More Websites We Love

Here we are again with two more fantastic sites for you to perhaps check out and follow.

Structure in an Unstructured Life
Website: http://www.structureinanunstructuredlife.com/
Twitter: @BethAtStructure
Meet Beth a Wife and Mum trying to find calm amongst the chaos.
Follow her journey with the coach, Roo and Monkey as she shares in a fun and entertaining way about de-cluttering their life, home and getting ahead in this unstable world.
The meal planning section is full of great tips and advice . Another must where I certainly can use some advice with ever growing twin girls is the organization section.
I truly love perusing this site and always find something new.

How to be a Dad
Website: http://www.howtobeadad.com/
Twitter: @HowToBeADad
Charlie and Andy write this hilarious take on parenting from a Dad's perspective.
You need to see this site just for the funny instructional diagrams are my favorite - Ninja Dad, Zombie VS Baby a fantastic take and fun in the crazy but ever amazing side of parenting.
If you want a fun and entertaining break then don't miss How To Be A Dad.

Enjoy and please let us know your thoughts or other websites for us to share in.

Happy Play Times :-)

Weekend Watching - How To Make A Can & String Telephone

We have been doing a series on classic games recently and it gets the mind thinking of all types of fun stimulating things you used to do when we didn't have all that is at the disposal of children today.

Then my 10 month old daughter was using the bath cups where she was holding one to her ear and one to her mouth and making delightful screeching noises (anyone with young babies know that excitable ear piercing but oh so sweet until the 1000th time sound) and it made me think of the old tin can phone my Grandfather showed us how to make.

So therefore this weekend's watching is in honor of an age old communication tool way before the Iphone or Blackberry.

Give your children the joy of yesteryear and make one together and tell them that now the challenge is they have to make a game out of it there is not one built in :-)

Have a wonderful weekend to you and your families.

Happy Play Times :-) 

Friday Fun Facts - Past Editions

This week has seen a nasty sinus and chest infection invade this twin Mummy and I am not as young as I used to be or perhaps pre kids I slept them off? Either way we have decided to share some past posts for this week to reminisce on or perhaps see for the first time.

We look forward to returning to full health and having a bumper issue next week!

Thank you for all the continued support of our BLOG.

Happy Play Times :-)

Random Facts for You 
http://happyplayhappychildren.blogspot.sg/2012/06/friday-fun-facts-june-29th-2012.html

Space and Beyond....
http://happyplayhappychildren.blogspot.sg/2012/07/this-weeks-fun-facts-to-share-with-your.html

Animals Anyone?
http://happyplayhappychildren.blogspot.sg/2012/07/friday-fun-facts.html

Children's Play The Old Fashion Way - Part Two

This post once again is to take another trip down memory lane and bring old into the new generation once again!

Please enjoy and use some of these classic old play games with your family.

Hula Hooping

(4+)

Ok who remembers this as a child?

Great fitness, great for improving motor skills and hey great fun!

How long can you keep that hoop spinning?

I remember we used to have a group of girls in the neighborhood and we would compete round after round for the best hula hooper.

How to Play

Pick up a hula hoop have loads of energy and sway the hips!

Elastics

(4+)

Why was this so much fun?

Who knows???

But as a youngster I whittled away hours with my sister and next door neighbor on this game.

How to Play

Get a large piece of elastic (2 meters  +) and have it looped around two peoples ankles.

The player then performs various skips and jumps through the elastics raising it higher to increase difficulty until they can't complete then the next person takes a turn.

Rock-Paper-Scissors

(3+)

A great game needs nothing but two or more players and your hand.

This is fantastic to amuse youngsters in the car. I remember playing it on long road trips to pass the time.

How to Play

Open Palm = Paper

Closed Fist = Rock

Two Fingers in a Sideways V = Scissors

Count to 3 and make one of the 3 shapes.

The following combinations show you who is the winner...

Paper beats Rock (Paper can Wrap)

Scissors beats Paper (Scissors can Cut)

Rock beats Scissors (Rock can break Scissors)

Doing the same combination is a draw.

You can have a best of competition say 3,5 or 7.

Hope you've enjoyed these three additions in our series please check back soon for more old fashioned play ideas.

Happy Play Times :-) 

Book of the Moment - Dogs by Emily Gravvett

When your little ones start becoming aware of dogs it really is the cutest thing.

A walk out and about will greet you with squeals of delight or if like us and you have a pet dog it offers up hours of endless entertainment as they watch (safely and supervised of course) the dogs antics of the day. In fact it is one of the earliest words children can say!

Therefore any book about dogs at the upper end of the first 12 months is a huge hit.

And one of my favorites is "Dogs" by Emily Gravvett, the illustrations are beautiful, the wording simple and easy to teach as first words. We really have so much fun reading and sharing this book at story time.

You follow dogs that are spotty, sloppy, big, small, hairy and bald to find out which one is the child's favorite of all....

I highly recommend this book for your youngster it is sure to become a well loved and favorite book in the collection and of course for this age group it comes as an all important slobber proof and chew proof board book!

Perhaps you have read it and would like to share your opinion or we would love to hear of other dog books or animal books to add to our collection.

Happy Play Times :-)

Beautiful Quotes on Childhood - A change of play pace

A change of pace with this post I want to share some of my favorite quotes on children.

Because a quote always serves as a reminder and awakens the spirit and my spirit is truly awaken with how much I love my gorgeous daughters.

So here they are….

The souls is healed by being with children

(English Proverb)

Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.

(Walt Disney)

A person is a person no matter how small

(Dr Seuss)

Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.

(H Jackson Brown)

In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.

(Ann Landers)

And finally this on which I love….

Hugs can do great amounts of good especially for children.

(The Late Princess Diana)

What are some of your favorites? Please do share with us in the comments section.

Happy Play Times :-)

Weekend Watching - Easy Arts & Crafts Projects for Kids : Thumbprint Art: Arts & Crafts Pro...

This looks fun and easy as a simple art project for little ones.

I will keep it in my log of things to do when the girls are a tad older it will not be to far away though.

Enjoy it this weekend with your little ones and looks like a great activity for our northern hemisphere friends where the weather is beginning to cool into fall!

Have a great weekend.

Happy Play Times :-)