coloring – The Next Kid Thing

Pinterest President’s Day Activities

February 18, 2013February 18, 2013 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Like many grade-schoolers, my Trans-Kindergartner has off today for Presidents’ Day. Today was one of the few days off that didn’t get taken away because of snow/Sandy make up days. With that said, we plan to do a few activities in honor of our Presidents.

Even though he’s come home telling me stories about our presidents every day for the past few weeks, I have to really wonder if my 5-year-old is actually absorbing the lessons he’s being taught. And because I’m big on enrichment activities at home to continue the conversations started at school, I love referring to PInterest. Like so many others, Pinterest is an invaluable resource for non-teacher parents. So, while many of you are pinning recipes and fabulous crafts, (I do that too), I’m usually pinning grade-appropriate lessons for my kids.

So here are just a few President’s Day activities that I have bookmarked for our day today.

This is a link to a collection of President’s Day activities. I like that it includes past presidents like Washington and Lincoln, but it also includes an activity featuring our current presidents. I haven’t seen too many of those, which, to me, makes it worth the $5.00 fee. Source: Teacher’s Notebook

Source: teachersnotebook.com via Jen on Pinterest

This is a fun-looking sight reading book, but this features Washington, making it timely for today’s holiday. The word, “he” looks like the main word, so it’s perfect for early readers. This activity book is $.90. Source: Teachers Pay Teachers via Maria Manore.

Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Jen on Pinterest

This will be the main activity for us while the baby naps later today. Biggie is all about these mini books because he gets to color, cut and construct. Best part? It’s free, well other than the ink and supplies. Thank you, Ready, Set Read for this wonderful, free resource!

Source: ready-set-read.com via Jen on Pinterest

Are we following each other on Pinterest? Find me at jenrab on Pinterest!

Royal Wedding Fever

April 29, 2011April 29, 2011 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Despite the excessive media coverage of Will and Kate’s nuptials, it was hard not to ignore the elaborate details that came together for the whole world to see. I originally had this post scheduled to post yesterday—before the wedding. Obviously, that never happened. And since the wedding happened today, I thought I’d share a few kid-related items that gave a nod to Prince William and the now Princess Kate’s Royal Wedding.

Kate Middleton Paper Dolls

As a little girl, I can barely remember Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ Royal Wedding, but what I do remember was THAT dress. And perhaps, just like many of us thought of Will’s beloved mother in her gown 30 years ago, I’m willing to bet a generation of little kids will forever remember just how beautiful Princess Kate’s dress was today.

Princess Kate’s dress was a secret leading up to the moment she stepped out onto that Royal red carpet. The Wedding watchers of the world let out a collective gasp when she revealed that lace and satin gown designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. I thought she looked demure and elegant, with the classic lines and modern details. As one of the many people gawking at Kate’s dress, to get kids on the dress action, I particularly love Disney Family Fun’s paper dolls that you can print out online. It’s basically the Disney princesses’ dresses with a brunette Princess that looks somewhat like Kate. Grab the glitter pen, crayon and help the kids create their versions of Princess Kate’s wedding dress. If only there was a Wills Paper Doll to go along with Kate!

Lego Royal Wedding

Speaking of Wills…have I ever mentioned how much I love when people create Lego Art? Or my love of Lego Mini Figures? Check out the creativity of this Lego Royal Wedding featured over on BBC. My favorite is I Thee Wed, although the real church scenes were much more romantic! Be sure to check out the rest of the scenes!

Playmobil Special Correspondent

Playmobil has been cracking me up over on their FB page. They’ve had “Sarah” as a special correspondent covering the Royal Wedding all week. Hilarious!

Crafts Go Green: Eco-friendly Art Supplies for Kids

April 21, 2011 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Crafts are a fun family activity, and one that we love doing outside on our deck. When we’re painting and doing messy crafts outside, the little artist’s canvas seems limitless, and thankfully, cleanup time is much easier—or so it seems.

Many of my favorite eco-friendly crafts are of the DIY variety. The kid and I are fans of repurposing old household items and painting scraps of wood from our ongoing remodel. Even better than recycling the medium is making your own tools. Aside from DIY crafts, there’s a myriad of eco-friendly and kid-friendly art supplies that make craft time safe and colorful.

Here are just a few of my faves:

Glob Arts and Crafts Paints

Glob Art & Crafts Paints are botanically-based paints that also have fruity scents. These paints are colored naturally with pigments from fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices with natural food-grade ingredients. I love the Glob paints that come in packets; all you do is add water when you’re ready. Whether you and the kids are more watercolor painters or gauche painters, you add water and can determine the desired consistency. Glob also comes in Easy Shake jars, paint sets and other kits.

