Celebrate Dr. Seuss Birthday- There's Lots of Ways

Today - March 2nd - is Dr. Seuss brithday and there is lots of celebrating that kids - of all ages- can have fun with.  If you will be with your grandchildren today, make sure you have a favorite Dr. Seuss book to share.  Whether it is One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish for a young child or Oh! The Places You'll Go for an older one, clelebrate and enjoy. 

Source: miskamiller.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

And how about creating a Cat in the Hat snack.  I'm thinking strawberries and whipped cream or cream cheese.

As part of the celebration The National Education Assocaition is sponsoring Read Across America day and many schools will be featuring some kind of reading special event.

PBS is celebrating with Catch The Cat in the Hat-A-Thon, a 2 hour marathon featuring brand-new episodes of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!   Here is a brief video on youtube announcing it:


And here is this great poster I saw on pinterest:

Source: Uploaded by user via Kelley on Pinterest

Follow me on pinterest to see lots of fun stuff.

Find these Dr. Seuss books and more at Amazon.com:

Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head "Mashly in Love" - One of My Favorites from Toy Fair 2012

Over the next couple of months I will do a series of posts about the International Toy Fair in New York held in February. Thousands – literally – of toy companies present toys that will be coming out during 2012 and the rest of their product line too. It can be overwhelming and so I carefully limit my interests and plan which companies I will visit. Hasbro generously sponsors a spectacular event at their showroom  and LitzkyPublic Relations is kind enough to invite me. Hasbro has many product lines and this is a BIG event where we get to network with other bloggers, party AND have presentations about all the new toys. And we get to see and touch the toys. You really get to be a kid in a candy shop. 

My highlights represent what I think my grandparent readers may be interested in.  I stay away from the electronics, toys that involve anything that looks like violence to me, and frankly, toys that I just don’t understand.  Some of the mommy and dad bloggers on tour with me were going crazy over this stuff but I will leave it to them to write it all.  Today's highlight is Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.

Hasbro is celebrating the 60^th anniversary of Mr. Potato Head and the event started off with a party complete with party games, mimosas (hmmm – what a treat), cupcakes and a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Potato head themselves.  Here I am having my picture taken with them. 

Hasbro has many different varieties of Mr. Potato Head these days and for the 60^th anniversary there is the limited edition MASHLY IN LOVE MR. AND MRS. 60TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.     The happy couple can hold hands and show off their rings as they celebrate the big day. The 22 piece set includes Mr. and Mrs. and lots of accessories: Holding hands, Top hat and tux, veil, wedding head band and more. 

This is the picture I took of the display

Here is a better close-up of the packaged set

This set can be enjoyed by grandparents playing with grandchildren.  It will bring back memories of a toy you played with yourself - albeit updated.  And....still no batteries - that's a big plus. It can be the backdrop for sharing family history and stories.  I can remember when we used a real potato and put the Mr. Potato Head pieces into the potato. And in fact I learned that the plastic Potato Head body was first introduced in 1964.

Here’s another historical fun fact: In 1987 MR. POTATO HEAD surrendered his signature pipe to U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and became the official “spokespud” for the American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout campaign – a role he carried for several years.

Do you remember playing with Mr. Potato Head?  Do you remember some special sets – I wrote about the Toy Story one a couple of years ago and that post still gets visited frequently.  Please leave your comments and share with us.

The new Mashly in Love set is on store shelves now and you can order it at Amazon – click below.

I’ll be writing soon about Hasbro’s Sesame Street, Chuch trucks, new play doh sets, My Little Pony and more.  Be sure to check back soon – or better yet subscribe to the blog.

My Early Start with Toy Fair 2012 – American Girl Crafts at American Girl Café

Crafty Grandmothers – This Is Especially For You!

