Playtography

Miss Chrissy

If you can’t….

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In 2014, I was at a local craft fair doing photography sessions. On one of my breaks, I walked by a booth, and saw a 12 year old girl, selling these unique bracelets. This bracelets have a unique a story behind them with a great lesson built right in.

These are “Zip- It’s” Bracelets. Children that wear them are committed to a two-fold idea. Firstly, that if they can’t say something nice to someone, they will keep it zipped! However, if they see someone being bullied, they should speak up and report it and NOT zip-it.

Chantelle and her mom Gina, were there to raise funds for their grass root charity, called “F.I.B.B”, which stood for Families Impacted by Bullying. Chantelle’s older sister, Jade was affected by a group of girls while in high school in England, where she was physically bullied, to the point where she received brain damage, and life long consequences. Jade’s story and her Mom’s is featured in this book, “Ray of Hope” as well as others in Canada. It is a heart felt book that is raw, and can give us a better perspective of all sides.

This concept really resonated with me, where a simple bracelet could serve as a great reminder.

At a later date, I sat with Gina and created “Be Your Own Hero”. A photography session, where children, adults and families, dressed up in caps, masks, pettiskirts, arm bands, and crazy super hero socks, that I provided, to create their own hero, and to stand up as a positive force, in a negative environment.

Here is a fact – Bullying happens to someone in Canada every 7 minutes on the playground, and just think of how often it could happen in a work place, and in other environments, as it comes in a variety of forms.

I had a good friend, that had a heart transplant. At times, she would use an electric motorized cart when shopping in a store, some people would be snide and make rude comments that she was too healthy and shouldn’t be using it. Just like this guy, running to high school classes, wipes out his energy, as he has a congenital heart defect, no one can tell of his battles he has physically inside.

Henry B Eyring said, “When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” and if we take Roger Dawson advice, “Treat everyone you meet as though they are the most important person you’ll meet today”, just think of the difference we can make one on one, and on the sidelines! We can make a difference in every person we meet!

Let’s start a movement, an everyday awareness, with these zip it bracelets, you can buy them here!

Miss Chrissy

Setting your child up for success at the table.

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Snack time at home or at preschool, how to set your child up for success!

If you have being playing, its time to tidy and then wash your hands. Here is a fun hand washing song, sung to Row Row Row Your Boat.

Wash, wash
Wash your hands
Wash them nice and clean.
Scrub them here (with hand motion scrubbing together)
Scrub them there (with hand motion scrubbing tops of hands)
And scrub them in between (with hand motion scrubbing between fingers).

Wash, wash, wash, your hands
Play our handy game
Rub and scrub, scrub and rub
Germs go down the drain HEY!
Wash, wash, wash, your hands
Play our handy game
Rub and scrub, scrub and rub
Germs go down the drain HEY!

Have a easy pull drawer, eye level where a young child, can pull out. Filled with child size plates, cups, utensils. In a preschool setting, I usually only put what is needed for the class, and then have them practice counting how many they need, as attendance does fluctuate. Ikea is my favourite for kids dishes, and I purposely, don’t always make them match, because I want them to know, its okay if they don’t! Sorry, all you OCDer’s!

Get a kids size spray bottle, and fill it with your choice of a cleaning product. Tell them, you will help assist them to wipe the table clean. I’m sensitive to smells, this is one I can handle that is environmentally friendly, too! If they can’t squeeze the bottle, they can wipe the table!

I aim to try 3 out of 4 food groups. If you are in a preschool setting, where you might rotate snack among parents this is a great choice, as then the children are exposed to a variety of choices, that the might not consider to try! It might also take a bit of time, for them to build up the courage to try something new. I like to say, “Our tastebuds are growing up every day, and you might like it today! ” They can place the food back on their plate, if they don’t like it. It’s funny how children are, they want to surrender the foreign food, that they dislike and give it back to you! I loved how my preschool parents, made a effort in being creative, with different topics that were being taught.

Try this adorable song to sing, to your students prior to snack time, I’m sure before long, they will be singing along!

To the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it’

“Put your hands in the air, in the air. (x2)
Put your hands in the air but we don’t want to leave them there so put your hands in your lap, in your lap.
Put your hand in your lap, in your lap (x2)
Put your hands in your lap and lets get ready for our snack, put your hands in your lap, in your lap”

Sit while you eat, I can’t stress this enough! So important, so a child does not choke. This is a great time, to capture their attention, and read stories during this time.

Although, if bananas are served…play along, and encourage them to communicate through their modern day bananaphones!

Snack time, is a great time to practice manners, and table expectations.

Let them try out new skills like pouring water into a cup. No crying over spilling, and if you stick to water, it isn’t sticky. They will experiment right to the rim and over, just be prepared to have plenty of towels and encourage them to help clean up, too!

Let them play with their food! I have seen wonderful plate creations, and how they come up with creative concepts. Talk about shapes, or what even what letters you can make out of what you have, what pictures or animals can you make?

I an a walrus!