The color palette that’s offered is pretty basic, but after mixing and matching the paints, the spectrum of colors is seemingly endless. Glob can be used for paints, as well as for coloring DIY play dough, coloring eggs and more.

P’kolino

P’kolino, the makers of gorgeous modern children’s furniture and toys, also have a great line of art supplies. Through a collaboration with Jovi, P’kolino offers kid-friendly, non-toxic art supplies that includes, Triangle crayons, fingerpaints, markers, colored pencils, dough, creative dough and poster paints. P’kolino recently introduced their new line of art supplies which are inspired by famed Pop Artist, Romero Britto. And a coloring book inspired by Romeo Britto? Yes, please. The sustainability, bold colors, combined with the modern influence of P’kolino’s products make these art supplies ones to check out.

Stubby Pencil Art Studio

Stubby Pencil Art Studio is the mecca for eco-friendly art and school supplies. This online shop has a plethora of kid crafts and a great selection of supplies that are non-toxic, recycled, fair trade, educational, sustainable or environmentally responsible. I love perusing all of the different crafts and unique supplies, many of which you’d be hard pressed to find at your local big box craft store. Of all the green crafting goodness, however, I’d have to say my personal favorites are the cupcake crayons (!) and the colored Smencils. Ideal for birthday party gifts, the colorful, hand-poured cupcake crayons come in a 4-pack and are made of soy. The Smencils are made from 100% recycled newspaper, sharpen just like wood pencils, and have delicious scents like watermelon, bubble gum and cotton candy!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

March 2, 2011March 2, 2011 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

“Wake Up! For today is your Day of all Days!”

Today, the world celebrates Theodor Seuss Geisel, best known as Dr. Seuss, one of the world’s most beloved children’s authors. For what would have been Dr. Seuss’ 107th birthday, surely, many will celebrate his birthday in their own favorite way. In fact, courtesy of PBS Kids’, we hosted a small screening party to preview The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That’s new episodes in preparation for Dr. Seuss’ Birthday. (more on that soon!)

But really, Dr. Seuss’ birthday and celebration should be about the books that still line our kids’ shelves. According to an article I read, during his lifetime, more than 200 million copies of his 46 memorable books for children were sold. His stories have been translated into 20 languages and continue to touch kids’ lives.

And to commemorate the late author’s birthday, students, teachers and Dr. Seuss fans will honor his legacy with Read Across America Day.

After a trip to the library this morning, we will be having our own mini-party to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday! In the name of Dr. Seuss, we have a fun day planned, which includes reading our favorite Seuss titles, playing our favorite Cat in the Hat game from WonderForge, craft time and catch a few episodes of Cat in the Hat, too.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, whether it’s watching The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That marathon on PBS, reading Dr. Seuss books all day or having your own little party, be sure to make it a colorful one.

Check it

The Cat in the Hat marathon is on PBS today. Check your tv listings for the time. In NJ, it starts at 7am; NYC 8:30.

Want to do some crafts? Seussville has a few fun Dr. Seuss printables in line with Read Across America Day. PBS’ Cat in the Hat site also has a good variety of games, as well as printables. Thing 1 and 2 finger puppets? I think we will, thank you very much!

Time to Play Announces Holiday Must Haves

October 1, 2010October 1, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s October, and fall is officially in full swing. (How did that happen so quickly?)

Even though the season is just now starting to change, media and bloggers alike have had the holidays in mind for months now. In fact, I think I went to my first holiday preview back in May?

Nevertheless, I’m excited once again to curate—what I consider—cool new kid gear that would make fun gift for the holidays. But this week, to get the season started right, I had the chance to attend Time to Play magazines Holiday Showcase here in NYC.

The pros, Chris Byrne, content director, and Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of TimetoPlayMag.com unveiled Time to Play’s Most Wanted list, the 16 toys they predict will be the “must haves” for the upcoming holiday season. And once again, NKT was onhand to check things out and tweet all about it.

And here they are, TimetoPlayMag.com’s Most Wanted List for the 2010 Holiday Season:

AIR HOGS MOTO FRENZY
(Spin Master/Ages 8 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $24.99)

DISNEY PRINCESS & ME DOLLS
(JAKKS Pacific/Ages 6 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $49.99)

HOT WHEELS R/C STEALTH RIDES
(Mattel/Ages 6 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $24.99)

LEAPSTER EXPLORER
(LeapFrog/Ages 4 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $69.99)

LEGO Games – LEGO Systems
(LEGO/Ages 7 years & up/Approx. Retail Price $29.99)

LOOPZ
(Mattel/Ages 7 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $29.99)

MONSTER HIGH Dolls
(Mattel/Ages 6 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $16.99)

NERF N-STRIKE STAMPEDE ECS Blaster
(Hasbro/Ages 8 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $49.99)

