honeyhaze's Profile

Okay, apologies for posting so many times about this, but we tried it and loved it! I had a feeling it'd be a nifty quick activity when I saw this post and it was. After I filled the bag with paint and taped it closed, I had my son (almost 3) trace shapes in the paint, blend the colors in various ways, shake the bag, squish the bag... this is a really cool sensory activity! Try it before deciding that it's a too-clean alternative to finger painting, it was fun :)

Not sure if this photo will come through, but here's what ours looked like... we hung it up in the kitchen window: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/401201_10150610185526928_743576927_11213171_657227881_n.jpg

Yes, I don't think anyone was suggesting banning finger painting! A lot of nifty things can be done using this type of plastic bag trick. It's really cool! I'm going to try it today.

Kahlua Especial needs to be on this list, really. No proper bar doesn't serve a White Russian.

@kerrimorgan, the book reading experience on a tablet is remarkably similar to reading a paper book. Tablets are highly tactile devices, which is why they're so popular. There are also a lot of excellent children's books for tablets, classics like Horton Hears a Who. I'm an avid reader and have switched almost entirely to using the Kindle app on my iPad; I find it easier to read on the iPad because I no longer need to keep track of my bookmark, put batteries in my booklight, or deal with the wrist strain that heavy books cause when I read in bed.

I used to be very turned off to electronic devices for children. I remember once scoffing when one of my little cousins took out her Nintendo DS at the dinner table. Since having children of my own I've come to appreciate how nifty and engaging things like the iPad can be. I sometimes read books to my son on his iPad and there are some cool advantages: built-in book light for bedtime reading (very handy), narration if I'm too exhausted to read but still want to enjoy a book with my son, images when touched usually show/say the word. And it's still a book. It has pictures and words and a story. A book doesn't have to be made out of paper to be a book..

I'm all for highly tactile, naturalistic play. But let's not disregard electronic engagement simply because it's electronic. Some people used to think the radio was the work of the devil and would turn children away from enjoying making music with their families. They were right, families making music together became less common, but perhaps sitting around while grandpa plays the banjo night after night isn't quite as quaint when you have no alternatives.

These days there is a legitimate place for "apps" on the list of classic toys. A good app expands a child's imagination in a similar way as a good book, an easel, or a bunch of rubber bands.

I understand the resistance to these devices. Digging in the dirt with a stick seems like the best thing in the world after staring at a computer screen for hours. But the key is balance, not diminishing the benefits of toys like the iPad. My two year old creates really cool artwork on his iPad that he wouldn't yet be able to do even if let him use every last thing in our craft closet.

We have the first three, but hadn't heard of the others. THANK YOU! Sometimes it's hard to dig through all the apps to find the gems, so this list helps :)

Happy 1st Birthday, McKenna!

I don't like the decorator nursery trend of the weird hanging canopy/drapery thing over the crib (or couch, as in this case). I think those things look so looming and awkward. Celebrities seem to like them in nurseries, maybe because it makes the room look expensive, but I find them so tacky and overdone. The whole couch/canopy area is pretty yucky for me.. dark brown wall, uncomfortable looking couch with way too many pillows, fussy canopy. The pendant light is cool, though, and inspiring.

The rest of the nursery I really like. Sharp corners are actually okay for the first six months of life and then parents can adjust as needed. And the first six months with a first baby can seem like six years, so I say enjoy those sharp corners while you have the time.

The crib is really cool. Also love the peacock, pelican painting, sunflower mirrors, curtains, Moroccan inspired tables, Moroccan inspired pendant light. I think these elements could be incorporated into a whimsical and relaxing nursery.

Happy Birthday to Chase! I love the look on his face in the middle picture, awesome. What a cutie!

Who makes those play kitchen pieces?

Pop pop pop pop pop pop!