According to a 2007 study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Researchers at the University of Washington, playing helps with language development. Free play or “empty time” allows a child to find how they enjoy playing and this can lead to understanding how your child learns.

You can also “lead” unstructured play by offering a setting or objects to play with and then sitting back and allowing the children to figure out what they’d like to do.

Suggestions:

- Have a Lego Day. Combine everyone’s Legos (might want to leave those very special pieces at home and know how many you came with). See what the kids come up with—restrain from trying to get them to make a rocket ship—let them figure it out how to problem solve.

- Have a cookie or cupcake decorating party and let the kids design their own cupcake combinations.

- Host a fruit and veggie art party. Bring those digital cameras and let the kids create their own edible art.

- Create “nature” art. Gather pinecones, wildflowers, and plain old weeds and let the kids come up with table settings and home art you can take home and decorate your house with.

- Host a dress-up day. Bring costumes, hats, purses, and props and combine all your pieces into a giant dress up box. Let the kids mix and match and come up with their own crazy combinations.

The key is to not “mommy-fy” the play by trying to lead it yourself. Offer the children the objects to create with and then “mum’s da word!” Encourage the other moms not to interfere. Let the kids work out their own squabbles. And try to not to be a hover-mother. Don’t sit in a circle and stare at the kids while they play. No one enjoys being started at. Get into your own conversations and allow your children as much freedom as is safe.

Playing is one of (if not the best parts) of childhood. Do your best to stay out of your children’s way and let them enjoy themselves wholeheartedly.

Make a snowflake chain:
Here’s some great sites to help you and your playgroup make beautiful snowflakes. http://highhopes.com/snowflakes.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_12257_cut-paper-snowflake.html
http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/

If you are in a region of the country where it’s snow, then get on out there and make some snow angels and a snowman! Want to know how to make a good one? (It’s not as easy as you think, if you want a big one that actually stays together) Here’s how:
http://www.catalogs.com/info/outdoor/build-a-snowman.html

Too far South for snow? Here’s some fun winter crafts ideas:
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/snowpeople/Snow_People_Projects.htm

Don’t forget about our animal friends. Get some pinecones, smear them with peanut butter and roll them in birdseed. Hang them on trees and then go inside and watch from your windows for squirrels and birds to enjoy their special treat.

Be sure to bring your cameras. What’s cuter than kids all bundled up with only their rosy cheeks, red noses and grins showing on a winter day! Remember that snow is reflective so be sure to check your lighting.
Capturing a snowball fight on video just might land you on America’s Funniest Home Videos–you never know when something cute or crazy might happen, so be ready~

After winter is over, be sure to recycle those winter coats. Your little one won’t be able to fit in it next year, so why not do a coat swap with your playgroup–or donate to a local charity? Have everyone bring a new bag of socks and sock hats and drop them off at a shelter. So many families are struggling to make ends meet. Nothing says you care more than new socks.

Ideas to Help Your Playgroup Get off to a Great 2010 Start:

Create a survey: Use your email list to create a survey and get some very needed feedback. Ask your playgroup members a few key questions–what activity this year was the most fun for you and your child? What was kind of a dud? What was too much work? If you could repeat one playgroup day, what would it be? Do you want more structured play–or less? What area needs the most work? How can you best help out? What are you good at–that you’re willing to share or teach the group? What didn’t we do that you’d like to try?

Time to get out a physical calendar and nail down those dates. There’s nothing like paper to ground us. Once there’s a master list, then everyone can get out their iPhones and blackberries and input the dates, phone numbers, emails, and work lists.

If you were group leader/co-leader last year, give someone else a chance. Be their right-hand gal or guy. Don’t let them blunder their way through. Give them a hand, make suggestions, and let them try some new things.

Start on those big activities now. If you do a big fundraiser in May, start making plans now. Get your volunteers committed, ask for their input now. If Christmas was a big event for your playgroup, brainstorm on what worked best (and what didn’t) now, while it’s fresh on your mind. It’ll make next December go so much better.

Don’t be afraid to speak up. If you thought something got really complicated, you’re probably not alone. Share your vision of what you and your child want and need from a playgroup. It just might be that others feel the same way–or you might want to visit some other playgroups to find the right fit for you.

