Birds, Bubbles and Balls at momstown KW Art and Play Program

This month at momstown KW, our theme is birds.

So what better way to celebrate it than by painting with feathers!

 

 

It was a super nice day to break out the paint and feathers to create birds of our own.

 



 

 

After using a feather for a colour, it stuck well to the paper before choosing a new feather and new colour of paint.

 

 

 

We made Art and Play even more fun and engaging by adding colorful balls:

 

and bubbles to chase and burst:

 

 

 

It was a beautiful day to enjoy the park, friends and tons of fun.

 

 

Next month at Art and Play, we will have a great time with the monthly theme of Apples.

 

Join us in the park for painting using the tasty fruit!

 

Polar Animals and Hearts at momstown KW's Art and Play Program

 Brrrrr.     
Our Art and Play program theme this month was Polar Animals. We started off with a sing-song of the extended version of Row, Row your Boat during our Circle Time.

 Then we all made Paper Plate Penguins. Since it was so close to Valentines Day, we added a heart to our polar friends!  These penquin friends were so easy to make, and a lesson in shapes as well.  Circles, triangles, lines and a then a red heart in there too.













Because it was right near Valentines Day, we thought we would have some gaminng fun with candies and hearts.  I am not sure who was more competitive, the moms or the kids :)   We started with a game to see who could make tallest tower of hearts, and then followed up with a challenge to see who could design the most creative picture with their gummy hearts.

The kids then enjoyed playing with polar animals in their natural environment.  Yes, that's real snow!  Join us next month for Art and Play when we explore Space!

 

 





 

Little momstown KW Scientists Conduct Magic Milk Experiment

This morning was a beautiful day to head to the park and play!  So that's just what momstown Kitchener-Waterloo did.... and that's not all.  We also learned and experimented with Milk!

  

Yes, I said milk.  Who knew milk would make a great foundation for a science experiment right? Well, I have to tell you that it makes the Coolest Kaleidoscope ever! And, its so simple, you can do this at home, with ingredients from the fridge & cupboard.  

All you need is some high-fat milk (homo or 2% works best), some food colouring and liquid soap!  And a little dabber of some sort like a straw or q-tip.  The experiment is as simple as putting some milk in a large dish, adding a few drops of food colouring to it (spread out) and then dab the dish soap into the food coloured spots and drag them around in the milk. The liquid soap forces the colouring out into the milk and you can make all kinds of colourful patterns and designs with your stirring and mixing motions.  Its almost like the food colouring is scared of the liquid soap, the way it moves away from the soap when dabbed into the colour.   

Not only were the kids fascinated with the Magic Milk this morning, but so was Mom.  I can see lots of Magic Milk experiments being conducted all over Waterloo Region this summer.  Note to self and readers.... food colouring stains!  I am so glad that I had Huggies Simply Clean Wipes handy to help me clean up the food colouring and liquid soap off the kids, and mostly me... Thanks Huggies!

momstown KW Embraces "I Am Small" at Tales for Tots

When momstown Kitchener-Waterloo started off the April Tales for Tots with the book “I Am Small” from Scholastic Canada, I was very excited!  I am one of those moms that has the tiny baby... the one everyone asks about, and thinks she is months younger than she is.   “I Am Small” struck a chord with me... and I LOVED the story, even going out to buy a copy for our own collection.

To celebrate baby animals and the story “I Am Small” we decided to showcase how small we all are, by making footprint/handprint penguins as our craft for the day.

Tracing each of the little feet (or shoe- depending what was easier), and everyone’s tiny hands, we were able to put it all together into an adorable little penguin, just like the little guy in the story.

  

It didn’t matter how big or how small everyone’s hands and feet were, they all came together perfectly into a cute penguin, each one completely different, different shapes and sizes, just like all the penguins in the story.

Written by Christine K, our momstown KW Event Coordinator.

Bullfrogs and Butterflies: Butterfly Crafts

During the month of May, momstown KW’s educational curriculum was based on the theme of Bullfrogs and Butterflies. To learn more about butterflies and what makes them unique, momstown KW moms and kids set out to craft two types of the pretty insects.

momstown KW turned coffee filters, paint, pipe cleaners, googley eyes and some added fun decorations into a beautiful butterfly project. The coffee filter was opened and decorated with a variety of materials. Once decorating was complete, a pipe cleaner was threaded through the webbing at the top of the coffee filter to represent the butterflies antennae. Some googley eyes brought this beautiful insect to life!

