Modern Parents Messy Kids

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A “Manly” Photo Project for Father’s Day

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I already lamented earlier this week about the hard time I had coming up with a good Father's Day gift last year.  In the end I was successful, read all about it here, but a whole year has gone by and I'm having the same problem.  I always seem to default to a photo gift of some sort.  Maybe it's because my kids are still so young that they change A LOT from year to year and I like to give the hubs mementos of how small they once were.   This year I'm once again going the photo route … [Read more...]

Learning Through Play

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To say I'm not a fan of structured academics for young children would be an understatement (those "teach your baby to read" commercials make me throw up in my mouth a little).  But that doesn't mean I'm not in favor of learning.  Following a child's lead and introducing basic concepts into favorite playtime activities can be a great way to to learn at home.   Over at momtastic today I'm sharing a few ideas on how to do just that.  Check it out here. (And P.S. -  just so you know, C is a … [Read more...]

Our Favorite Stuff to Play Outside with ALL Weekend!

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We had an absolutely gorgeous weekend here in Seattle and I got some great pics of us taking full advantage of it in the backyard.  So today I thought I'd pretend I'm Dana over at MADE (who takes the most vivid pictures and always seems to have lots of great light) and give you guys a little peek into how we live.  And I couldn't resist adding a little info. on some of our favorite stuff to play with too!   Both kids love our water table.  If you read this post, then you know that C … [Read more...]

Father’s Day Idea: Help Dad Create Great Memories

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Father's Day is hard!  I think gift-giving for men in general is tough.  Add on the pressure to find something that's personal, special, and that he actually likes - and it's damn near impossible!  Around this time last year I was bemoaning this problem when it dawned on me that the greatest gift I could give my husband was to help him create some lasting memories with the kids.   Don't get me wrong, my husband is generally fantastic at telling jokes, playing around, and just being … [Read more...]

DIY Creativity Center (Toddler-Friendly & Baby-Proof)

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All it took was one little trip to IKEA and the creativity center that I've been visualizing for months now is finally a reality.  I was pleasantly surprised to find the main components came to a pre-tax total of only $70.       It's been up for two days and so far C has spent over an hour each morning parked here.  The best part is, it's always his idea - all the pretty materials on display seem to beckon to him (just as I hoped they would).     This is … [Read more...]

Fun with Paper Hats + The Mid-Week Look Book

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I'm at momtastic today (and when I say today I mean starting at about 4:00 AM EST) posting about fresh takes on a classic kid craft: paper hats. (I always wished I knew how to make cool newspaper hats when I was a kid.)  Check it out and then come back and click through for the Mid-Week Look Book.  I'm off to test out our new art center with the boy - tomorrow's the big reveal!  … [Read more...]

Guess What I’m Up To!

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Image via laissezfaire   If you're an MPMK facebook fan or twitter follower, then you already know what I've been up to today.  If not, here's a hint:     UPDATE: IT'S FINISHED - CHECK IT OUT HERE! I've been plotting some kind of writing center for C ever since I posted about this amazing set up back in MPMK's infancy.  I'm still very much considering buying that exact center when C gets a little older.  Lately, though, the art supplies have piled up and visions of … [Read more...]

Do You Mighty Machine?

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Have you guys heard of the Mighty Machines series yet?  Shot in Canada, they're awesome documentary-style videos perfectly suited for vehicle loving kiddos (got a little man in your life? - I'm talking especially to you).  I'm really excited to share a little about the series with you today.  Before we get to that, though, let me back up a little and briefly address the TV issue in general. I'm sure I've mentioned here before that I'm not big on TV for the kids.  We tried really hard to … [Read more...]

Good Stuff for Your Next Backyard Shin Dig

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Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us.  For many families that means kicking off the unofficial start to summer with a backyard BBQ or a party in the park.  In an effort to encourage you all to partake in just such a ritual, I've gathered up some helpful stuff to make your summertime celebrations a breeze.  Click through for the goods. Lets start with a trio of cool treats, which are always a fun way to celebrate summer (even here in Seattle where the weather's not exactly … [Read more...]

10 Incredible Set Ups for Dramatic Play

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photos via Frugal Family Fun Blog, TinkerLab, and No Time for Flashcards.   Earlier this month one of my favorite sites, ohdeedoh, was kind enough to highlight my DIY Veggie Garden Sensory Box.  As always, it was a thrill to be featured but the comments were also somewhat eye-opening.  One reader wrote, "Maybe I'm missing something, but this seems really odd and pointless... if you want to excite kids about caring for a garden, why not get a houseplant and teach them how to care … [Read more...]