Kelle, Author at Enjoying the Small Things

Kid Sneaker Round-Up

February 12, 2016 By Kelle

After waiting what seems like forever for Friday, I’m kicking this week to the curb and welcoming the weekend with open arms. And if we’re kicking anything, let’s do it wearing cute shoes. Fun Friday calls for favorite kid sneakers, and after three kids, many years of growing feet, and a slight shoe obsession, I feel slightly qualified to suggest these. In the words of the great Carrie Bradshaw, “Men I may not know, but shoes? Shoes I know.” When it comes to casual playtime sneakers for my kids, I love classic shoes that can be worn with dresses, shorts and jeans alike; anything that’s easy to slip on; and unexpected fun details like cute prints. These are favorites my kids have worn and loved, and several of these we’ve loved so much, we buy the same shoe in the next size up. I have a thing for red sneakers as well. I actually have to stop myself from only buying red sneakers. Gotta branch out from time to time. With no further ado…

1. Ked’s Classic Sneaker. Red Keds are the IT shoe in our house. We’ve had them in just about every size from the teeniest tiniest pair they make, and I especially love the white rubber toe-kick on the infant and toddler sizes. These sneakers look adorable with dresses, take jeans to a new level and pair with sailor suits for perfection. Like wine, they get finer with age–the more scuffed and weathered, the better. They never go out of style, and if they ran for president, I’d totally vote for them.
2. Converse Creatures Sneaker. Dash and Nella each have a pair of these (alligator and zebra, respectively), and we get so many “Love those shoes!” comments. They have 3-D features and velcro open and shut for quick and easy removal. They’re the most character-filled sneakers for kids I’ve seen–sometimes I think they’re actually alive. Also available in shark, puppy, fish, bunny, toucan and more.
3. Camper Casual Sneaker, These comfy feet-huggers feature wide pre-tied elastic laces, so they slip on easily. I love the classic look and the contrast of canvas/laces/white toe-kick. They’re super durable, and I can’t wait for Nella to fit in Lainey’s old ones.
4. Keen Coronado. I searched for the perfect sneaker for Lainey’s first year of kindergarten like it was my job and found it in these adorable Keen Coronados that come in so many different colors and prints. We had little owls, but there are rockets and palm trees, flowers and sharks, polka dots and airplanes and more.
5. Vans Strawberry Slip-on. Craving spring? These strawberry slip-ons ooze happy weather vibes and add a sweet kick to any outfit. Our Vans passed the full-day-walking-around-Epcot comfort test, so WIN.
6. Toms Paseo. These are my favorite shoes for Dash right now and come in both low and over-the-ankle-styles. My favorite part? The hidden velcro that makes taking them on and off a cinch. They’re also available in several prints including buffalo check and stars and stripes.
7. Saucony Toddler Jazz. I love the retro look to these tennis shoes and the fact that they too have a secret velcro panel that makes them quick and easy choices for getting out the door.
8. Vans Banana Sneakers. Spring, spring, spring! The softest sweetest pink with a fun unexpected print. When in doubt, go with bananas.
9. See Kai Run Sneakers. I discovered See Kai Run when Lainey was a baby, and they are solid durable shoes that last. These sneakers are easy to slip on and off and come in several colors.
10. Adidas Samba. Everybody looks good in these timeless classics. Everybody. But of course, babies look cuter than everyone else in them.

Stand for Play

February 9, 2016 By Kelle

This post is sponsored by Toca Boca.

There’s a little play kitchen in Nella’s classroom, tucked next to the crate of baby dolls, on the other side of the shelf with the cars and the train tracks and the bristle blocks that interlock when pushed together. Labels on neatly organized bins identify where the puzzles go–right next to the Lincoln logs and two bins down from the Barbies. And while, yes, bulletin boards show off the latest projects that illustrate learning goals like counting and letter recognition, one of my favorite things about Nella’s school is its celebration of the colorful art of PLAY, a vital subject matter that often fades when little preschool bags switch to kindergarten backpacks. For all the structured learning and educational standards that will accompany the many years ahead for my children, please let there be complementing creative cushions of open-ended play.

When Toca Boca asked if I’d help them spread their simple message of “Take a Stand for Play” by talking about the importance of playtime to our family, I thought, “This will be eeeaaaaazy!” I could march on the White House steps, picketing for play, no problem. I value a childhood that celebrated it and parents that gave us plenty of time to give our brains opportunities to balance school and extracurricular responsibilities with no-rules play. If they didn’t, I wouldn’t have so many memories of riding Big Wheels in my grandparents’ driveway; or playing Olympics with my cousins in our back yard; or hiding under the bed–heart pounding–waiting for my brother, “the robber”, to find us; or my favorite–hour upon hour of rocking baby dolls, calling them “Honey” and packing doll clothes in “diaper bag” purses while we played House. Talk about life preparation.

