Week One: Welcome!

Week 1 Objectives:

Number of the Week:  0
Letter of the Week:  Aa
Colors of the Week:   Blue, Black, White
Sight Word:  I 
Song of the Week:  "Five Little Monkeys"
Book of the Week:  "Five Little Ducks" (any publishing will do) 

Materials:

Printouts: 

• Number 0 Poster: 
• Number 0 Tracing Page: 
• Letter Aa Poster: 
• Letter Aa Coloring Page:
• Letter Aa Tracing Page: 
• Color Caterpillar/Ice Cream Cone Template: 
• Sight Word Card: I 

Books: 

• "My A Book" by Jane Belk Moncure
• "Five Little Ducks" by any author 

Craft and Other Supplies: 

• Crayons
• Scissors
• Glue
• Aluminum foil, acorns, or animal crackers (to glue onto Letter Aa Poster)
• Flashlight 

Number Activities: 

• Number 0 Poster
• Print, color, and save for later
• Tracing Number 0 Page
• Just print and go
• Number 0 Poster Puzzle 
• Cut the Number 0 Poster into your own little puzzle to put together. Keep it simple (4-6 pieces)

Letter Activities:

• A is for Apple Coloring Page 
• Print and color, emphasizing the A sound in Apple 
• Tracing Worksheet: Letter Aa
• 
  
• Read "My A Book" by Jane Belk Moncure
• Collect items for "My A Box" from around the house
• Letter A Poster 
• Print and fill with items that start with the letter A. 
• You can glue these to the poster: Aluminum, Acorns, Animal crackers
• Snack Ideas: Apples, apple sauce, apricots, ants on a log, animal crackers

Color Activities: 

• Color, cut and glue the color caterpillar/ice cream cone together (black, white, blue)
• Flashlight Scavenger Hunt
• Pick one color each day and go through the house with a flash light looking for items that color. Have your child shine the light on whatever he/she finds. You may also place those items in a sensory box. 
• Snack Ideas: Oreos, 

Song Activities: 

• Sing "Five Little Monkeys" with finger play
• Color, cut, and glue "Five Little Monkeys" finger puppets
• Sing the song using the finger puppets

Book Activities: 

• Read "Five Little Ducks" 
• "Five Little Ducks" finger play
• Number- show the number of ducks on your fingers
• "Over the hills"- move hand in front of you like you're going up and down hills
• "far away"- hold hand over your eyes like you're looking for something far away
• "quack, quack, quack"- move hand like a duck's beak saying "quack"
• Duck Hand Print Craft
• Need: scissors, glue, paper, crayons
• Trace child's hand print onto a sheet of paper. Add a wing, eyes and bill to the thumb, and feet under your duck. 
• Tip: Tilt your child's hand and keep fingers together so it doesn't look like a turkey
• Color and cut out your duck

Secular Home School on a Budget

Home Schooling

We intended for Monkey to start head start this year as another way to curve his behavior (which has gotten MUCH better just since my previous post). He ended up not being able to start, so I decided to start homeschooling him. I know some people think that he's too young for structured lessons, and that he just needs to learn through play... But we all do what we believe is best for our children, and this is the route we've chosen.

After I decided to home school, I started looking for a curriculum for him. While I did find several wonderful resources online (both paid and free), I couldn't find everything I was looking for in one curriculum. It was also very difficult to find one that was secular. So, I did some research and took ideas from several places and developed my own curriculum for him. AND, I'm going to share it with you guys! Awesome, right?

Since I'm breaking down our objectives as I go along I won't have them all ready for you to see at once until May, but you can certainly follow us and use any of our ideas for crafty fun!

3 Year Old CurriculumThese are the things Monkey and I will achieve by the end of this school year:

• Numbers 0-15 (counting and recognition)
• Basic Shapes Recognition
• Basic Color Recognition
• Sorting and Pattern Recognition
• Uppercase & Lower Case Letters (sounds and recognition)
• Able to "read" Pre-School Sight Words (50 Dolch words)
• Recognize, Spell and Write His Own Name
• Trace Lines and Curves by Following Dots
• Use Scissors to Cut a Straight Line
• Memorize Nursery Rhymes and Finger Play

Materials:

I set out to home school without spending a ton of money on supplies, so most of my plans can be done using a few basic school supplies and a library card (we get all of the books we use from the public library here). It has been very cost effective so far! 

