Click the link above to download a printable .pdf.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
First Day Printable - Kindergarten
I'll add to this post as I create more but here's a quick 1st day of Kindergarten printable I created for my middle child. It's a big week here in our house!! Available for download here.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Connecting with Kid Knex!
We were fortunate enough to be chosen to host a Kid K'nex exploration party through Tryazon. We got to explore their building sets aimed at the preschool market and it was pure LOVE. I have to admit I already owned two sets of these building block type toys that I had scavenged form garage sales. At the time of purchase I checked online and couldn't find more. I'm so glad to see them readily available and a new focus point for K'nex brands. THEY ARE AMAZING. Our local science museum has them out for free play and they are always busy. If you have a toddler through early elementary school age child they will enjoy them.
How are they different than other building sets??
Like other K'nex products, the pieces connect easily to make 3-d builds. These sets include pieces like eyeballs, fins, feet, and more. My children build geometric masterpieces along with crazy animal monsters.
Did you miss our live unboxing on Facebook?? Check out the short clip here.
How are they different than other building sets??
Like other K'nex products, the pieces connect easily to make 3-d builds. These sets include pieces like eyeballs, fins, feet, and more. My children build geometric masterpieces along with crazy animal monsters.
You're luckier than I was years ago searching for Kid K'nex because they're available online through Amazon! These would be a perfect Christmas gift for grandparents wanting to make parents happy with a stimulating choice and children happy with fun!!
Did you miss our live unboxing on Facebook?? Check out the short clip here.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Learning with Lauri
We were picked to host a Learning with Lauri party through Tryazon! This means our family received a box of their products in order to share and explore it with our friends. I hosted the party at the local elementary school which serves as a great meeting space for friends!!
Lauri was founded by a school teacher in 1961. They're a staple in most preschools these days and the classic Lauri stacker is a favorite. I was so excited to see the new twist on the classic stacker set, Action Stackers! Even my 8yr old who swears he was way to old to play with preschool toys has been busy building and playing. The addition of the moveable pieces were key!
In addition to the Action Stackers, we got to sample tall stackers with a peg board, objects magnetic set, actions language cards, create-a-scene magnetic farm, shape and color sorter, and a crepe rubber puzzle.
The actions cards are perfect for any number of language and movement exploration games. I have actually used them with even older children to play charades. All little ones seem to love magnets. We use a large magnet board at home and a portable one on car rides. They tell stories and play games all using the picture magnets.
I love Lauri products, we love Lauri products!! Lauri products by Playmonster were already a staple on our preschool learning shelves and through Tryazon we've found new favorites too!!
Lauri was founded by a school teacher in 1961. They're a staple in most preschools these days and the classic Lauri stacker is a favorite. I was so excited to see the new twist on the classic stacker set, Action Stackers! Even my 8yr old who swears he was way to old to play with preschool toys has been busy building and playing. The addition of the moveable pieces were key!
In addition to the Action Stackers, we got to sample tall stackers with a peg board, objects magnetic set, actions language cards, create-a-scene magnetic farm, shape and color sorter, and a crepe rubber puzzle.
The actions cards are perfect for any number of language and movement exploration games. I have actually used them with even older children to play charades. All little ones seem to love magnets. We use a large magnet board at home and a portable one on car rides. They tell stories and play games all using the picture magnets.
I love Lauri products, we love Lauri products!! Lauri products by Playmonster were already a staple on our preschool learning shelves and through Tryazon we've found new favorites too!!
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Tube Feeding 101: NG Tubes
I'm starting a series of posts using knowledge we've personally gained in the last 6 months. Having medical equipment thrust into your life is hard. It's even harder trying to figure out how to make it all work once you're out of the hospital and you don't have an appointment or Dr. to ask every day.
An NG Tube is a naso-gastric tube inserted through the nose down into the stomach. Every facility has it's own standards and practices. Ours, from our local and world renowned Children's Hospital, included teaching competent parents how to replace and reinstall an NG tube before their child is discharged. Babies, toddlers, and children will likely have them come out due to pulling or even vomiting so being able to replace is a key help to avoid repeat ER trips. Otherwise the medial tube was rated for 30 day insertion and the tape was redone as needed. Even if you're not replacing the full tube yourself, you'll need to know how to re-tape and secure.
We prefer DuoDerm tape and Cavillion barrier wipes. To get prepped I precut the DuoDerm into two pieces. The first is a rounded edge square or a circle. The second is a small circle with a mustache line off of it. My awesome artwork below shows what I mean.
