Farm unit and some late Halloween week activities

Hello and welcome to A Child's Haven!  This week we are learning about FARMS.  

We are having a lot of fun learning about some of the animals you might find on a farm and what products those animals produce.

On Monday we learned about pigs.  Our art acivity was cutting out shapes (circle, oval, rectangles, triangles) and gluing together to make a pig.  We glued him onto brown paper so he was in the mud.  Then we used a paper towel bunched up and dipped in brown paint to make our pig full of mud.

(sorry no time for pics....I will have a picture of our finished farmyard at the end of the week)

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Today (Tuesday) we are talking about cows.  Lots of fun activities kept us busy this morning!

We made butter!  So easy and fun!

What you need: heavy whipping cream, container with tight fitting lid, salt (optional), bread or crackers 

Just put a little heavy whipping cream into a container with a tight cover and shake, shake, shake.  You can add a clean marble to the cream to help it go a little faster.  It takes about 20 minutes.  Take turns "churning" the cream while you read a couple of stories and it will soon be ready!  (You will hear the liquid separated from the butter when it is done) You can add a little salt at the end if you like.  We put the butter on some homemade pumpkin bread.  Delicious!!!!!

We also milked a cow today!  ;)  This was a ton of fun!!!!

What you need: vinyl glove, needle, water, white paint, container, towel

Take a vinyl glove and poke a hole in the finger tip with a needle.  Then mix the water with some white paint.  Pour the paint into the glove and while you hold the top of the glove closed...let the children "milk" the cow. Keep a towel handy for any spilled milk! This was a huge hit!!!!!

For art we made a quick cow.  I cut out the cow and had some paint on the table to use with fingers to add some brown spots to our cows.

(sorry no pics yet.  I will have a pic of our finished farmyard at the end of the week. ;) )

I found this here:http://mrsosterman.blogspot.com/search/label/Farm and I am totally doing this next year during farm week!  I don't know where I can find hay bales anymore this year.

Here are a few quick pics of some events we did during Halloween week.  Sorry they are late but I didn't have time to blog.  Better late than never ;)

We made a haunted house with blankets and read some stories and did some flannel board activities inside.

 We made some gooey goblins with some green food coloring mixed with shaving cream all over the table.  Big messes are always so much fun to make!!!!! LOL

 Thanks for visiting!  Come back soon to see all the fun we are having!!!!!

Help spread the word!!!!! Referral bonus! PLUS OCTOBER SPECIAL

Being a new business; my first goal is to get the word out that I am here. Could you help? I am offering $10 Kwik Trip gift cards to anyone who refers a family to A CHILD's Haven. 

Details:
No limits on number of gift cards
One gift card per child enrolled ($5-part time; $10-full time)
Child(ren) must be enrolled for 30 days prior to granting gift cards.

Share my website that houses details about my childcare program:
A CHILD's Haven - http://achildshaven.blogspot.com/

Share my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/A.CHILDS.HAVEN.WI

References available upon request.

Thank you!

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OCTOBER ENROLLMENT SPECIAL

1 week of free childcare!  

Free week redeemable 30 days after enrollment.
Offer valid for full-time care only.
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Halloween fun

 There are so many fun activities to do for Halloween.  I have recently discovered these magnet pages you can use on a cookie sheet, fridge, or magnet board. (I picked up one of the drip pans from Walmart and attached it to my wall with velcro strips).  I found a couple of magnet sheets here: http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/PumpkinMagnetPages.htm

I also created a simple pumpkin magnet sheet that can be used to create jack-o-lanterns using the circular magnets.  You can find my make a face pumpkin and download it for free here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Make-a-pumpkin-face-magnet-sheet

 Today we finished up our adorable little spiders.  We painted the styrofoam balls yesterday and they were not quite dry in the afternoon so we added the eyes and legs today.  P loves his little spider!

 I will post more of our Halloween activities and crafts over the next couple of weeks.  Stop by again soon to see what we have been up to!

Fire Safety Week - Days 1 and 2

This week is national Fire Safety week and I am excited to be pulling out my Sesame Street Fire Safety curriculum.  This curriculum is available free through the U.S. Fire Administration for schools and fire departments.  For more information follow this link: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/teachers/sesame.shtm

I used my cricut and Sesame Street and Friends cartridge to create some fun puppets to go along with the stories in the curriculum.  The book does include some pages to photo copy and color as well.  I just got word that the CD is on its way to me....next year for fire safety we will be upgrading to a cd (no more waiting while Sara finds the right song and story on the cassette tape. ;) )

 

DAY 1 - HOT THINGS BURN

We played a fun game with post it notes and bingo markers (red and blue).  I put a post it note on items around the house and my little seedling used the red bingo marker if it was hot (not safe) and blue if it was cold (safe to touch).

We also threw together this fire truck out of a cardboard box that has been sitting in my breezeway just waiting for the perfect project.  This was a big hit!  We have a jump rope for a water hose too.

DAY 2 - MATCHES AND LIGHTERS ARE FOR GROWN-UPS

We read a story about Big Bird and learned to find an adult if we ever see matches or lighters.

DON'T TOUCH ~ FIND A GROWN UP

Here are my fake matchboxes I made that were placed around the room for my seedlings to find and practice calling a grown up for help.  Just a simple piece of card stock cut and folded in 3's and some wooden sticks I had that I trimmed and colored with the red bingo marker.

Then we painted FIRE!  Finger painting with red and yellow. 

More fun planned for the rest of Fire Safety week so come back soon to check it out!

Delicious Gluten Free bread - we found it!!!!

