Never too young for art...

Two years ago (wow has it really been that long?) I was at Babies R Us feeling overwhelmed about what to register for my first baby. My therapy with kiddos had been with ages 4 and up- so I was totally clueless about babies.

So what did I do? I joyfully went around scanning the things I knew...

TOYS AND ART SUPPLIES. 

Forget the bottles and diapers- I was ready to PLAY!

 My friends laughed at me when they saw the random list of items and probably were a bit concerned of my cluelessness (is that a word even?) about the needs of infants. 

But I just knew that one day I would incorporate art and play in the daily lives of my children.

 That is important to me. 

 I really believe a child (supervised) is never too young to engage in some form of expressive art. 

It is a way that they can explore their world, process their feelings, build their self-esteem, and learn about their surroundings. Here are some things we learned in this 10 minute moment of drawing. 

#1 Learning to SHARE and ENGAGE with others

#2 BONDING with each another

#3 LEARNING about the colors as he repeated them to me.

#4 Practicing on the FINE MOTOR skills

 #5 Feeling PROUD of his accomplishments

For those of you who are wondering what we are coloring with...I discovered these babies.

They are triangular to help with little man's grip and they also don't need a lid (the ink is inside)- all you do is press down and the ink then comes to the surface! They are fabulous!

Now go and add some art in your daily life!

besitos, 

PS. DON'T FORGET TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER FOR BIANCA MERKLEY'S NEW ALBUM....GO HERE TO ENTER! SHHH THIS IS A SECRET BUT THERE WILL BE MORE THAN ONE WINNER SO THE ODDS WILL BE IN YOUR FAVOR I PROMISE!!

Rain Rain

WEED of the day: Being rained on.

WISH of the day: Being rained on.

my day went something like this...

oh rain...pulled out the rain boots...

walked to a local ice cream shop...two please...

sat on the porch and waited for the rain...

  

covered ourselves with ice cream...

ice cream and rain in the summer...

best day ever.

Stay tuned to part two of this adventure... to be continued.
Notice some changes to the blog?  It's currently getting a makeover by the lovely and talented Jenna with q.a. design. Can't wait!

My Weed and Wish...

Dear Mr. Flu bug, 

Why do you have to come to our home on such a fabulous summer weekend?? Don't you know we had plans...picnics in the park, ice cream shops, and music concerts? 

WEED for the day: Yucky flu bug: wanting so badly to throw up but not being able to, feeling like I was going to pass out every time I stood up, and being sooooo tired that I slept a whole afternoon away.

WISH for the day: Feeling well enough to venture out to the music concert in the park anyways and feeling well enough to do the "running man" in a crowd of people for old times sake. 

It was a good day.

Sometimes we just need a FUN DAY.

Since children process their emotions through play- there can be all sorts of emotions that arise. Every now and again during my play dates (counseling sessions) with kids there reaches a point where they feel emotional and may cry. Furthermore, if they are a kiddo who is shy from showing emotions- then it can embarrassing, scary, uncomfortable, and/or vulnerable.


So, to off set that- I offer "fun passes" that they can hand to me on a day where they are not in the mood to go to that emotional place. No talk of serious stuff or activities that illicit emotional responses (pinky swear)- just  45 minutes where a kid can escape from their life stressors and just be a kid in a fun an safe environment. Doesn't that sound nice? 


 I think we all could use a fun day. 


Idea: Try handing out "fun passes" as rewards.

Jar of Fun.

Kids getting bored this summer? I love this idea. I found it at 

The Dailly Digi here. 

Photos by Janet from The Daily Digi  

Photos by Janet from The Daily Digi

I am making one!

xx- Cristi