When one is all finish, how do you clean up? Do you compost, and have to separate packaging? Show them a few times, and before long, they will be doing it all by themselves!

Miss Chrissy

World’s Largest Marriott – Residence Inn – Calgary, Alberta. Celebrates Grand Opening!

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Today, I was able to view the new Residence Inn By Marriott located in Downtown/Belt line District located at 610 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1M3 (587) 885-2288

Designed by Frank Architecture.ca Textured walls, with metal staircases, and huge windows that one can see the Calgary Tower, and also the mountains from the 33rd floor.

As a family with four children, we have stayed in a lot of residence inn’s throughout the United States; as it provides a kitchen and enough space to sleep without having to book two rooms.

The King Size suite, one could definitely put up their feet and make it home especially if travelling for long business trips.

King Suite’s Kitchen

The Family suite, has 2 queen beds, with the pull out couch. It feels more roomy for the family to hang out, and gather around for a meal.

Family Suite, 2 Queens with Pull out Couch, with kitchen

The eating area is spacious, and it has waffle makers. If you have waffle makers, you know you have landed on a great breakfast area! There is a large dining area, for happy hour and where one could catch a meal, even if they weren’t staying in the hotel, with a bar service near by. The outside courtyard has lots of space to visit with bbq and fireplaces.

Outside Patio, with bbqs and firepits

To work off those waffles, just off of the lobby on the main floor, there is a fitness area with a loft. You will find treadmills, exercise balls, flex machines, elliptical machines, with a view of the Calgary Tower. The hotel does not have a pool, but there are plenty of fun wave pools in the City of Calgary, to check out.

Fitness Center, you can do a virtual run to the Calgary Tower.

This is a beautiful hotel, who honors the founder of the Calgary Stampede Guy Weadick, throughout the murals, photographs, and even the western boot stitching on the headboards of the beds. You will definitely feel that you have stepped into a modern western heritage hotel! Yahoo, hope you can visit soon!

If you were blind, how would you describe colours?

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How do you describe the colour  Black if you can’t see it? 

Back in my college days, when I was going to school in Early Childhood Education and Development.  We had to do an experiment, and report back.  We were given a choice to choose one of the following: blindness, deafness, or being in a wheelchair.  We had to experience our daily tasks, for 24 hours, inside our home, and outside in a public place.  It was then discovered, how our homes or businesses may not of been easily equipped, do we rely on others, as well as our senses to help assist us.

I choose being blind!

I patched up both of my eyes with gauze, and then put sunglasses over top.  I then went out to a restaurant, with a group of friends.  The waitress, spoke loudly to make sure I could hear what was on the menu.  I felt each utensil, and textures of food in my mouth.  Here in Calgary, there is a new restaurant, called The Dark Table.    You can experience eating withour your eye sight, without having to pretend, and it helps employ up to 70% blind, and visually impaired.  Check it out for a true experience, without having to go in pretending to be blind.

Walking throughout the house, I felt each step using the back of my heal, as I walked up and down the stairs, and touched my clothing labels, seams & texture of each piece making sure I was wearing my shirts the right side out.   I definetly could not read, braile.   It was an enlightening experience to be in another pair of shoes.  If you were blind, how would you describe colours?

A favourite book of mine, is called the “The Black Book of Colours” by Menena Colton

Each page in the book is visually black, and it is beautifully illustrated with textured images that describe each colour, through items that one might taste or feel.  There is also braile, but reviewers say, that the braile is not bigger enough or textured enough for an visually impaired child to understand, but it at least introduces to a child.  I introduce it gently, to four years olds, and would recommend a 8/10.

Miss Chrissy

Why Art?

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In an elementary class, as a teacher’s art assistant, I heard her express her frustation to her students one day, when they didn’t seem to be accomplishing much.  Her question “What is the purpose of art?”.  With bewildered looks,  a response was given, because it is fun!

“Every Child is an Artist” – Pablo Picasso

Art helps children grow in creative, emotion, physical, social and intellectual areas.  Art develops their sensory perception, their hand eye coordination, and their fine more control.  Especially important to strengthen arm muscles when they stand at the easel which helps to strengthen future handwriting skills.   It gives children pleasure and satisfication, and they can find beauty in their work and with others.  Art is a masterpiece, when a child explores it on their own terms.  As a educator, I don’t want to mess with their designs.  I do want to capture their stories as they describe what they are doing during their creation.  Children are our future, they may be the future architect of our buildings, the ability to give beauty to our city, and their future handwriting skills will be the foundation of what they will accomplish.

Primary colours, RED, YELLOW, and BLUE are the basics of early learning, and before you know it, children are mixing 2 colours together to understand that they can created secondary colours (ORANGE, GREEN, PURPLE).

The Colour Wheel is an early learning concept, that applies to preschool children, to adults who are learning about colour composition in photography, painters, artists,  interior and graphic designers, to the hobbist when the stitch and create in their quilts.   Watch this video to learn how to use the colour wheel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfKx7MjSEK0

The pantone design colour of the year will be revealed in our clothing, and colour palates. Check out what colour you will be seeing a lot more of in 2018!