After a few failed attempts to find a gluten free bread recipe that we like, I stumbled upon this amazing Millet and Quinoa bread.  When my hubby first tried it he asked me if I was sure it was gluten free.  :)  It is moist and airy and the closest thing we have had to "real bread" since the kiddos were diagnosed.  I found it here http://glutenfreemommy.com/baking-gluten-free-bread-millet-oatmeal-bread/.  Then I followed a link on her blog to another blogger who altered a few items on the recipe as her pantry didn't not have everything it called for (neither does mine ;) )...so here is her version http://glutenfree.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/gf-millet-quinoa-bread/

I am not changing the recipe at all other than typing it up with the few alterations that Kate made and I have to change it a bit as I prefer all the ingredients to be listed in order of use in the recipe.  Just making it a little more reader friendly for myself.  I know....I am becoming a bit particular lately.  LOL

My hubby has requested that I attempt to make this into a version of cinnamon bread.  Hopefully I will have time to do that soon!

Millet & Quinoa Bread

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup sorghum flour

1/2 cup quinoa flour

3/4 cup millet flour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1/3 cup cornstarch

1/3 cup sweet rice flour

1 tablespoon xanthan gum 

3 tablespooons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 eggs (room temperature)

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon molasses

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1 1/2 cups heated water (120 degrees)

1 tablespoon active dry yeast (1 packet)

1 teaspoon agave nectar

1/2 teaspoon sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make sure all dry ingredients and eggs are at room temperature!

2. Grease the bottom of your pan.  I have made this in a loaf pan and I also made rolls in cupcake/muffin tins.

3. Heat Oven to 200 degrees and then turn off.  (I place my dough in the oven to rise and this slightly heating of the oven gives a nice warm environment for the dough to rise nicely)

4. In the bowl of your stand mixer (using the paddle), sift together the dry ingredients.  

5. In a seperate bowl, mix eggs, molasses, vinegar, and melted butter together.

6. Heat your water (120 degrees) for proofing the yeast. 

7. In a small prep bowl, stir together active dry yeast, agave nectar, and sugar.  Add 1/4cup of the heated water to the yeast mixture.  Let the yeast sit for 10 minutes.  It should be foamy and active.  If not, start over with another packet of yeast.  Once your yeast is ready.....

8. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients, then add the yeast mixture.  Then slowly add your remaining (water which should still be warm) to achieve the right consistency in your batter.  The dough should be like a very stiff cake batter.

9. Beat dough on high for about 15 minutes in the stand mixer.  If you accidentally add too much water simply add a little sorghum flour until you achieve the dough consistency you are after.

10. Put the dough in your prepared pan and place in oven to rise for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours.  Once the dough has risen to the top of the pan, bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees or until internal temperature reaches 190 degrees.

There was an old woman who swallowed a......

I would like you to meet our new friend....The little old woman.  I think she turned out so cute!  I need to collect the other "Old woman who swallowed a...." books and the items she swallowed to make our new activity even more fun!  

I have to admit I didn't come up with this idea; but I found it on pinterest and made my own version.  It took me awhile to find the right trash can.  I think she is pretty cute :)

Refreshing aroma in our home!

Hello!  This post isn't really childcare related; but it is beneficial to a childcare program!

I am not a big purchaser of scented candles or sprays; but I received a free product coupon as a bzzagent and I tried out the Glade Expressions spray and oil diffuser and I love it!  What a simple and effortless way to add a nice aroma to our home and childcare program.  The oil diffuser is so easy to use and it will continue to fill my home with a light aroma for a month (that is what the package claims...so we will see if it does truly last for a month).  I love the Cotton and Italian Mandarin!  I picked that scent up in the spray but I think I will need to get it in the oil diffuser next!  I have the Lavender and Juniper breeze in the oil diffuser and it is a light relaxing scent that is filling my home.

If you would like a coupon I would be happy to share one with you and let you enjoy the great scents that Glade Expressions has available.  Just give me a bzz and I can deliver a coupon to you!

OPEN HOUSE

A CHILD's Haven will be having an open house on September 14th from 4:30pm-6:30pm.  Come tour our facility and see what we have to offer.

Our Reading Tree

I have always loved willow trees and as a young child. I always thought it would be the perfect place to settle in with a good book.  My husband planted a few willows in our yard about 5 years ago as a gift to me and it was perfect timing because they are just the right size to house our small group for a little outdoor reading time.

Is a Gluten Free diet safe for your child?

I would like to share this article I found to let you know that a gluten free diet is safe for all children, when done properly.  Our home is gluten free because of my children having Celiac Disease; and I am working hard to make it a balanced diet to help my children thrive.

http://gluten.lovetoknow.com/Is_It_Safe_for_Children_to_Be_On_Gluten_Free_Diets

ABC/123 Learning Tree

Check out this fun ABC/123 Learning Tree that I have been working on.  I LOVE how they turned out.

Educational possibilities:
- Reenact the storybooks Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Chicka Chicka 123
- fun manipulatives for letter and number recognition 
- match uppercase letters to lowercase letters
- spell words
- Addition and subtraction
- Beginner multiplication
- LET THE IMAGINATION RUN WILD!!!!!!

I am currently sold out of the ABC/123 Learning Trees but will soon be adding more to my Etsy shop.  If you are interested send me a message and I will add you to my waiting list.

$25 plus shipping

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/79067951

On our way..........

Well....my initial licensing visit went well!  A few small things to fix up and I can send in my application to be licensed!  I am looking forward to opening on September 1, 2012!