It might be wise to have one parent meeting. Even if you have to do it by conference call or coffee shop meeting early one morning, one simple planning meeting can jumpstart a great year.

Ways to Celebrate the New Year with Your Playgroup:

Pick a time. It doesn’t have to be on New Year’s Day–do it at a time that’s convenient for all.

Ask different playgroup members how their family and culture celebrates the New Year. Ask them to bring part of their traditions to your party.

Some popular New Year’s traditions are: a seafood fest for Italian families or greens and peas for those who live in the South–collards for “green” cash and beans, such as black-eyed peas or pinto beans for coins. Buy “fake” champagne for the kids–sparkling wine and purchase plastic flute glasses for the full effect.

Make your own party hats. Cut triangles out of construction paper, glue or staple and decorate with stickers, foam cut outs, and even make pom-pom toppers out of tissue paper. You can also make your own noise makers with leftover jingle bells from Christmas and drums made out of oatmeal cylinder cans.

Talk about firsts. Have the kids list things that come first–the first time they rode their bike without training wheels, the first time they performed on a stage, the first time they saw their new puppy. Have them create a small book of firsts so they can continue to celebrate when they lose a tooth, visit grandma alone, or hit a home run.

If you want a grownup New Year’s party, why not all chip in and hire two or three competent teens? (don’t forget to think about asking guy teens–they make great sitters and can really get into playing games with your boys) You can have a spend the night party with sleeping bags, movies, and take-out pizza for the kids. Plan some activities to keep them busy throughout the night (twister, movie and popcorn time, indoor bowling or bean bag toss) and that way all of the grown-ups get to celebrate together and know their kids are having a good time, too.

Do a countdown. It can be a countdown to noon instead of midnight. Get a 3 foot ruler, cover it with paper and mark ten notches. Make or buy a piñata and create a lever where everyone can count down the notches until the piñata its zero–then celebrate the “new year” with confetti, treats, and hugs and kisses for all!

I urge you to take some time this week for reflection, as well. There’s the age-old adage, that to live life without a plan, is like to sail without a compass—you will end up living your life at the whims and desires of others around you…not necessarily following the dreams of your heart.

So, grab a warm, cup of coffee, turn on some soft music, and sit with your new mug and journal…the ones that you pretended you were so happy to receive; but, now are truly glad you did. Focus on your family, your children, your husband, and of course, you. Additionally, make sure you look at goals for all aspects of life—spiritual, emotional, financial, physical and relational. Then, devise a plan of action. And, remember, you may not reach your destination all at once, but with each passing year, you will definitely be a little closer.

May you have a very happy and prosperous New Year!

Warm Regards,
Janet Spiech
www.alittlebook.net

Why not share your traditions with your playgroup? Have a family recipe day and bring your aunt’s Watergate/marshmallow salad and your great-grandparent’s red clam sauce recipe. Make copies of your family recipe and share it with the other playgroup moms. You can even demonstrate how to make it as a mother-kid cooking duo just like on the Food Channel. There’s no better way for your child to learn about his/her family heritage than to share your family traditions with others.

Easy Ways to Discover Your Family’s Heritage:

• Make a list of your favorite holiday recipes you enjoyed as a kid

• Ask to rummage through your mom’s recipe cards

• Go antique/vintage shopping and find some magazines from your time era (60s, 70s, etc.,) or even from your mom’s era. It’s fun making an authentic “older” recipe

• While you’re at that antique store, look around for old linens—vintage tablecloths and Christmas decorations are really fun when they have the feeling of an era gone by

• Purchase those great claymation videos, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer made in 1964 and they’re still great!

• Share with your child what your holidays were like growing up. Tell them what your favorite toys were, that hideous outfit you had to wear that Aunt Sally gave you, and if you had a real tree of a fake tinsel tree like I did (that looked like a giant ball of aluminum foil).

• Be sure to talk about where your family originated from—are you Italian? Croation? Kenyan? Get out the globe and show your children where your family lived generations ago. Look up some traditional music and download a few ITunes. Research what holiday traditions are still in practice today.