Starting with a fresh clean face we wipe the barrier wipe on the spots where tape will be placed, each cheek and under the nose above the lip. Then we choose the cheek closest to the nostril side the tube is inserted into. we measure and hold the NG tube secure across the cheek and back to the base of the ear. The first piece to be place is the small circle with mustache. secure the end of the mustache line over the NG tube itself on the side where NG is waiting. Stretch the line under the nostril and across then secure small circle on check. Piece one is placed.
Piece 2 secure the end of the mustache line and the cheek area where the NG tube is crossing. Place it and you're done! We only changed tape when it was completely necessary and not even time a corner started to turn up or a splash of food got on it. Removing the tape can make the skin more sensitive and injured so we tried to hold off.
NG Tubes can often be quite long so we used a homemade pacifier clip to roll the excess and pin on the back of his shirt when not in use!
An NG Tube is a naso-gastric tube inserted through the nose down into the stomach. Every facility has it's own standards and practices. Ours, from our local and world renowned Children's Hospital, included teaching competent parents how to replace and reinstall an NG tube before their child is discharged. Babies, toddlers, and children will likely have them come out due to pulling or even vomiting so being able to replace is a key help to avoid repeat ER trips. Otherwise the medial tube was rated for 30 day insertion and the tape was redone as needed. Even if you're not replacing the full tube yourself, you'll need to know how to re-tape and secure.
We prefer DuoDerm tape and Cavillion barrier wipes. To get prepped I precut the DuoDerm into two pieces. The first is a rounded edge square or a circle. The second is a small circle with a mustache line off of it. My awesome artwork below shows what I mean.
Starting with a fresh clean face we wipe the barrier wipe on the spots where tape will be placed, each cheek and under the nose above the lip. Then we choose the cheek closest to the nostril side the tube is inserted into. we measure and hold the NG tube secure across the cheek and back to the base of the ear. The first piece to be place is the small circle with mustache. secure the end of the mustache line over the NG tube itself on the side where NG is waiting. Stretch the line under the nostril and across then secure small circle on check. Piece one is placed.
Piece 2 secure the end of the mustache line and the cheek area where the NG tube is crossing. Place it and you're done! We only changed tape when it was completely necessary and not even time a corner started to turn up or a splash of food got on it. Removing the tape can make the skin more sensitive and injured so we tried to hold off.
NG Tubes can often be quite long so we used a homemade pacifier clip to roll the excess and pin on the back of his shirt when not in use!
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Strictly having fun with StrictlyBriks
*I received these products in order to review with them and share with my family. No compensation was received.
Strictly Briks prides itself on integrating their products with everything you already own and encourages random free play building. These items fit standard Lego bricks and take building to new heights. They have stackable baseplates which mean your kids can build in 3D. They can make ramps wit the cutouts situated in the baseplates, throw in some car fun and build a whole kingdom even. For a fun beginner set of baseplates we LOVE the Trap & Gap.
AlphaBriks are a cool new way to make writing fun. When used as a learning tool spelling lessons, sentence formation and more can be done. When sat outside a bedroom door a fun note can be conveyed and when hung on the wall an ever changing sign board is had. Seriously these are so much fun and integrate literacy into play.
They also make baseplates and fun accessories that fit with the large size bricks (Duplo brand). these are perfect for toddlers just starting to build and make creativity easier for those preschoolers not yet able to manipulate the smaller pieces.
Check out everything they have to offer with Strictly Briks!!
If you're like us, building bricks are the hottest toy in the house. We have specific sets but we also have random free play bins.
Strictly Briks prides itself on integrating their products with everything you already own and encourages random free play building. These items fit standard Lego bricks and take building to new heights. They have stackable baseplates which mean your kids can build in 3D. They can make ramps wit the cutouts situated in the baseplates, throw in some car fun and build a whole kingdom even. For a fun beginner set of baseplates we LOVE the Trap & Gap.
AlphaBriks are a cool new way to make writing fun. When used as a learning tool spelling lessons, sentence formation and more can be done. When sat outside a bedroom door a fun note can be conveyed and when hung on the wall an ever changing sign board is had. Seriously these are so much fun and integrate literacy into play.
They also make baseplates and fun accessories that fit with the large size bricks (Duplo brand). these are perfect for toddlers just starting to build and make creativity easier for those preschoolers not yet able to manipulate the smaller pieces.
Check out everything they have to offer with Strictly Briks!!
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