In your mouth

I will say that the enormous list of toy recalls in 2007 was a big wake up call. I did not question the safety of the products on shelves of the stores. I wish I had the awareness of natural, safer alternative products, when my little one was born. At that time, I thought keeping small parts out of my little one's hands was my only concern. How far from the truth could I have been?

Thankfully, my awareness has grown and I am integrating safer products into my household that are better for our bodies and our world- organic foods, eco-friendly cleaning products (white vinegar, baking soda, lemon, surprisingly it is that simple), participating in recycling and reducing our consumption. I feel that we are off to a good start and there is much more to discover and uncover. Here are a few things that caught my attention.

phthalates

California has banned chemicals called phthalates in children's products. Phthalates are commonly found in nail polishes, adhesives, caulk, paint pigments, sex toys, teething rings and baby care products (shampoo, talc, and lotion). Oh, just so you know, there is a warning on the sex toy packages that advises consumers to cover the sex toy with a condom when used internally, due to possible health risks (of the chemicals in the toys). I do not remember seeing a warning on my little one's plastic teething rings. Phthalates are linked to cancer and reproductive defects.

Plastic is pure chemicals, plain and simple. 

Natural wooden teething rattles and first toys, shown here from Camden Rose and North Star Toys are safe and aesthetically beautiful . Camden Rose also has wooden bowls and spoons. Remember to seal your wood items with natural, food safe beeswax.

bisphenol A

Envinonment California found leaching of bisphenol A (BPA) in Avent, Dr.Brown, Evenflo, Gerber, and Playtex  bottles. BPA has become controversial because it is linked to breast and prostate cancer and neurobehavioral  changes in the offspring exposed in the womb. Parents are choosing alternatives such as: glass bottles, stainless steal sippy cups, and BPA-free plastic bottles. Z Recommends sorts through the baby bottles and sippy cups. They recommend bottles by Born Free, MAM, and Adiri, breast pumps and supplies by Medela and Mother's Milkmate, and sippy cups by Born Free, Klean Kanteen, Thermos, and SIGG. See their chart below

Health & Beauty products update: We use a mixture of 1 T baking soda + 2 T water for our shampoo. My little one also has ultra sensitive skin and for years we struggled with this, until I discovered olive oil soap. 

My last comment really touches on getting the power in back in our hands. I never thought that products to me sold could and would be unsafe, full of chemicals, toxins, lead and/or carcinogens. Think twice before you decide where to spend your money.

CT Flower Show

I lost a post along the way regarding the CT Flower Show and the wonderfully inspiring things that we discovered. I absolutely loves this river stone wall and the lighting accepts on the White Birches. A little bit of understated formality. One amazing part of the show was a gnome garden. It incorporated a branch play house topped with hens and chicks on the roof. It was really magical and my little one asked for one. I love the varieties of hens and chicks offered at White Flower Farm, pictured below. 

If you like succulents, you might like Simply Succulents. They have some

interesting garden accents that are sure to draw some attention and conversation.

 

At the show, the Connecticut Horticulture Society inspired my sense of smell with pineapple sage and a few other varieties. They had a branch gate which added a rustic touch and a wood fence with birdhouse detail. Very fun, especially, for children. It reminds me very much of elements in the Natural Playground that allow children to experience the play environment with all their senses. We have some lavender, russian sage, and lamb's ear in our garden, which has been great to draw my little one into exploring and discovering. I am excited to add more sensory plants and other elements from the Natural Playground, this year.  

I purchased a few window bud vases with attached suction cups. These are a hit. I have put them on low windows and my little one's mirror to bring some beauty closer to her. They can be purchased here at Glass Roots. 

Birthday planning

My little ones Birthday is coming up, in a month, and I have begun thinking about ways to celebrate in a simple but memorable way. Here's her picture with Daddy from last year's party. I was thinking about a party at a local nature center, but we have 7 little ones that we need to think about, and the nature centers have a time limit. I will probably have it over my Mother's house, so we could celebrate around nap schedules. 

Now, for some activities for 4 year olds and then the younger children. Any suggestions? I was thinking of activities that I could have out, like a ball toss with beach buckets and balls, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, soccer balls and net, and a croquet set. I will probably bring out the little sandbox for the little ones and her play tent and tunnel. 

We do have some remarkably colorful sea shells that were brought back from my Grandmother from Sanabell Island. Maybe we could have a treasure hunt and the children could fill up plastic bottles with the shells and sand, like a peek-a-boo bottle. This could also serve as their parting gift. 

While, I am trying to keep things healthier, I need to keep things easier for myself, so I will be ordering pizza or maybe large grinders. After a few years of cooking for the party, I was too hectic to enjoy friends and family. I will offer some health snacks, like fresh fruit, tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole, a garden salad, and veggies with hummus. 

As for school, I would like to avoid the sweets and commercialized trinkets. I found some great ideas on notquitecrunchyparent.blogspot.com who suggests:

fruit skewers

cupcakes with homemade whipped frosting

large stawberries

popcorn in festive bags

pineapple boats

apples

soft pretzels

smoothies

small wooden toys, rocks, shells

I had these thoughts:

homemade muffins

bowl of mixed berries

trail mix

packets of flower seeds (I did these last year and the parents had such a positive response to them)

flower in a flower pot or a vegetable plant

watercolors or paints and a paint brush

bubbles

pinwheels

ribbon wands

wool jingle balls

Another Secret Hideout

My little one loves to hide and have her own space. Outside, she loves her secret hideout that our overgrown Peegee hydrangeas create. Inside, she likes to read in her bedroom for an hour or so with the door closed. She, also, likes to build a "cocoon" with blankets and couch pillows. While this is a fun time and turns into an hour or so of play, I thought it be nice to offer her another play area that is easily accessible. I found a wonderful canopy silk at Daisy Hill Silks on ebay that I draped over the opening on her playstands, to cover the entry way. The vibrant colors of the Field & Sky silk are a beautiful addition to her play area.

