Easy Donation

Have you seen these before? They are found on a number of products that you probably buy on a regular basis, and on some you wouldn't expect. They are found on cereal, diapers, toilet paper, cookie mixes, yogurt, paper plates, and more.

Box tops are an easy way to donate to schools without costing you anything. Don't have school age children at home anymore? Save them for the cute kids next door, or send them to your grand kids, or I am sure your local school would be happy to take them off your hands. You can get a complete list of participating products here.

These little things add up fast and make a big difference. Schools are able to provide extra programs that the state does not fund. My kids school just got a check for $1000. Once you start collecting you will find them everywhere. Now go look through your house and see how many you have to give.

Blanket babies

I have to admit that I was a blanket baby. OK it went way beyond baby, I still have it in my closet. So I guess it is fitting that all of my kids have become attached to their blankets. The sad thing is that my two oldest's blankets really are no longer blankets. They are more batting with shreds of fabric hanging from them. So why do they still have them? I blame my parents for that one, they made me get rid of my blanket when I was little(see pic below). It didn't work though I just got attached to another, the one in my closet first belonged to my brother.


It looks like I am smiling and having fun, but I doubt that was the case. Thankfully I don't remember this horrible event, however this documentation is why my kids still have their blankets.

Anyway the point of this post is that I have found a great fabric that holds up well through the years. You know that really soft fleece that is fuzzy. It comes in prints or solids, and the easy part is you only need to cut it out and finish the edges. I just surged mine, but if you don't have a serger just zig the edge. So how do I know they last so long? I used this fabric for my little girl. Her blanket is over 4 years old now and is still in one piece.

Now the other part of this post. The fabric comes 60 inches wide. I bought two yards and made two blankets that were 36 inches square. With the left over fabric I made smaller squares so baby can take them in the car or tote them around the house, when it comes to bedtime it is always where it should be. I made two blankets so that one can be washing while the other is in use, and they last longer. You may not need two blankets, but if you end up with a blanket baby like mine, you will be glad in a few years.

Braille Month

It Braille Month!

While teaching 1st grade using the Houghton Mifflin curriculum book, we read a story about a girl who was blind and used braille to read. My students loved learning about Braille and "secret codes." We even did a few art projects with it. Here are a few fun activity you can do with your children or students and learn something new.

Materials
Printed Braille alphabet (see below)

Other Materials depending on the project
Liquid Glue
hole punch or sharp pencil/pin
little round objects:beans, bead, etc.
graham crackers or bread
frosting or peanut butter
chocolate chips, red hot dots, raisins, etc.

First, you need to print 1braille alphabet for each project. You can download one here or print one from here. In the past I got mine with boxes to help my students understand that it's based on 6 organized dots like on this web site here. They all print out kind of small, so if you have a copier/printer, cute it out and enlarge it. You can also try this Yahoo image here.

Project 1: Raised Glue Braille
You need liquid glue. The thicker the better because you want the glue to "stand up" not run. Elmer's works pretty good. There is also colored glue and even some paints might work. Pretty much, anything that will harden while standing up.

Open the glue about halfway (so it doesn't run out and ruin your page), dab it onto each dot of your printed Braille page. Try to fill the whole dot and get it to stand up instead of running. It's easier the thicker the glue is! Set a side and let dry.

Project 2: Raised Braille
You will need a sharp pencil/pin to poke holes. This one is a little tricky because you have to poke holes through the back side of the paper where there are no dotes. In any case, hold the paper up to the light and poke holes so that it leaves a raised dot on the front side. If you know how to print a mirror image, it will be a lot easier...
Under printer properties, select the features tab. Find orientation and check the mirror image box. This will print it backward so you can see the holes while you poke, then turn the paper over to feel the bumps.

Project 3: Raised objects Braille
If you don't want to deal with too much mess, find small round objects like: beans, beads, googly eyes, red hots, etc. to glue on to the braille paper.

Project 4: Raised Braille FOOD!
You can make a yummy Braille snack. Using mini chocolate chips, arrange a message for a friend on a graham cracker using frosting or peanut butter as your "glue." Break the grahams apart to make individual letters. See if you can figure out the letters using your tong instead of your fingers.

Project 5: Make your own Braille Stencil
You need a hole punch. Hole punch each braille dot. Once you have hole punched all the dots you now have a stencil to make WORDS!!! Write your name or even a secret message by coloring in the holes on a paper. Then you can do one of the projects above and try to have someone read it with out using their eyes.

Project 6: Make your own Secret Code
Children can make their own symbols for the alphabet including: stars, hearts, dots, etc.

While You Wait...
While you wait for your Braille Projects to dry, you can lean something about the people who use Braille.

How long do you think Braille has been around?
Who invented it?
Who uses it?
Have you seen it at places you've been to?

Next time you use a public bathroom, look for the gender symbol. You will usually see some Braille below it.

To learn more about Braille and people with a sight disability try these sites...
American Foundation for the Blind
Braille Bug
Wikipedia Braille
Louis Braille

You can also request a FREE Braille card here!

Baby toys

My baby sometimes gets bored, and he won't play with something he is familiar with. I have decided baby toys are not as great as I thought. I found something new that I already had on hand that will entertain him for a while. I can even get stuff done and step out of the room for a moment. He doesn't cry because he has a friend to keep him company.



I also found these cute little ZuZu pets. I think these are the best kind of pet to have. Right now it keeps him busy because it makes noises, and when he is moving around he can chase it.



What do you have at home to keep your baby or toddler busy?