For starters, I would purchase the following:

• A pack of Construction Paper (I bought one with several colors) 
• Pre-k scissors (these are springy and much easier for a beginner to use) 
• Glue/Glue Sticks (we use purple glue sticks for everything we do) 
• Jumbo Crayons (easy to hold and NOT easy to break, an 8-pack will do)
• A crafty starter kit (ours has pom-poms, googly eyes, and pipe cleaner in it) 
• Finger Paints (we have an assortment of small pots in different colors) 

Optional Items We Use:

• 1" Binder & Plastic Sleeves (to keep my printed lessons and weekly print-outs in) 
• Day Planner (to write our lessons in for the week) 
• Cork Board & Push Pins (to create a Learning Board where we put our weekly activities, I'll add a tutorial on this later)

Of course, if you do not own a printer, paper, or ink you'll need those things, too. Everything else I'll provide links to in each weekly blog. 

Allons-y!  :-D 

Cloth Wipes: The Final Diapering Frontier

If you've been with me this long you probably know that I cloth diaper. And I absolutely love it! Like many others, cloth wipes were the final frontier. Uncharted waters that I was very cautious to dive into.

However, once you make the switch to cloth diapers disposable wipes become an annoyance. Where can you put the wipes while you're changing a diaper so you can throw them away without touching poop?? Why are you still throwing money away with each diaper change? And why are you still putting harmful chemicals onto your baby's bottom? (even the "sensitive" wipes have some pretty harsh chemicals in them-- take a look!)

Using cloth wipes really is a no-brainer once you start using cloth diapers. They get thrown into the pail and washed with the diapers so there's no fuss there. I make my own wipes (flannel on one side and terry cloth on the other), make my own solution, and store them in an old wipes container. I'm becoming a sewing junkie, so there will be diaper tutorials in the near future  ;)



Sew Your Own Wipes:
I'm definitely NOT a seamstress or a tailor, so this is in no way intended to be a professional opinion. This is just the way I make my baby wipes. These are turned and top-stitched, since I don't own a serger and zig-zagging wasn't holding up as well as I would have liked.

1. Decide what kind(s) of fabric you want to use. I use flannel and terry cloth since I like the way each of them works (gentle when I need it to be and capable of some heave "dooty" cleaning when I need it to be). You can use old baby towels (terry cloth) and receiving blankets (flannel) to make this a no-cost project (except for thread). Make sure you wash whatever fabric you choose to pre-shrink.
2. Decide on what size you want your wipes to be. Mine are 4"x8" so they'll fit into an old commercial wipes container, and so they're big enough to get the job done. I've had 4"x4", but they seemed to just be too small for us, and 8"x8" is too big, but you might prefer the extra surface area. 
3. Trace your pattern and cut out your wipes. I traced a pattern onto an old cardboard box and used that as my template. If you're going to turn and top-stitch remember to add 1/4" all around your pattern (for my 4" x 8" wipes I cut the fabric out 4.5" x 8.5"). If you'd like rounded corners you can use a quarter to trace in the corners of your pattern.
4. Start sewing! This will vary a little depending on what style you choose, but this is the way I put mine together when I first started, since I don't have a serger. Don't follow these steps for T&T!

• Place the two fabrics together, wrong sides facing. You should see the print(s) on the outsides.
• Pin all the way around.
• If you have a serger, you just serge all the way around your wipe here and you're all done! Admire your work!
  
  If, like me, you don't own one, keep going:
• Straight stitch all the way around your wipe, making sure to back-stitch at the beginning and end so your seams won't pull out. I do mine about 3/8"" from the edge, leaving just enough room for my zig-zag. You can adjust this if you'd like your zig-zag to be taller or smaller than mine.
• Zig-zag stitch all the way around your wipe, between the edge and your straight stitch. You want the top of your stitched to go over the edge of the fabric a little to prevent fraying as you wash your wipes.
• Trim off your excess thread and any frayed edges and admire your work! They'll get better the more you make, and no one will care if they aren't perfect :)

         Turned and Top-Stitched Baby Wipes:

• Place your two fabrics together, right sides facing. You should see the backsides of your fabrics on the outsides.
• Pin all the way around. You might want to mark a place about 2 inches long where you won't sew (this is where we'll turn it right side out when we're done stitching).
  
  
• Start at the bottom of your mark and straight stitch all the way around your wipe, stopping at the top of your mark so you leave an opening. I use the edge of my presser foot as a guide
• Trim the corners of your wipe by cutting across the corner at the peak of your stitch and then down the sides near your stitches. This alleviates some bulk. Be careful not to cut into your stitching!
  
  
• To start turning, place your thumb into the opening you've left and put it into one of the corners of your wipe, pinch it with your index finger, and turn that corner. Repeat for the three remaining corners and then flip your wipe right-side-out.
  