A reason to sing with children

From the first lullabies to calm my little one to the songs that she now makes up about her experiences, I have seen the wonderful gifts singing has offered. Not only is it fun and an amazing opportunity to play and share with your little one, it offers so much more. Research shows that rhythm, rhyme, and repetition are important in the development of the brain. The brain needs stimulation through multi-sensory stimulation. Music offers stimulation, as does, dancing, singing, clapping, and toe tapping. Repeating these experiences over and over again is important, as the brain is storing information and memories that will be the foundation for future learning.

- Lead by example, sing along and have fun

- Incorporate finger play and lap rides

- Add simple instruments, like maracas and rhythm sticks

- Add free movement

- Add clapping, stomping, hopping, galloping

- Vary high and low sounds, quick and slow movements

- Make up songs about daily activities and experiences, like dogs barking, birds chirping, and car horns beeping

- Experience sounds, like blowing on a wind chime, banging on a pot, crinkling dried leaves

Easter

Easter, a transition in my house from the candy filled baskets to the celebration of new life. Our celebration started weeks before the holiday. We went on nature walks and discovered nature emerge from hibernation - crocuses blooming, moss growing, a few ants enjoying an orange, robins returning, and pussy willows budding. We discovered the wind, as we have been invited to play with our streamers and pinwheels, blow bubbles, and listen to our wind chimes. We played in the puddles, dug for worms and jumped into a little stream. We brought nature in by creating a garden dish with the moss and planting some clover, forget-me-nots and basil. We visited some bunnies and experienced maple syrup being made. We made songs up about bunnies, spring, and jumping in the stream. As Easter grew near, we searched for bunny tracks, painted wooden Easter eggs, and planned to naturally dye our Easter eggs. 

Easter, also, brought, it's share of frustration, as I struggle with what I want for my little one and what I had as a child. Moving past the more is better syndrome and the commercialism of the holiday. I am met with resistance from family members. Come on folks, the holiday is not about overfilling the baskets with candy and it isn't about giving the child a belly ache. 

I want my daughter's mind, body and soul to be nurtured. I want the holiday to be remembered for sharing it with loved ones. I want to reestablish the magic and wonder of the holiday ... and of life. 

We continue our discoveries as we go on nature walks and notice flowers and life emerging around us. We watch the sparrows, who are building a home in our bird house. We examine nesting materials of a found bird house. We create opportunities for our little one to be a participant in nature, as we fill the bird feeders with seeds, put water in the bird bath, and nurture vegetables and flowers from seed. We create the opportunities that will allow her mind, body, and spirit to blossom. 

Now, with her basket empty and the distraction of candy gone, her pot of daffodils remains. She cares for the little daffodils, waters them, counts the flowers, examines the cup of the flower, discovers the specks of pollen, feels the smooth leaves, and discovers new flowers blooming. Candy verses daffodil bulbs, it is not even a close race. 

Coloring Books & Easter Eggs

Where to begin. Coloring books - Are they good for your children? From what I have read in my early childhood development books, everyone advises against coloring books. Coloring books do not seem that bad on the surface, but underneath it all they can effect children negatively. Taken from Art for the Fun of it, by Peggy Davison Jerkeins.

 

Coloring books provide:

- Loss of creativeness

- No stimulation of the imagination

- Detrimental effect upon children's self-confidence and independent thinking

- Deprives children of individual expression

- No emotional release

- Frustration

- Offers no feeling of achievement or pride 

- Promotes doing without thinking

- Offer no practice in the decision making, other than color

Please offer your child a plain piece of paper and a NON-TOXIC crayon, marker, or pencil instead of coloring books. 

Art should be fun. Let them experience different material. Just a few thoughts:

- Draw with berries 

- Paint with natural objects such as twigs, branches, acorns, indian corn 

- Paint with different textures- cotton balls, yarn, feathers, sponges, tin foil balls

- Make a mud pie painting

- Create rubbings from found nature objects, twigs, rocks, leaves, branches, shells

- Decorate a "secret" shipping box "hideout" or a "fairy" shoe box "house"

- Make playclay. Combine 4 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 3/4 cups warm water. Then, knead for 5 minutes.

- Make soup bubble sculptures

- Make picture from rocks, pebbles, beans, and/or seeds

As a parent, I would say to stay flexible. Observe and hold back from adding to their art or putting restrictions of them. Let the projects unfold as it may and be without an expectation of how the finished project should be. Let them experiment, have fun, get messy, and create their own piece of art. In our house, we have "painting clothes", which makes getting messy worry-free. We, also, have our little one help with the cleaning-up. 

At Easter time we color eggs

Shades of yellow, red and blue

We make them pretty as can be

We'll make some for you and some for me

Easter is tomorrow and this morning we colored our eggs in our jammies. We naturally dyed our Easter eggs with brown eggs, which did not have much of effect. The process was fun and my little one enjoyed herself. Isn't that the important part? To enjoy the moment as it is. Afterwards, we used the dyes to paint napkins. 

For dye we tried:

Greenish Yellow- boiled carrot tops

Red- fresh beets

Red- boiled red zinger tea

Blue- boiled red cabbage

Yellow- boiled yellow onion skins

Have a wonderful Easter!