Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in albuquerque, NM

It's Not a Stick, It's A...

by Alison

April 13, 2009

Kids love to create, and their definition of artwork can be quite different from ours.  This means that chances are your child would be excited about an art project regardless of the materials used.  So, why not take advantage of that and scout out your home or your backyard for some craft supplies that would otherwise go unnoticed or just end up in the trash?

Flowers, grass, and leaves make some great collage materials.  I like to use clear contact paper to eliminate the need for glue (which is especially good for the littlest ones).  Then I also will cover the creation with contact paper as well.  Instead of just using  these materials for a collage, use them to spell your child's name - flowers are great for dotting 'i's! 

Head inside and you'll find even more great craft supplies. Cut pictures from old magazines. Look for specific colors, shapes, or letters and help your child create his own color, shape, or alphabet book. Popsicle sticks are lots of fun, too. Glue on some yarn for hair, draw on eyes (or use google eyes) and clothes to make people.  Glue four together to create a square-shaped picture frame. Challenge your child to make other shapes. Decorate old food containers (such as cool whip tubs or juice concentrate cans) and turn them into keepsake containers, pencil jars, or banks. Leftover bits of yarn, fabric, ribbon, or wrapping paper make great collage materials.

Create a stationary set for your child using the envelopes that come with junk mail (or your bills, if you pay them online and don't use them), paper that's been printed on one side already (cut them into fun shapes to make them seem interesting), and some return address labels. Use an old shoebox to make a mailbox.

Think outside of the box and you're sure to find lots of art materials around the house.  Before you throw it out, stop and think, what could my child create with this?

5 Easter Crafts

by Alison

April 07, 2009

Looking for something new to add to your egg-dying repertoire?  Or maybe you're looking for an alternative activity.  Here are some "egg"-cellent ideas for you to try, some-"bunny" is bound to enjoy them!

1. Cut out egg shapes from white cardstock (or just construction paper) and let your child decorate these with markers, crayons, paint, glitter, torn paper, colored macaroni, yarn, cereal pieces, or anything else you can think of.

2. Make these adorable Rice Krispies Easter Eggs and use frosting and sprinkles to decorate them.

3. Use your child's thumbprints to create bunny pictures . You could also this technique to create egg shapes or baby chicks as well. (from LollyChops - scroll down about a third of the way to see the example).

4. Use circles of varying sizes, fold them over and decorate with feathers.  Create a pen for them too!  See an example of this craft at Kiddio

5. Have your child make his own basket.  If you can find a strawberry container with open sides, help your child weave construction paper through it.  Cut the top of a gallon milk jug (be sure to leave the handle - make your cut at an angle) to make a basket to decorate.  For some other decorating ideas, see this page at FamilyFun.com
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5 Ways to Celebrate Spring in Albuquerque

by Alison

March 24, 2009

The temperatures are higher, the trees are blooming, and the wind is blowing - it must be Springtime in Albuquerque!  Celebrate the arrival of a new season with some of these activities.

1. Head to a good tree observing spot (your local park should do, or maybe even your front yard), gather some art supplies, and draw pictures of the beautiful blooms.  Talk about how the blooms one the different trees are the same or different.  Some trees may be done blooming, while some are just barely opening.

2. Visit the new animal babies at the Rio Grande Zoo.   There's a baby howler monkey,  a new kangaroo, a baby orangutan, a baby Bactrian camel, and more. Signs will point you to the new additions and in the meantime, check out some photos of the new arrivals.

3. Stop by your local home improvement store or nursery and pick up some flowers to plant.  You can plant them in your yard, a small planter, or even in a paper cup in your kitchen!

4. Enjoy a baseball game.  The UNM Lobos are in full swing.  Adult tickets are $5 and children's tickets are just $3, so it's an affordable family activity.  The April 17th game is 'Pack the Park' night and all tickets are just $2.  Softball tickets are just as inexpensive, and this weekend is 'Pack the Park' weekend and tickets are only a dollar.  The Isotopes kick off their season on April 9.  You can also try and catch a little league game.  Many of the local leagues have websites with schedules.  Do an internet search for "albuquerque little league".

5. Visit your local library and pick up some books all about Spring.  Better yet, look through this list, reserve a few and have them ready for you when you arrive! 
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Make Recycling Fun plus Giveaway Winner

by Alison

January 12, 2009

Last week my son and I watched an episode of Word World where Pig taught Duck all about recycling. Since all the objects in Word World are made from words, recycling there is fun and easy. They just add some new letters to the old word and suddenly a can turns into candy or a candle (which came in handy, since they were making a birthday cake for Frog). Ta-da! Something new from something  Read more...

In Case You Missed it the First Time...

by Alison

December 30, 2008

Just in case you missed them, here are some of my favorite posts from the past year (oh, okay, from the past four months that this blog has been up!). In no particular order, I present: History Lesson: Petroglyph National Monument - Take a trip back in time just by driving across town (or maybe just down the street). A Great Book Helps Explain a Tough Subject: Getting Lost -  Read more...

Local Books for Little Ones: Roadrunner's Dance

by Alison

November 17, 2008

To tie into the national Being Savvy blog's monthly theme of books and reading , I'm highlighting some children's books that are written by New Mexicans and/or take place in New Mexico. Today's book is Roadrunner's Dance by Rudolfo Anaya. Mr. Anaya is is probably best known for writing Bless Me, Ultima, but he has also written several books for children. He is a New Mexico  Read more...

Local Books for Little Ones: Carlos and the Squash Plant

by Alison

November 10, 2008

This month the national Being Savvy blog is focused on books and reading . To tie into that, and also bring in some local flair, I'd like to highlight some children's books that are written by New Mexicans and/or take place in New Mexico. Today's book is Carlos and the Squash Plant/Carlos y la Planta de Calabaza by Jan Romero Stevens . The Author was born in Las Vegas, New  Read more...

Celebrate Fall

by Alison

October 27, 2008

The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, and some terrific holidays are just around the corner. That's right, it's Fall! I grew up in Arizona and only thought I knew what seasons were until I spent a few years living on the east coast. Albuquerque may not "do" fall quite like the east, but compared to central Arizona, it's wonderful! Here are some fun ways to celebrate  Read more...

Budding Art Critic: Art at the BioPark

by Alison

October 20, 2008

Normally one visits the BioPark to enjoy the plants, flowers, and animals, but the BioPark is also full of unique displays of art. Next time you visit the Zoo, Aquarium, or Botanic Gardens, take some time to enjoy the art you see. Send your kids on an art scavenger hunt and have them scout out anything that might be considered art, they will probably surprise you with what they come up  Read more...

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!: Taking Time to Enjoy the Aquarium

by Alison

September 23, 2008

My four year old loves to visit the Aquarium, but tends to rush through it and treat it more like a race track than a place to observe marine life. Here's a few ideas to help your children slow down and enjoy all that the Albuquerque Aquarium has to offer. Next time, let your preschooler take some pictures. A camera of their own is a great thing for a child to have, it doesn't have to be  Read more...