  

  

  1. Thumb inside

  

  2. Pinched

3. Corner turned

Turned right side out

• Press your seams with an iron. Be sure to fold in the fabric at the opening and press it evenly with the rest of the wipe.
  
  
• Straight stitch all the way around your wipe, as close to the edge as you can. You want to make sure you close up the opening we left earlier. Again, use back-stitches to keep your stitches from unraveling. And we're done!
  
  

Storing Your Baby Wipes:
There are essentially two ways you can store your babywipes: wet or dry. You can store your wipes in an old wipes container and pour your solution over the wipes so they're ready to go whenever you need them, or you can store them dry and use a squirt bottle to add solution to your wipes whenever you need them.

Wet storage is more convenient, however you will have to add tea tree or lavender oil to your solution to keep them from getting mildewy or moldy (ewww...).

While there is no chance of mold or bacteria growing on your wipes, dry storage means you'll have to wet wipes every time you need to change a diaper. They both work equally well and you can use the same solution, so it's just personal preference.



Baby Wipes Solution:

This is a very basic cloth wipes solution recipe that can be changed to suit your needs and personal taste, but will still get the job done. I opt for organic ingredients, but you can use whatever you have as long as your baby isn't irritated by it. When you mix, be sure to mix water, oils second, and soaps last so you don't create bubbles.

This recipe makes enough to cover about 20 wipes if you're using wet storage. If you're using dry storage you can just mix this up in your squirt bottle and shake it up a little before each use.

• 1/2 Cup Oil
• 1/2 Cup Soap or Baby Wash
• 2 Cups Water

If you're using wet storage, be sure to add a few drops of lavender and/or tea tree oil to prevent mold and bacteria growth.

For dry storage, use a squirt bottle or spray bottle to spray the solution either onto your wipes or directly onto baby's bottom. 

Peaceful Parenting

I feel like everything I blog about is a touchy subject, but I'm pretty sure parenting technique tops them all. Everyone really does have their own opinions and feels like their way is the best way. Well, I'm not one of those people. In fact, I'm openly admitting that our way (the "traditional" way of yelling, spankings and time-outs) isn't the best way to parent. I actually felt pretty horrible about the negativity we were showing Monkey.

Like any other parent, I truly do believe that Monkey is a good boy, deep down beneath the tantrums, hitting, biting, and back talk. I knew that treating violence with violence was wrong, so I started searching for alternatives a few months back. We tried A LOT of ideas, and nothing helped until I set up our family rules and the "Time In Table" (I still don't know what we'll call it, so feel free to make suggestions!).

I'll upload all of these as word documents so you can customize them and use them for your own family :)

Family Rules:

I chose rules that would be easy for everyone to remember (only 4 words to remember, really) and that would be timeless. You can use whatever rules meet your family's needs, but I think keeping it simple is key. Monkey is only 3, after all.

Under each rule I added pictures of examples for Monkey to see, mostly because he can't read yet. We spend a little time every day looking at the rules and he likes to explain what's happening in the pictures. To reinforce the rules, I like to point out examples during his daily activities. For example, if he puts his cup in the sink when I ask I say, "Thank you! You are being very helpful. And very respectful by doing what Mommy asked you! Great job!". This way he doesn't only hear about the rules when he breaks them (which isn't very often anymore). We also point out when my husband and I (or even Bug) follows or breaks a rule so he knows these rules are for the whole family and not just him.

Just setting our expectations in writing and making sure Monkey knows and understands them has helped tremendously. We no longer expect that he should just know them (which seems pretty unfair-- expecting him to know rules without ever saying them or writing them down).

The Time In Table gives Monkey a place where he can relax and we can talk about his feelings and what we can do better next time. In my research I've learned that toddlers/pre-schoolers act out because they're overwhelmed by what they're feeling and have no idea what else to do, so it comes out violently. This gives me a chance to teach him how to identify his feelings and handle them so he doesn't end up breaking a rule next time. Much more constructive than punishing him for his feelings and hoping he'll figure out what to do on his own.


Time In Table (feel free to suggest new names for this!)

This is our version of a "time out". It isn't a time out at all really, just a place where he can calm down and identify his emotions. It's still under construction, but it's already helped a lot. This is NOT a punishment, and he's more than welcome to just go to the table whenever he wants.

Let's say Monkey and Bug are playing when Monkey gets mad and slaps Bug and takes whatever Bug was playing with. This is actually what happened when this picture was taken.