 To teach the children about the natural line of symmetry that butterflies possess - the next craft was to create a mirror imaged butterfly. We cut the shape of a butterfly out of construction paper and folded it in half. Then, laid it open and began painting the inside of one half. Then fold again – and squish the paint together! After the squishing process is complete, the kids opened it up to reveal a beautiful, perfectly symmetrical butterfly.

Take a peek at the calendar for more fun and education activities! Also check out the momstown arts and crafts blog for more beautiful butterfly crafts :)

Finger Painting for momstown KW's Picasso's in the Park!

momstown KW’s first picasso’s event of the year was finger-painting and boy! This was a COLD day!

A lot of the momstown KW moms cancelled for this event – but the ones that did come stayed strong and ventured out into the cold (albeit most weren’t dressed appropriately).

We offered a variety of finger paints and tempra paints to the kiddos – along with some sponges and stamps and encouraged the kids to run wild and be creative on the mural paper.

momstown KW had everything… apples, happy faces, suns and stars! The little picasso’s loved it! In fact, they were showing so much excitement, even the geese wanted to participate.

Meet our newest members! :)

After the picasso’s had tired themselves from the creativity, they burnt some energy at the park – and became daredevils! They ventured to a huge slide that seemed almost ten stories high! 

Despite the cold, it was a great day! Check out the momstown KW events calendar for more picasso's in the park happening once a month until October!

Apron Painting at Kids Kreations Art Studios

In early may, momstown KW headed out to Kids Kreations Art Studios in Cambridge. All the little artists were ready for a fun filled morning showing off their creative skills.

Using acrylic paints and plain white aprons, the kids painted their hearts out. Some parents encouraged the children to draw something specific, while others let the kids run wild and explore using their fingers.

As if the aprons couldn’t get any cuter - the instructor had momstown KW moms/kids write the children’s names on their aprons! What a way to up that cuteness factor! We are sure you will be seeing these creations at future momstown KW events.

A big thank you to one of our very own momstown KW members, Tiffany, for getting the kids singing and dancing in a circle while the others cleaned up the artistic mess that was left behind.

Once all the artists were done with their aprons - the troops headed on over to Burger King for some much needed lunch. The kids spent some time running around the indoor playland, wearing themselves out for their afternoon naps.

It's always nice to hang out with your friends... look how cute these two are, giving each other hugs!

Momstown KW will definitely be taking another trip back to Kids Kreations Art Studios in the future! 

We Survived!

She survived, I survived (barely), we both survived!  My anxiety level leading up to this day was so high and then it came and went so easily.  Just like that.

My little peanut had her first morning of daycare today and loved it!  Although she was whiney and snuggly when I picked her up (only because the other kids were going down for a nap), she wanted to stay.  I was trying to get her dressed to head back outside into the gale force windy weather, and she wanted to join the kids who were napping. Not a bad problem to have I guess..

Her teacher brought her to me with a glowing report of good behaviour, excellent eating habits, wet splash pants and a crafty souvenir to take home!  Although she had done many crafts with momstown Kitchener-Waterloo before, this was different.  This was her very first craft, not mostly done by mommy.  A craft that will be on the fridge forever and then stored away :)

Although I enjoyed the silence and quality work time this morning, I missed my baby.  Will I ever not miss her?  I was so thankful for the whiney and clingy toddler that greeted me at noon today.

For some great craft ideas to do at home with your littles, visit the momstown arts & crafts blog! 

It's True, We DO a Lot!

Yes, its true, momstown Kitchener-Waterloo does offer a lot of things to do!  It's not a gimmick, sales pitch or lure. Its a fact that there is a mimimum of 7 events per week, and 30+ events in any given month.  Yep, no joke!

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Wondering how the calendar could be so full?  Well, momstown Kitchener-Waterloo offers playgroups, book clubs, track walking, mall strolling, parkdates, craft events/days, field trips, meet & greets,  and yes, some playdates. And that's only naming a few. 

On top of all that, we have a variety of events that cater to just mom, appropriately called Mom's Nights Out.  Without our kiddies in tow, we are having supper together, Mommy Book Club, Mommy Networking Club, educational seminars and how-to classes.

Dad is important too, even at momstown, and here in Kitchener-Waterloo, we have family craft days and popular Holiday parties that even the most masculine dads like to attend. 

Our ideas are endless for quality, fun and valuable events that are supported by an educational cirriculum created by momstown.ca for all momstown chapters across Canada.  And starting in May, Moms will have their very own Mom Cirriculum too!

 For even more crafty ideas, check out the momstown.ca Arts & Crafts blog!