. to 5 a.m.)
2. Let children buy whatever they want.
3. Allow children to eat whatever they want as you shop.
All joking aside, here are a few tips that worked for me:
- Before shopping everyone was fed, went to the bathroom and already napped.
- I organized my shopping list clustering items on same aisles together (best I could).
- Tried to shop at less busy times.
- Had the kids help find items on grocery list.
- Brought or bought a healthy snack for kids to eat while paying, to avoid the candy temptation at check-out.
How about sharing some favorites that worked for you?
Keeping it fun,
Bubbie and Jude
Related Articles:
Grocery Shopping With Toddlers
Simple Grocery Shopping Games

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Sesame Street in 2011

Jude has a captivated audience today, as he sits down and discusses his 'play plans' with some Sesame Street characters.  Although Jude did do all the talking, his friends remained attentive and with broad smiles throughout their five minute chat.  They seemed to understand what Jude was saying much better than myself.  I've got to start coming to more of these meetings!
With some 'googling' I've discovered that Sesame Street has been on the air entertaining and teaching our children since 1969.  Over the past year I've had the most fun reconnecting with some of my favorite Sesame Street segments through YouTube. (Oh, Jude likes them too!)
Below, if interested, you can watch a short video on "The History of Sesame Street:
P.S. Which children's show(s) holds your grandchild's attention today?
Keep them learning,
Bubbie and Jude

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Bubbles/Helping to Improve Language Development

"Language is a complex set of behaviors.  It involves much more than learning words and their meaning.  A child needs to have the psycho-motor skills to be ready to learn languages.  Playing with  bubbles encourages a variety of opportunities to coordinate breathing and movements with the mouth and tongue." 
Who knew?  And we thought we were just having fun!  What an added bonus to know we're contributing to our little-one's language skills. It is pretty amazing to see how quickly the youngest and newest kids on the block figure out, after just a few tries, how to blow a bubble!  
(Biggest Bubble Blown This Day went to Jude!)
Ta Dah,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Please share ways you've found to help promote language with your grand kids and/or kids?
Related Articles:
Blowing Bubbles (Watch the video...adorable!)
Playing With Bubbles
Bubbles to Improve Language Development
Bubbles For Learning (Terrific for older kids)

Back To Sleep

Although SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), was a concern when raising my children, it wasn't until the early 1990's that doctors learned it was best to put babies to sleep on their backs, to reduce the risk of SIDS. "While this advice has saved thousands of babies' lives, experts have noticed a fivefold increase in misshapen heads since then." Staring at my lovely new grand daughter, sleeping soundly in this position, my daughter mentioned how she often repositions Katie on her back, to avoid this issue. (Click on links below for information on this topic.)
Love from one curious grandmom, always wanting to know, "What's new?" 
Bubbie  
Related Article:
Flattened Head(Positional Plagiocephaly)
Babies with Flat Heads on the Rise
How to Correct Positional Plagiocephaly

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Fun in the Pool

Scenario: You're in the pool, having a great time...playing with your turtle float, playing with your scoops and hoops, when suddenly out of nowhere you notice this dark hand on the cement slab, staring you in the face...and this hand, just so happens to be controlled by your own hand!
Question: What should you do?
Solution: Fortunately, this was happening to Jude and he figured he'd play along with the joke, so he poured some water on it for a bit, then walked away hoping it would too...and it did!
Keeping cool,
Bubbie and Jude
P.S. Any advice for 'pool play' with the grandkids?
Related Articles:
Pool Safety
Do Swimming Lessons Keep Children Safe in the Water?

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

BAILEY/A Book Give-A-Way Contest

Baily is an irresistibly, lovable creation by Harry Bliss; a New York Times best selling illustrator, an award-winning cartoonist and cover artist for the New Yorker magazine. After reading this book with several delighted kindergardeners, I'm confident that Bailey will entertain all who get to spend the day with him!
If you have or know a little one who loves books and lives to giggle, be sure to enter this give-a-way contest. Scholastic Press will send three (3) lucky winners a hardcover copy of Bailey. (Please find contest rules at the bottom of this page. Entering is as easy as submitting a comment with a method of contact. That's all there is to it!)
Contest ended October 7th, 2011/11:59 p.m. (PST) 
Bailey
by Harry Bliss
ages 4-8
Meet Bailey, a dog who surprises and charms his fellow human classmates with his irrepressible antics.
Follow Bailey the dog as he gets ready and goes to school. Should he wear the red or blue collar? Both are so fashionable! Will he be late? That squirrel is a distraction! And what about Bailey's homework? Would you believe he ate it? That is what dogs do, after all.
In this funny new book from the best-selling children's illustrator Harry Bliss, school proves to be an unexpected place for Bailey to do all sorts of things he loves: reading, fetching, painting, digging, singing — and making friends!
Related Link:
Bailey/The Scholastic Store

Official Giveaway Rules:
1. Entry Instructions. Submit a comment explaining why you would like to win, by clicking on the "comment" link at the bottom of this page , with a method of *contact (ex. E-mail address), so I can reach you should you win.
Or
Send an email to shnoozleland@aol.com with a method of *contact (ex. E-mail address). Be sure to write on the SUBJECT line which Giveaway contest you are entering.

*A valid method of contact is necessary to enter Giveaway contest.

2. Entries Per Person. Entries are limited to one (1) entry per person, per E-mail address, during the Giveaway period, regardless of method of entry. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means are void.
3. Giveaway Period: The Giveaway entry date begins at 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) the day of the post. The Giveaway closing date ends as of 11:59 p.m. PST on the date indicated in the post. Winners will be selected from eligible entries properly submitted during the Giveaway Period.
4. Winner Selection. A prize number will be assigned to your entry upon receipt of your entry. A winning number will be generated using Random.org on or shortly after the Giveaway closing date. If your Prize Number matches the Winning Number, and you meet the eligibility requirements and otherwise comply with these Official Giveaway Rules, you win the prize.
5. Winner Notification. Three winners will be notified within three (3) days after the Giveaway Closing Date and will be posted once the prize is claimed by the chosen winners.
6. Claiming Your Prize. Winners must respond to: www.grandbabies101.blogspot.com or www.shnoozleland.com within seven (7) days of notification or forfeit the prize, in which case an alternate winner will be selected.
7. Taxes. All Federal, State, and Local taxes associated with the receipt of any prize are the sole responsibility of the winner.


8. Disclaimers. The featured product(s) on this blog were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or public relations company representing the product/creator. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

This blog will make every effort to deliver prizes or have prizes delivered to winner. However unlikely the scenario may be; this blog and its author are not responsible for giveaway prizes that are lost in transit or damaged. This blog is also not responsible if a sponsor/company does not send prize(s). Blog author will communicate with said company(s) several times, in an effort to resolve issue. The owner of this blog is also not responsible or liable for ANY allergic reaction, accident, or injury caused by a product that has been featured, reviewed or given away on this blog.
All GIVEAWAYS are open to US Residents Only