The International Toy Fair in New York begins on Sunday but the pre-show events are well under way.  I have been choosing my pre-show invitations carefully so that I’ll get to see the things I want to write about and that I think grandparents in particular will be interested in.  On Tuesday, I made my first trip into New York to the American Girl Crafts event held at the American Girl Cafe at their flagship store on Fifth Avenue.  What a delightful morning I had.

Many of you grandparents remember the original American Girl dolls.  They were historical characters first introduced in 1986.  They were high quality dolls featuring period clothing, books and accessories – all with a theme related to the specific doll.  I remember that my daughter’s friend, Maggie, had Molly who looked just like her. They even had the same eyeglasses and they always looked so cute together.  The line is now much bigger, featuring modern characters and a “Doll of the Year” only available for one year.

In 2009, through a partnership with EK Success Brands, a leading craft company, the American Girl Crafts line was launched.  Since then an extensive line of crafts that compliment American Girl products have been introduced. 

The items in these pictures are favorites available now including the Pom Pom Scarves Kit, Bears and Owls Sew and Stuff Kits, and Funky Felt Box Kit.  The first two has great reviews at Amazon. You can be the first to review the Funky Felt Box Kit. It is definitely for girls ages 8 -13 and not younger ones. The kits are very complete with everything you need and have good instructions so the girls will be able to complete the craft and be proud of their own creation.  These are wonderful gifts for a “crafty” grandmother to give to a child and introduce them to crafting.  It is something you can do together and help if needed.  Many girls this age enjoy crafts and this can be an enjoyable way to have a cross generation experience together.

There are some things suitable for younger children too.  I especially like the stickers as I find they are very popular with younger children.  If a young girl loves her American Girl she will love the party line to play with friends and their dolls.  This cupcake stand will be a hit at any party for girls and their dolls – even younger girls.  Some of the other items in this picture will be available later this year and I'll cover them in a post then.

This craft line is very reasonably priced, and available at Michael’s, ToysRUs and online.  If you have a granddaughter who has and loves an American Girl doll, you may want to introduce her to American Girl crafts.  There is a wide range of products available and they are fun, encourage creativity and an opportunity to develop some new  - and old fashioned, but you don’t have to talk about that part – skills.

I’ll be writing more about this line as some other products will be introduced later this year. 

Here are links to some of the items at Amazon.com:

Trunki by Melissa and Doug - Cool and Perfect for Sleepovers at Grandma's House

The International Toy Fair in New York is just a couple of weeks away and my email is full of invitations to special events for attendees.  I just can’t wait.  I’ll have things to write about for the next year!  As a warm up I want to do a few product reviews in the next couple of weeks.  Here’s the first.

In December I went into New York for a special event for bloggers at Melissa and Doug hosted by Momtrends.   We got to see the whole Melissa and Doug line.  At the end of the evening each attendee got to bring home a “trunki.”  They were all lined up in six different colors and there was a mad dash to get your choice of color.  I got this beautiful blue one for my grandson, Zach.  Well, I intended to use it as a Christmas present, but I left it on my kitchen counter and Zach saw it immediately when he visited the next day.  And so, I did just what he asked and took it “down.” 

The trunki is a combination ride-on toy and sturdy children’s suitcase.  (Perfect for overnight visits to Grandma’s house).  It took Zach two seconds to use it as a ride-on and then we showed him that it was also a suitcase.  Young children love containers that carry things.  He put his shoes in the Trunki and closed it up.  It’s a good thing we saw him or he would have gone home barefoot!

Zach enjoyed opening and closing the trunki and figuring how it locked. You can carry it by hand, pull it or use the shoulder strap.  His Mom, Fran, was thinking ahead to next year’s vacation.  Zach will be three years old in June.  He’ll be able to wear his backpack and carry Trunki….hmmm…one less trip for Mom and Dad from the car.

Grandparents – for some of us Melissa and Doug is not a familiar brand name.  Melissa and Doug was founded 23 years ago by Melissa and Doug.  That’s the name of the owners – not “characters.”  Melissa and Doug have 6 kids of their own and they know their toys.  Their philosophy is to make classic toys that help children develop their imagination.  When you see their whole line, you can see that they are true to this philosophy. They specialize in high quality toys.  M&D have a full line including food play, classic, puzzles, arts and crafts, games, trains, puppets, stuffed animals, and more. 