Colour of 2018!

Risky behaviors we expose our younger children too.

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My mom is a great sewer, and as I child of course, I would mimic her.  She would place the pins in her mouth, as she would sew, rather than the pin cushion.  I did this, when I was about 8 years old watching her, and I sucked one of those pins right into my throat!  I know what it feels like to have my mom’s fingers down by throat trying to retrieve a pin or two!

As a mom of 4, I remember a time, when my daughter at age 2, stuck up a plastic alphabet bead up her nose.  Luckily, I caught a glimpse of it, before it hit the black hole.  We went to the walk in doctor, where we tried a variety of methods, like suction, and ended up with having to have her lay down and blow hard, up the unobstructed nostril, to loosen it to come down.  It was a task that was our last resort, before surgery, as nothing else was working!

Despite our own behaviors that are set by example, or leaving craft supplies out, some of the every day objects or food, should be thought about more carefully, especially around younger children.

I’m an adamant believer that especially during snack time, or eating,  children should be sitting,  not running around, and are not left alone, are less likely to choke.

Just remember the size of a child’s throat is about as narrow as a thin straw.

Parties – Opt out of the Latex Balloons, this was drilled into my head as an early childhood educator to be so careful!!  If an non-inflated or pieces of a latex balloon was to get stuck in a child’s throat, it will easily conform to their trachea.  Most latex balloons, come with a 8 year and under warning label for choking.  It is nearly impossible to get a latex balloon back out of a child’s throat.  Better option, buy Mylar (foil) balloons.    Cellophane or plastic wrap, can also cause the same affect as a balloon.  Party on, but just opt for other types of balloons.

Hog Dog Lunches that serve hot dogs that aren’t cut!   Take a knife and slice down length wise of the dog.

Being alone in the restroom. We all love a time to ourselves, but when we aren’t in there.  Keep the water temperature down, the electronic clippers and razor blades way, and the lids of the toilet seats down.  Younger children are top heavy, and can easily topple over, and drowning in small amounts of water can be avoidable.

Round Foods such as Grapes – Are the third most common cause of food-relating choking deaths after hot dogs and candies.  They are slippery and easily can be popped into a mouth.  Grapes, are fairly close to the size of a child’s esophagus.   Before eating grapes, or other round foods, such as blueberries,  slice them lengthwise, and then into quarters.

Stuffing marshmallows into their mouth, to play a game of “Funny Bunny”.  The marshmallow are already slimey, gooey, and sticky…just like peanut butter, not good for young children.

Watching at home and going out to the Movies, unless your child can chew really well and usually above 5 years of age, popcorn shouldn’t be given. Even a piece of the popcorn can lodge into the throat and cause a serious infection.   When changing your remote tv controller, discard your batteries, especially be cautious with  button batteries, as they are corrosive and enticing for young children.

All these activities can of course, be enjoyed with proper supervision, and with knowledge of what not to serve or give to a younger child.

Use common sense, if a toy fits inside a toilet paper roll, it is too small, for a child under 3 years of age.

Become educated, Learn first aid, and become cpr trained, you never know when you might need it for a child, yourself, or for another!

 

 

 

 

Why We Love reading (and You Should, too!)

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As a young preschool child I struggled with speech.  My parents were concern, as I wasn’t speaking, and was in my own world.  They took me to the Toronto children’s hospital for a series of hearing tests.  Eventually, when I did start speaking, they couldn’t understand what I was saying, and I was speaking too fast.  I started speech therapy before I started kindergarten at age 4, which continued throughout my elementary years…(until the end of grade 6).  I had weekly speech therapy in school, and out of school, where I met with a therapist.

I was not a strong reader, since there were times, I couldn’t sound out a word, I would completely skip it.  It wasn’t until jr. high school years, when I developed a love in going to the library, and reading for my own enjoyment.

The Benefits of reading with your child.

Reading with your child, opens up their imaginations, and increases their vocabulary.   It helps children learn about people, places, and events, outside of their own experience.  What they read about it, can be evident in their play, as they incorporate what they have learned about.  It helps reinforces social skills, and be prepared for future learning.   It increases their ability to sit still,  be quiet, and over time will improve their concentration.     Reading strengthens the brain connections, and not only that, it reinforces that the child, is important to you, as you spend your time with them.  Going to the library, shopping at your favourite book store, or just cuddling up on the couch, on a rainy Saturday.   One of my favourite things I did with my children, was reading bedtime stories.  In my preschool setting, the leader of the day, opens up the special mailbox, and may discover a book that will introduce our theme that the children will be learning that day.   They also, are the first one to pick their favourite book to read first during snack time.

There is no excuse these days, when we are overload with information, and even can have books on our devices.  We just need to slow down, and take the time to read.  Even better, when you can snuggle with a child and it’s a pop up book!

Miss Chrissy