It is alarming to see how much more pressure kids face today and not surprising to learn that kids have lost 12 hours of playtime a week since their parents (that’s us!) were kids. With testing goals and school standards and college entrance requirements, we–without even realizing it–often pressure ourselves to make sure every game our kids play, every show they watch, every snack they eat, every encounter they experience is tied to reading and math goals, or else we think it doesn’t count. I love finding new ways where we can incorporate educational goals into real world experience for our kids, but unstructured play is a learning experience in itself (it counts!), and I want my kids to always know the joy of play, no strings attached.

Use your imagination, play as you wish, be creative, have fun!

Some of our favorite play time activities at home that work for all three of my kids’s ages:

1) Play Store
Go to your pantry and pull out a bunch of canned goods, some cereal boxes, those little seasoning packets you forgot were tucked in that basket on the back of the shelf. Line them up on the coffee table and end tables and shelves in the living room. This is your store. Dig out some play Monopoly money (I’d tell you to play that too, but maybe you don’t have the next 9 hours free). Stuff the money in an old wallet for the “shopper.” Set up a calculator for the “cashier” and some paper bags for bagging groceries. Use a basket to go shopping and take turns with your kids playing the “shopper” and the “cashier.” Every time we play this, my kids never want to stop. They love it.

2) Lava Stones
An oldie but a goodie. Gather all the pillows and couch cushions in the house–don’t worry, you’ll put them back later. Spread them out like stepping stones, making a long winding path throughout the house. The floor is lava. Now hop to your destination without falling in the volcano. Include itty bitty pillows that make balancing on them difficult for more fun.

3) Bus Driver
Line up rows of chairs to make a bus. One person gets to drive it (plastic plates make great steering wheels), and everybody else hands over their change to ride it. The fun comes when the bus driver asks where he can take you. Grandma’s house! Chuckee Cheese, please! Hawaii! Target to buy some Shopkins! So many options.

This February, Toca Boca is asking parents to take a stand for play. Parents can visit www.standforplay.com to learn about the state of play in America, spread the word and sign up to receive a free poster. The back of each poster is a blank canvas–we had fun decorating ours…

The first 2,000 parents to visit the site have the chance to exchange a Facebook share for a FREE “Take a Stand for Play” poster that will be shipped to them. Posters will come in a tube, along with stickers and more info. Share your poster on your social media feeds with #standforplay to be featured on Toca Boca’s site.

Everybody knows what happens to Jack when it’s all work and no play, and we don’t do dull here. Add interest, color, creativity, happiness, potential…stand for play.

Make Dinosaur Snot

February 8, 2016 By Kelle

We’re headed into another birthday party this weekend–this time with a dinosaur theme. The kids are making dinosaur snot at the party because we love disgusting things, and I figured I’d make it a separate post so you too can make disgusting things with your kids (they’ll love your forever!).

You’ll need Borax (found in laundry detergent aisle), green food coloring, Elmer’s glue (4 oz. bottle per child) and water.

To streamline it for a table of several little ones making this at the same time, we’re using 2 large paper bowls per child and we’re pre-measuring the Borax and putting it in plastic snack containers (the ones people use for Jello shots ;o)–one per child. The finished slime will go in these 8 oz. clear plastic jars with this label* (I uploaded it so you can print it).

In one bowl, mix contents of 4 oz. glue bottle with 1/2 cup water. Add green food coloring. Stir. (I pre-added food coloring–about 8 drops–to bowl of water so that Dash didn’t make a mess with the food coloring)

In the other bowl, mix 1 tsp. Borax with 1 cup water. Stir until Borax is dissolved.

Pour Borax mixture into glue mixture and watch the slime magic begin.

Mix slime with spoon and don’t worry if there’s a lot of water left over. Let kids get their hands in there and mix it well with their hands until it’s a good slimey consistency, and then pour off all the excess water. The slime will get smoother and easier to work with the more you play with it.

When it’s nice and smooth, transfer to 8 oz. jar with label.

My kids’ favorite thing to do with it? Hide it in their hands, pretend to sneeze–ACHOOOOOO!–and then pull it away from their nose.

It’s the perfect mix of super cute and a-little-bit-disgusting that makes for a great take away favor for a dinosaur party. Dash is looking forward to his this weekend.

*Note: for the Printable Dino Snot labels, you can print it on a sheet of Avery shipping labels, 2 to a page (Avery #18126), and cut out 6 from the page, no problem.

Happy Monday, carry on.