Take my word for it, All parents know the Melissa and Doug line.  It can be a little pricey and since sometimes grandparents get to make “special purchases" you may want to become familiar with Melissa and Doug.  They are sold everywhere from ToysRUS to upscale specialty stores and online at Amazon and at Melissa and Doug’s own website.  You can sign up for email specials at the website.

If you'd like to see a quick video, check this out:

If you’d like a trunki click below to see it at Amazon.com

Connecting Across Generations on Martin Luther King Day

Monday is Martin Luther King Day. Last week I wrote about Martin Luther King Day for Preschoolers and that has become my most visited blog post ever. Today I am writing about MLK Day and older children.

There are three main themes and a grandparent can easily choose one and have a discussion or better yet, plan appropriate activities to do with your grandchild on Monday.  The themes are

Social Justice

Peace

Volunteering

Social Justice and Peace
What a great opportunity MLK Day presents to have a meaningful conversation about social justice and peace with your grandchildren. Will you be with an age diverse group of  grandchildren?   If you are as old as I am you can start with your personal experiences in the 60’s.  Last year I wrote about my conversation with my son when he was 7 years old.  Click on the title to see that article.

 MartinLuther King, Jr. –A Teachable Moment             

Social justice and peace are subjects of interest that can cross generations and talking about it can increase the respect you have for each other.  Conversation can lead to advocacy.  There are lots of ways to advocate for social justice and peace on MLK Day.  You can start with a discussion about social justice and identify causes and organizations that your “group” supports.  Do some Internet research and take action!.  Write to your elected officials.  Sign online petitions.  Print out articles for reference and further action – perhaps attend a rally or event.  You may even consider sponsoring each child to make a donation to their favorite cause.

Volunteering

MLK Day is now designated as a National Day of Service and there are volunteer projects being planned by nonprofits throughout the country.  It is easy to find one that suits you and works for you and your grandchild.  VolunteerMatch lets you do a search by area and check off Kids, Teens, Over 55 and groups as categories.  There are literally thousands of opportunities listed.  Check your local resources for local opportunities or create a new one.  Is there a day care center that needs painting?  Does your family sing and play music – visit a nursing home and entertain.

Learning
Many museums and libraries have special events for MLK Day.  Especially if you have elementary school age grandchildren you may find excellent programs to bring the kids too.  I know that the Newark Museum, near where I live has performance and interactive workshops planned for the afternoon.

Martin Luther King Day can bring the generations closer together.  Whether a child is elementary school age, a tween, teen or college  age there are opportunities to grow closer and for character building.  Don’t miss the opportunity.

Martin Luther King Day and Preschoolers

January 16th is Martin Luther King Day and it is a national day of service.  It is a good time for discussion and activity - no matter how young a child. 

Today I am just writing about preschoolers.  Later in the week I'll write about older children. Preschoolers are ready for themes such as volunteering, peace and getting along with others.   



There is a Sesame Street video on youtube that I have been enjoying with my two and a half year old grandson - over and over -  that is perfect as a discussion starter for pre-schoolers about volunteering. 

Nolan Gould, who plays Luke on Modern Family, is with Murray (He's a Sesame Street muppet) at the Los Angeles Food Bank.  There is a touching scene when Murray asks what is a volunteer and then if he has the heart of a true volunteer.  Next there is upbeat sorting of fruit at the Food Bank.

Most local communities, museums, libraries, etc will have  local activities and you should check out what is available and appropriate for young children to participate in.

I did some internet research on Dr. King and preschool activities and this is the best resource that I found. There are songs, games, stories and other resources.