I let him know that hitting his brother was not kind, and tell him to go "calm down" (we both push our hands down towards the floor) and then we'll talk about his "feelings" (we both put our hands on our tummies). He goes to his table to color, hold his stuffed toy, "read" his book or do whatever is there (I'll be adding more) until he calms down.

After  he calms down I come over and we work on the whiteboard together (he can't read or write yet so I use this way. I'll upload a worksheet versions of this for older children, though).


Calm Me Kit:


This is actually an up-cycled Easter basket. I just cut the handles off of it and it holds his Calm Me Kit (you can use a shoe box or anything, really). There is Sushi (that's what he named his sea lion), a cardboard book, a coloring book, emotions coloring page, and markers (these are getting replaced with crayons when I get a chance). There was a Calm Me jar, but I made it from a baby food jar and it was broken shortly before this photo shoot (I suggest a plastic jar lol). I'm going to put a small mirror on the wall (so he can see his emotions, it'll help him identify them) and I'm making a bin of colored rice with essential oil and some gems for him to dig around in. All of these things help him to calm down by playing on his senses in different ways (watching the glitter in the jar settle, smelling lavender oil, giving him calming activities to do)


Take a Break Board:

I'm very proud of this board! I made it without having to buy anything, and I came up with the idea for this all by myself (please don't tell me if you've seen this somewhere else, I like feeling original and creative ;) ). After Monkey's calmed down, we work on this and talk about it together, answering the questions by choosing pictures. I haven't made the pictures for the third box yet (What can I do differently next time?) but they will be examples of good behavior.

The board itself was taken from an easel of theirs (I replaced this with a piece of cardboard so it'll still hold up his paper, I just don't like him using dry erase markers yet). Everything on the board I made in a Word document, printed out, and "laminated" with packing tape. The pictures will be glued to their magnets as soon as I can find my crazy glue.

The emotions magnets are just the colored version of the coloring page and the rules are minis of the pages we have hanging up on the wall. I sacrificed a couple of the flat refrigerator magnets we got from different businesses and will crazy glue them to the back of my "laminated" pictures.

The questions on the board use "I" statements, so he's taking responsibility for his actions and his feelings.
Ex: "I'm feeling angry." "I broke this rule."  He's not blaming Bug for what happened when he answers this way.


Calm Me Jar:

Coming soon!

Aromatherapy Rice Bin:

Coming soon!









Downloads:

Coming Soon!

Kicking Commercial Cleaners For Good! (Dishwasher Cubes)

Dishwasher packs were the last thing to go when I started making my own cleaning supplies. I had the recipe for it when I started making laundry soap, but it took me a while to get around to actually doing it. I think we were just waiting until we ran out of the commercial packs we were using.

This recipe doesn't contain a rinse aid, so we use white vinegar in the dishwasher. I'll give the details on that at the end of this post. 

             

               

        You Will Need:

• 1 Cup Borax
• 1 Cup Washing Soda
• 1/4 Cup Epsom Salt
• 3/4 Cup Lemon Juice
• Ice tray

Combine all of the dry ingredients into a bowl
and mix well.

Add the lemon juice until the mixture is the same consistency as wet sand, the kind you could build a sandcastle with. You might use a hair less than 3/4 cup, but usually that's the perfect amount.

TIP:
The citric acid in the lemon juice will react with the washing soda and fizz, so if you have kids this is a great, "fun" recipe for them to help with :)

Spoon the mixture into the ice tray and pack it down as tight as you can. If it's too loose your cubes will fall apart when you take them out. 

This is another fun part for the kids to help with, just make sure everyone washed their hands when they're finished. 

Warning! 
If you have any kind of open wounds on your fingers this will hurt! Just something I wish I would've remembered ;) 

Set them up on a window sill (or anywhere warm 

and sunny) for about 12 hours to dry. 

I make mine in the afternoon and they're good to go 

the next morning.

Turn the tray over and tap the bottom to release the cubes.

Store them in a plastic baggy, Tupperware, or any canister that will keep them nice and dry. We use the container our commercial dishwasher packs came in. 

To Use:

Use 1 cube for each load. To avoid film and water spots, use white vinegar as a rinse aid. Fill a cup with 1/2 cup vinegar and place it on the top rack. This will also keep the inside of your dishwasher free of hard water build-up and mold/bacteria if you load your dishwasher as you go. SO much cheaper than commercial rinse aid, and chemical free! 

***  DO NOT put vinegar in the rinse aid compartment of your dishwasher! It will erode the rubber tube that goes from the compartment into the dishwasher.