Share Your Family Traditions with Your Playgroup

Why not share your traditions with your playgroup? Have a family recipe day and bring your aunt’s Watergate/marshmallow salad and your great-grandparent’s red clam sauce recipe. Make copies of your family recipe and share it with the other playgroup moms. You can even demonstrate how to make it as a mother-kid cooking duo just like on the Food Channel. There’s no better way for your child to learn about his/her family heritage than to share your family traditions with others.

Learning to have a grateful heart takes practice, but it’s something most kids are usually pretty good at. It’s the adults that need to remember the little things and how great a red leaf or toasted marshmallows really are.
 
A great way to incorporate a spirit of thanks—and giving—is to make a gratitude tree at your next playgroup.

-Get a large branch (2-3 feet tall) that has lots of smaller limbs coming off of it. “Plant” it in a ceramic or clay pot.

-Purchase a small bag of Quikrete or some other setting product such as Plaster of Paris. 

-Give each child a leaf to write on—you can use a real leaf, a construction paper leaf, or a store bought-already cut leaf. Use sharpies and write on the leaves what you’re thankful for.

-If the kids are too young to write, then write for them.

-Use a stamp pad and let them sign with their thumb prints (you can even write their name within the swirls) 

You can even make smaller gratitude trees by cutting smaller branches and using small clay pots—so that each child can take home their tree.

It’s a great coffee table or thanksgiving table decoration and family members can add their leaves of thanks.

Why not plan a playgroup Halloween party? 

• What about a theme party? Super-heroes, fairy tales, what I want to be when I grow up, Disney characters, Sesame Street friends…

• If you go with a theme, be sure to take a group picture—and plan activities that go with your theme.

• What about a little grown grown-up dress-up fun? Come on, you know you want to! (I went to a “Super-hero” grown-up party a few weeks ago—it was so much fun!)

• Why not do your own version of trick-or-treat? Each parent can pick a station (even wear a costume) and the children can go from place to place trick-or-treating. Each parent can give something unique—stickers, apples, balls, slap bracelets, or clown noses.

• Give each child a time for show and tell. Create a “soap box” for them to stand on (overturned laundry basket or create) Let them show off the various elements of their costume (sword, badge, wand) let them pose, act out, or even have the whole playgroup put together a skit.

• Turn it into a dance party! Put on some music and teach the kids the Jitterbug, the Macarena, and the Salsa.

• Don’t forget the pumpkins. You can have a small pumpkin decorating party. Don’t worry about bringing knives and fooling with all that goo—use your Mr. Potato Head pieces, use stickers, or make your own out of pipe cleaner, foam, and pom-poms.

Halloween is way too fun to just walk around the block and come home. A playgroup Halloween party extends the fun, and nothing is more fun than dressing up—at any age.

Pumpkin Fun at Playgroup:

·Tiny pumpkin creatures. Find the smallest pumpkins (you can also add other veggies and nuts—squash, carrots, chestnuts, etc.) you can and create spiders, cats, lobsters, or dinosaurs.

·Visit a pumpkin patch—if you don’t know of your one in your area, check online. I bet you’ll find one within a couple of hours of your home. Make a day trip, maybe there will be an apple orchard or other activity nearby.

·Do pumpkin faces. Get orange and black face paint and paint the kid’s faces like they’re pumpkins. Draw the vertical lines and paint happy, scary, or silly faces.

·Carve a pumpkin ahead of time and roast the pumpkin seeds—you can roast them in soy sauce, cinnamon and sugar, or just salt.

·Make pumpkin bread, or serve carrot juice and call it pumpkin juice, like in Harry Potter.

·Have a pumpkin carving display. Pumpkins take some time to carve, and your child will probably enjoy digging out the goo and the seeds, but since it’s a time-consuming activity, you might want to carve the pumpkins at home and bring them to playgroup for a show and tell.

·Make pumpkin/Mr. Potato heads. Use your Mr. Potato-head (or Mrs. Potato-head) parts to decorate your pumpkins.

·Have a orange day. Bring carrots, oranges, peppers, and orange tomatoes—everyone can wear orange clothing, eat orange candy-corns. It’s a great orange day!         

Do you have any pumpkins idea to share? Leave us a comment.