The first thing I do is root through our cabinets, where I have their toys organized.  I survey things and make a mental note of things they haven’t played with in a while.  I pull one of those out and get them situated.  Every time I hear fussing, I swoop in, encourage them to clean that up and then pull out another.  This tactic may or may not last long, depending on how engrossed they become in a toy they haven’t seen in a while!  So then I have to move on to other things…

courtesy of: http://www.chickencounting.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

Now Gabe was asking the other day if he could play with the sand table outside, which was a no-go for a number of reasons (the least of which being it was 32 degrees out!!).  Instead find a tub in a size you are comfortable with (shoe-box sized up to a large tub you might keep seasonal decorations in.  This under bed one is a good price at Target.) and fill with as much rice as you have and let them put cars or measuring cups in there to play with. (just a thought:  next time at the grocery store, stock up on rice, maybe 5 pounds of it, to keep handy for wintery or rainy days)  Another option is to fill your kitchen sink with water and fill with little plastic floatable items.  This also becomes a teachable moment, as they say:  line up a variety of items and ask them which will float or sink and why.  Then let them drop each item in—bang-o prest-o you’ve got a science lesson!

DANCE!  Great for getting extra energy out.  I got Just Dance 2 for the Wii for Christmas and even though easier leveled dances are still a little too frustrating for Ian, they do make Just Dance for Kids now.  Ian especially loves to dance and it’s so entertaining you could tape it and watch it later for loads of laughs.  As a matter of fact, that’s something else you could do:  use your video camera (or laptop camera or cell phone) to video tape your kids doing their own play or recreation of their favorite books or movies.

And if all else fails and you’re really desperate AND you have an unfinished (or heck, finished with smooth floors) basement or garage, you can let the kids bike-ride or throw a ball indoors.  I know.  Completely goes against my maternal grain like nails on a chalkboard but sometimes, kids need an outlet!  When I was a kid, we had a partially finished basement—walls were finished but the floors were concrete—and while we had a hodge podge of hand me down furniture in our play area, we still played what we liked to call “indoor soccer” down there (I wonder how many fluorescent lights my dad went through in year….).   Other days, we closed the garage door against frigid winds and threw super bouncy balls into the sweet spot where the garage door met the floor to send them zinging crazily about the garage (much to our glee).  When we moved into this house from a small townhouse, we had a huge unfinished basement.  So when Ian got his first big wheels, we let him ride laps in our basement.

So you gotta ask yourself:  what can your kids (safely) do inside that will get rid of some of that energy and let them sleep at their regular time tonight?  And how important is it for you not to have an indent in your forehead from banging it against the wall?  You decide.

The post A Snowy Winter’s Day appeared first on YorkMama.com.

Beth Vrabel held her breath (and snapped a photo) as Emma, 7, soared high on a rope swing during a camping trip to the Poconos during the Fourth of July weekend.

By BETH VRABEL
Smart Mama

When I think of summer vacations as a child, I feel sunshine pouring across my shoulders as I raced the boy next door across the yard.

I remember working up the courage to pedal my bike down the hill in front of the house and to sleep in a tent in the backyard — by myself.

I remember splinters, stubbed toes and bee stings from running barefoot all day, but not putting shoes on the next day anyway. I remember climbing trees, making obstacle courses for grasshoppers and catching crayfish in the creek.

I remember sneaking fresh berries from the bushes next door and eating them until my lips and fingers were stained blue.

Every day was a secret adventure, packed with whatever I imagined and with whomever stopped by that afternoon.

It was a different era, in a way. When the sun came up, Mom told me to be back by lunch. After lunch, she said to be home by dark. The whole neighborhood was mine to explore.

Things I don’t remember: Being shuffled from swim lessons to sports class to the grocery store. Mom insisting I stay within sight at all times. Ever having an agenda any day of those blessed three months.

But I fear that’s what my children, 7-year-old Emma and 3-year-old Benny, might remember about this summer.
Our summer’s been fun — packed with farm tours, art camp and a trip to the beach. Ahead of us, we have camping, amusement parks and picnics. But each day also has structure. Each day is scheduled.

So for the long Fourth of July weekend, we opted to truly celebrate freedom. We left plans and my laptop behind and headed to the Poconos, where my husband’s family shares a lakeside cabin. For four days, the only thing on our to-do list was making s’mores and possibly catching a nap here or there.

Of course, I did supervise. Not with an eye toward reining in, but to letting them go. I held my breath as Emma soared on a rope swing, higher and higher with a smile stretching even further. I bit my tongue when she asked to try waterskiing for the first time (but I did make sure the straps of her life preserver were tight).

When Benny plopped his soggy bottom down in a pile of dirt and made twigs into boats, I sat back in the hammock and closed my eyes. When he rolled across the cabin floor to roughhouse with his cousins, I got out of the way.

“Can we swim in the lake?” Yes, of course you may.

“Can I have more watermelon?” Absolutely.