Everything Preschool  

I’ll be writing about Martin Luther King Day and older kids next week, but I wanted to start with ideas for young children.  Please share with us in the comments any plans, past experiences, or ideas that you have that are appropriate for young children.

Peace,

Marion

Wordless Wednesday - Opening Christmas Presents



One of Zach's Favorites = Cookie Monster Letter Lunch Play Doh

Uncle Hugh's girlfriend, Isabel, helped with the Play Doh



This is the Little Tikes Workbench and will take some assembly

Wishing You Joy, Courage and Vision

Dear Friends,

I wish all of you a joyous holiday season and a blessed New Year. This holiday letter is being posted both at Marion Conway – Nonprofit Consultant and The Grandma Chronicles.

Especially as I am getting older, Christmas is a time of reflection for me.  It is a time to be thankful for all our blessings, for appreciating family and friends, and for sharing with others.  It all brings joy.  I have turned down the lights in my office, lit candles in the window and am playing Christmas Chant. It is my routine for writing this Holiday message.  I can feel the peace of Christmas as I let go of the busyiness of the day filled with grocery shopping and cooking for Christmas Eve and Day.

This year has again been filled with the joy of grandparenting.  Our grandson is now 2 1/2 years old and he brings new energy to our lives every day.  I enjoy writing about him at The Grandma Chronicles and “shouting out with joy” about all of our adventures together.  This year Zach helped bake Christmas cookies for the first time and he is already a pro – enjoying all the tasks from slicing cherries, breaking eggs, using the electric mixer and spooning cookies on the baking sheet.  My husband had the courage to let him use a knife with supervision and Zach had the courage to use the electric mixer by himself. These pictures show how he approached this all with thoughtfulness. I had a vision of him enjoying baking cookies with Grandma and experienced total joy at the way he jumped in.  In less than two weeks Zach begins pre-school and both he and my daughter Fran, will have to show some courage as they let go of each other.

This past year has been another difficult one for the nonprofit community. Funding continues to be a challenge while demand is strong.  2012 may be the time for nonprofits to take a serious look at their vision and how they can get where they want to be.  I have seen in the last few months a new interest in strategic planning.  I wish you success with your planning – keep it focused on your mission and realistic and also have the courage to try new things.  How nonprofits deliver services, how they build relationships with all their constituents, how they fundraise – it is all changing.  Just as families and businesses are changing how they deal with a changed economic climate, it is time for nonprofits to think beyond a “make it through” mentality and look at fundamental changes that may be in order. 

This year my consulting work expanded to include quite a bit of speaking and I found that I really enjoy it.  Need a speaker in 2012?  Let’s talk.  I worked at blogging at three blogs and hope to blog more often in 2012. I have lots of other goals for 2012 but I’ll write about that at a later date.

Last year I wished you all joy, pride and a spirit of action.  This year, I wish you joy, courage and vision.  It is time to look beyond the coming year and visualize your path to the future.  Have the courage to take some big steps.    

Grandparents, parents, nonprofit friends and the nonprofits you work for will be in my prayers as I attend services on Christmas Eve.

May You Have a Blessed and Joyous Holiday,

Marion

Enjoying the Holiday Season with Grandchildren

Grandparents - Will you be babysitting during this holiday season?  Make the time something special for both you and your grandchildren.  Here are some ideas.

Holiday Craft Project
Christmas ornament featuring a picture of your grandchild.  If one of you is a photography buff and you print out your own picutres of various sizes this is super easy to do.  My husband has put two 2x3 pictures back to back in laminate.  A whole at top with a ribbon and we have beautiful tree ornaments.  You can also cutout felt shapes with a cutout for a picture.

Bake Cookies
I had a wonderful time baking Christmas cookies with my grandson.  Why not bake up a batch of cookies, put them in a holiday tin with a ribbon for you grandchild to give to parents on Christmas morning.

