Baby Girl Headbands

Thanks to my friend Tanya, here's how to make adorable and easy baby girl headbands:

1. Take a pair of thick adult tights (they are softer than nylons) and cut a 1 1/2 to 2 inch wide strip off the top of one leg.

2. Take a ribbon and wrap it around the headband, gluing the ribbon together. Make sure not to get the glue on the headband.

3. Hot glue a Velcro dot onto the ribbon.

4. Now attach bows or flowers to the Velcro with another Velcro dot.

Now you have a stretchy, versatile, comfy headband for your little one!

To make a flower to use on the headband:

1. Buy a silk flower (try the local dollar store for cheap ones)

2. Take the flower apart.

3. Layer and glue the flower back together

4. Glue a button or gem in the center (you can even use a scrap booking gem)

5. Glue a Velcro dot on the back.

Mix and match pedals from different flowers to create fun new ones.

Car Caddy

I saw this tutorial online, and loved it! It's a carrier for 6 cars. If I were to do it again, I'd read all the instructions before starting, and I'd follow them! It's not hard, but since I didn't read through to the end before starting, I found my didn't turn out as good as it could have. Oh well. The little one likes it!

The Hokey Pokey Trick

Lately my husband has started singing the Hokey Pokey to help our almost two year old get dressed. It is amazing how well this turns a squiggling wiggle worm into a cooperative kid! Here's his version of the song, adapted for getting dressed:

(For getting the shirt on)
You put your left arm in, you put your right arm in.
You have both arms in and you shake them all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey and you help your Daddy out.
That's what it's all about!

(And for getting the pants on:)
You put your left leg in, you put your right leg in.
You have both arms in and you shake them all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey and you help your Daddy out.
That's what it's all about!

The Joy of Boxes

We love boxes! They make great cars, houses, kitchens, etc. And the latest fun we've had with them is making a ramp for cars out of cereal boxes. What box ideas do you have?

Singing the Day Away

My little one loves music, but I find that whenever he wants to sing a song, the same three or so come to my mind. To broaden our singing horizons, I made a jar with little slips of paper inside, each with the title of a children's song. When we have "music time" we take turns pulling out a little paper and singing the song listed. This has been great fun!

Here is a list of common children's songs, and although I know there are many more, this was a good place to start for us. If you're interested you can copy and paste the titles, print them off and cut them out for your own "Music Time Song Jar."

PS: I'd love to hear of a favorite song you and your munchkins enjoy singing!

(If you are not familiar with a song, skip it, google it, or look on the free music web site for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where several of the songs come from.) Happy Singing!

Songs for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Hickory, Dickory, Dock
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Baa, Baa Black Sheep
Pat-A-Cake
This Little Pig Went to Market
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
The Wheels on the Bus
Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Ring Around the Rosie
The Hokie Pokie
Old McDonald’s Farm
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Once There was a Snowman
I'm a Little Tea Pot
The More We Get Together
Hinges
The Wise Man and the Foolish Man
Happy Birthday
Open, Shut Them
Pop! Goes the Weasel
ABC Song
Hush Little Baby
Little Bunny Foo Foo
The Ants go Marching
Down by the Bay
She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain When She Comes
I’ve Been Working on the Railroad
Boom Boom Ain’t it Great to be Crazy?
Do Your Ears Hang Low?
London Bridge is Falling Down
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Itsy, Bitsy Spider

Creative Birthday Cakes

I received an email today with the link to this website on parenting.com that has 31 awesome birthday cakes, along with the instructions on how to make them. If your little one is celebrating a birthday soon, check it out here. Or just search for the type of cake you want to make. I was amazed at the creative ideas out there, and grateful for other people sharing their creativity!

Parents Magazine for Free!

ValueMags is offering a 2 year subscription to Parents Magazine for free. I already get this magazine (also with a free subscription) and enjoy reading it, and then using the pictures for art and kid projects. If you're interested, visit the site here.