“Can I take the puppy for a walk?” Let’s go!

Four days of ease and dirt and sun and sweat and cousins and laughter. Is there any better way to celebrate freedom?

Amid it all, I remembered that one day, this lake house would be theirs. They’d spend their summer days with their children, with their nieces and nephews, and leave their agendas behind just as their parents did.

Of course, those four days came to end. We came back to structure and television. But when Emma and Benny look back on their summer, I think — I hope — they’ll remember their weekend at the cabin the most.

Beth Vrabel lives in West Manchester Township with her daughter, Emma, 7, and son, Benny, 3. For more Smart Mama columns visit www.smartmamapa.com.

The post Summer’s simple pleasures appeared first on YorkMama.com.

Riley Lawton, 9, of Dover tries to entice Corinne Brown with a Silly Bandz hamburger in exchange for a baby duck. (For SmartMamaPA.com -- KATE PENN)

By LEIGH ZALESKI
For SmartMamaPA.com

Corinne Brown of Dover told her children Sam, 12, and Georgia, 9, that she’d spend only one week tracking down Silly Bandz.

Brown’s kids are among the hundreds in York County who want the colorful creations — used for wearing, collecting and trading. Kids, tweens, teens and parents have bombarded area stores, not knowing
when they might get shipments of the silicone bands.

Unlike many shoppers, Brown got lucky and found the trendy bracelets easily.

“When I did hit the jackpot, I was not looking,” she said.

Brown bought some at Toys R Us about three weeks ago while shopping for a car seat part and more
at Walgreens. She heard Five Below got shipments on Wednesdays and snagged more 40 minutes
before the store ran out.

Madison Holt, 11, Jennifer Baughman, 13, and Jessica Baughman, 14, weren’t as fortunate when they were out hunting for bands about a month ago.

They just missed a 300-pack shipment at Cardtique at the West Manchester Mall that sold out in two days. The trio moved on to Walgreens and a dollar store, which they heard had some.

Silly Bandz are the latest kid trend to hit York County. Here, the silicone bands are laid out in preparation for trading Friday at Corinne Brown s home in Dover. (For SmartMamaPA.com -- KATE PENN)

Cardtique manager Linda Miller said the store gets between 15 and 20 calls a day from people looking for the bands.

Miller said the franchise’s Lancaster locations have been selling out for more than a month, but that the fad
hit the county a few weeks ago.

Vickie Kelley, owner of a Kid to Kid franchise in York, got a tip a couple of months ago from a franchise owner in Nashville, Tenn.

Kelley said bands were already popular there, but it wasn’t until two months ago that she first saw two girls trading at her church.

“I immediately got on the phone and said, ‘Send me some Silly Bandz. It’s here,’” she said. “I might have been a little ahead of myself.”

Why they’re cool

Georgia, a home-schooler, learned about the trend while shopping with a friend at Giant, where she bought her first pack.

She has about 90 now and said that’s enough. Her favorites are turtles and princesses. They used to cover Georgia’s forearms, but she said she cut back for comfort.

“I pick out a few to wear every day,” Georgia said. “I just pick out the ones that catch my eye.”

Madison got her first band — a duck — from a friend at North Salem Elementary School. She wanted more so she could trade with others.

She said the exchange process is pretty simple.

“You just look at each other’s bracelets and say, ‘I like this one, I like that one, let’s trade,’” Madison said.

Georgia looks for the rare pieces before she makes a deal. She keeps an eye out for sparkles, chicks and two-headed dragons.

“If someone really wants something of yours and you really want something of theirs, it’s really fun to get what you want,” Georgia said.

Will it last?

Miller said Cardtique has seen other fleeting trends such as Webkinz and Zhu Zhu Pets, but there’s no telling how long Silly Bandz will be in demand.

Kelley said she heard they were popular in Nashville for about three months before tapering off.
“We’re hoping it continues for a long time,” Miller said.

What are Silly Bandz?

Silly Bandz are colorful silicone bands molded into shapes and sold in themed packs such as pets, zoo, sea, dinosaurs, baseball, western, alphabet, princess, rockband and rainforest. They can be worn, traded and collected. They look like bracelets or hair ties when worn, but pop back into shape when taken off. A 24-pack costs $4.95 at sillybandz.com.

Some other brands include:

· Zanybandz, www.zanybandz.com

· Crazy Bands, www.crazybands.com

· Rubba Bandz, amazon.com

· Logo Bandz, amazon.com

Popular shapes

· T-Rex

· Turtle

· Cowboy boot

· Sun

· Phoenix

· Princess crown

· Mermaid

· Guitar

· Penguin

· Baseball bat

Past trends

Zhu Zhu Pets: 2009

Webkinz: 2005

Livestrong wristbands: 2004

Tamagotchis and virtual pets: mid-’90s

Pogs: ’90s

Slap bracelets: late-’80s, early-’90s

Pet rocks: ’70s

Troll dolls: ’60s

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