PAPER JAMZ
(WowWee/Ages 5 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $24.99)

REAL CONSTRUCTION
(JAKKS Pacific/Ages 5 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $24.99)

SCRABBLE FLASH
(Hasbro/Ages 8 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $29.99)

SING-A-MA-JIGS
(Mattel/Ages 3 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $12.99)

SQUINKIES
(Blip Toys/Ages 4 years & up /Approx. Retail Price: $6.99)

TONKA CHUCK & FRIENDS CHUCK’S STUNT PARK Playset
(Hasbro Playskool/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99)

V.READER
(VTech/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $59.99)

ZOOBLES
(Spin Master/Ages 4 years & up/ Approx. Retail Price: $4.99)

They also highlighted three family-friendly video games, which include:

Kirby’s epicYarn
Epic Mickey
Dance Central

Most of the toys at the showcase were toys that I’ve had the chance to check out at Toy Fair, at media previews or have even been dubbed NKT faves, so some of the “must haves” were no surprise. They’re all great picks, but I have several more on my radar that I think should’ve made the mark. I’ll be sure to share those in my holiday gift guide, which is coming soon.

Do you guys see any toys that you think might be the “it” toy this year?

Whatever you think might be hot, put it on your radar NOW. Time to Play’s sage advice for consumers and industry insiders alike: “If you see it early, grab it early.”

Party On with Perfect Piggies

September 20, 2010September 20, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s a sunny Monday in our part of the world; what a great start to another week. This week marks the kid’s last week as a two-year old, and so in the week leading up to his birthday, I will be spotlighting his favorite things à la Oprah. Unlike Oprah, I won’t be giving away a bazillion and one things to all NKT readers, but I will be hosting some exciting giveaways and downloads—fun toys and goodies that have made our lives a little sunnier.

One of the kid’s favorite authors, Sandra Boynton recently released a fun new book, Perfect Piggies. If you love Boynton’s books as much as we do, then I’m sure you’re familiar with classics like Moo, Baa, La La La and Barnyard Dance. Many of her books have a sing-song appeal that’s catchy and memorable, just like this instant classic.

“We are all perfect piggies and we know what we need. It’s really very simple, very simple indeed: a troughful of food, a place in the sun, and a little bit of comfort when the day is done.”

Perfect Piggies, a simple celebration of being unique, echoes the same, fun rhythm and rhyme that Boynton on Board books are well known for, but better yet, this one has a downloadable song that goes along with it.

The Perfect Piggies song is sung in a cappella, and has a sweet swing to it. It’s catchy enough to induce some toe-tapping, finger-snapping and definitely kid-dancing. The song reminds me so much of one of my favorite groups, Straight No Chaser, an a cappella group that’s been known to make people laugh and swoon with their fabulous performances. And no doubt, the Perfect Piggies song and book make us swoon just as much, if not more.

Want to check out the song for your crew? Download the Perfect Piggies song for free here. Oooh, and there’s more, since we’re in party mode, have your own Perfect Piggies themed party, too! Download some activity and craft sheets, a party poster and even the song sheet, and throw yourselves a party that’s perfect for all piggies and kids alike.

Perfect Piggies is published by Workman Publishing and retails for $6.95. The song can be downloaded for free online, and the book is available in bookstores now.

Noodle and Doodle to Debut on Sprout in September

August 10, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Of the hundred or so exhibitors at this year’s BlogHer conference, since it was a blogging conference geared to women, the booths were geared to moms and families. Sprout was onhand to share all about their latest programming, and even distribute a few cool branded notebooks, coloring books, cups. My guy is sort of obsessed with Chica, so we’ve set aside our Chica cup to use to organize pencils and pens in his new room.

Crayola Launches Glow Explosion

March 16, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In an effort to help launch Crayola’s latest innovation, Glow Explosion, The Crayola Glowtrotters (a.k.a. Harlem Globetrotters) took to the floor at MaST Community Charter School and played the first-ever glow-in-the-dark basketball game.

From glowing basketballs to nets to rims to children’s drawings, the Globetrotter’s game gave kids a front row see to glow-in-the-dark creativity.

Crayola’s new Glow Explosion can create drawings that glow like glow sticks in the dark, as well as create lights. Kids use the Glow Markers to create their drawings on special paper. Then, use the Glow Activator to supercharge the art. The drawings can then glow in the dark for up to 4 hours. Glow Explosion is non-toxic and is recommended for ages 6 and up.

I loved the idea behind the glow-in-the-dark basketball game to launch this cool new product; I can only imagine how much laughter filled that gymnasium! I’m such a fan of Crayola, that I can’t wait to learn more about Glow Explosion. As always, as soon as I find out more, including release dates, I’ll be sure to share!