Holiday Performances, Music, Special Events
Whether it is a holiday sing along, a living nativity, the Nutcracker or the Radio City Music Hall Show there is nothing like attending something musical or "spectacular" to put both young and old in the holiday mood.  In our area the Turlte Back Zoo is featuring a "Holiday Lights Spectacular" with free admission every night until New Year's Eve.  Many museums have special children's programs and holiday exhibits.  The Newark Museum has special activities next week for families and the Ballantine House is decked out in traditional Holiday splendor.

Reading Holiday Books
There are wonderful Christmas books for children at various ages.  Reading about Christmas with a grandchild is an excellent way for them to grow to understand its true meaning and to share traditions across generations.

Volunteer
Especially if you have older grandchildren, this is an excellent tradition to begin.  Volunteer activities can be delivering presents collected for needy children, visiting elderly people in nursing homes and more.

Be Physical

If you're up to it how about ice skating or skiing or even taking a winter hike to enjoy nature at Christmas.

If you will have time alone with your grandchildren this season,  celebrate and find something special to do together.  It doesn't have to be costly but it may just become a new tradition.

Enjoy,

Marion

Christmas Cookie Baking Day – This Year with Zach

Yesterday was the annual Christmas Cookie Baking Day at our house and it was the first time that my grandson has participated. I really don’t bake much, but once a year I do bake cookies for Christmas. I make toll house cookies with a secret ingredient – maraschino cherries and its juice. This is  a recipe from my father’s family and I think of him and his family whenever I make these cookies. When my kids were small I also made sugar cut out cookies that we decorated and of, course, they were on the baking plan this year.  I had bought Christmas tree and star cookie cutters because I thought Zach would like both of them.  Fran dug out our old angel and snowman cookie cutters because they were her favorites.


Cookie baking day was always something that my kids loved and participated in. I still have the aprons I bought for them and Zach wore one of them when he helped yesterday. He is so cute that I can’t hold myself back from gushing about him.  Zach is 2 ½ and you can never be really sure if a 2 ½ year old will be as interested in something as you are, but he loved baking and in fact, he wanted to do all the jobs.

We have been talking about baking cookies for a month. When he got Elmo’s Merry Christmas book - it has a flap with cookie monster and cookies (duh) and I told him that he would bake cookies with me for Christmas. Since then, if you asked him what he and Grandma would do for Christmas he would tell you “Bake Cookies.”

My husband was the official recorder of the event, and except for this one that he is in, he took most of the pictures. Here is Zach hard at work in a variety of jobs.

One of Zach’s favorite activities is playing with play doh and cutting it with a plastic knife. When he arrived on Wednesday morning, the preparation work was already underway and he got to choose what he wanted to help with. First up – helping Pop chop cherries. I posted this picture on facebook yesterday and got some comments about the knife. Rest assured that my husband is super safety conscious and watched attentively during this task.

Next Zach was ready to help Grandma.  And I was more than ready to have his help.  He already knew how to break an egg like an expert because he does this when he helps Mommy make blueberry pancakes:

Zach wasn’t content to watch Grandma with the mixer, so first we held it together and then he mixed on his own.

Zach got to empty the bag of chocolate chips into the cookie mix:

Zach and Mommy (Fran) enjoyed putting the cookie dough on the baking trays together:

No pictures but Zach also helped Grandma cut out the sugar cookies and hand them over to Mommy to put on the baking tray.  He liked all four of the choices but I think the star was his favorite.  At this point he wanted to see Bob the Builder and the adults finished up the baking at an accelerated pace.

Cooking and baking are wonderful activities to do with a grandchild. And even very young ones will enjoy and learn from it. You learn about measuring and counting, using knives and an electric mixer carefully and safely. And you get to sample the cookies just minutes after they come out of the oven. Nothing beats that.

More than gifts, I really enjoy our holiday traditions. We have lots of them. As my children are adults and I have to share them with other families some of our traditions are being modified. I am glad that cookie baking with a child is a tradition being revived rather than modified.

Do you bake or cook with children? Please leave a comment and tell us about it.

Marion