Everyone is Special?

In reading this article in the National Post, I find myself nodding my head, agreeing with the commencement speaker. Kids are not special. Sounds harsh doesn't it. Of course our kids are very special to our families, this is not what I am speaking of.  It is the medals for everyone, regardless for the outcome. Kids being told how special they are and that everyone wins all the time.

“You are not special,” he told them.
“You are not exceptional,” he said.
“Contrary to what your U9 soccer trophy suggests, your glowing seventh grade report card, despite every assurance of a certain corpulent dinosaur, that nice Mister Rogers and your batty Aunt Sylvia, no matter how often your maternal caped crusader has swooped in to save you, you’re nothing special.”
There was laughter, even applause from among the assembled students.

Perhaps because a middle-aged man wearing a blue shirt, blue jacket, blue tie — with reading glasses perched on the end of his nose — uttered The Great Unspoken truth on a day typically reserved for hollow platitudes: Our kids are not special. They are just kids.

My daughter has played soccer since she was almost 4, and I am sure she has over 15 medals. All from when she played recreation soccer, where everyone gets a medal. Since she has played competitive soccer, this is not the case. And wow what a difference! In the past year she played very competitive soccer and fun hockey. Guess which sport she tried the hardest at? Yup, Soccer, because it was expected! If she didn't play well, she didn't play. At the end of her first season she was given the award, a real award, for most improved player. That award meant more to her than any of the medals she was given just for signing up.

Same thing with all the fuss about the Zeros that the teacher in Edmonton gave out. I find it ridiculous that students can not complete work and are not punished for it. If I do not complete my work, I hear about it! I don't understand what this teaches kids who are on the verge of leaving school and entering the real world. I listened to a debate about this same topic recently, and some of the teachers who are against the zeros, say we should learn for learning sake.... sure that can be a lifelong pursuit. But in the real world, you do not do your work, there is consequences. At their job they cannot choose to not do part of their work and expect to keep their job.

If you were not punished for not completing your assignments in high school, would you complete them? What about at your job, does your boss care if you complete your work?

What do you think? Should kids be rewarded for just showing up? And if so for how long?

Art & Play: Farm and Father's Day

Art & Play, Father's Day and Farm! We combined the two themes this month, and the kids loved all the crafts!

In honor of Father's day, we thought we would try to make some sappy Father's day gifts for the Dad's in our lives. Thank goodness we had lots of Huggies Wipes on Hand to help with the clean up! We had the kids paint their feet to go along with some beautiful poems about having the Dad's in our lives slow down and appreciate the little ones in their lives. Such a cute craft, but oh so messy!!!

We also had a photo station set up for pictures with the letters D A D. We were inspired from many similarly ideas from pinterest and decided to do our own.

(edited to add, click here to see the momstown papa version here)

Then of course we had craft time with our theme of Farm Animals. We made a barn with opening doors where the kids drew the animals that they though they would fine in their barn.

Of course all of our Art & Play events have lots of time for free play and our circle time with stories and songs.

Turning 40: The List

In less than a year I will be 40 years old. That is crazy to me! I feel 28. Truly. I remember when my mother turned 40. I was 12 and she seemed so old! ha ha

It seems that a lot of people make a list of things they want to accomplish before they turn the big 40, and I have contemplated a list.
1)I could get a tattoo. I do not have one, and well, I don't want one.  I like the way they look on other people, and plus I have no idea what I would get. Getting one for turning 40 should have some great significance, I think, and well, this isn't for me.
2)Skydiving? ummm nope, I like to stay in an airplane once I get on one.
3)Bungee Jump? again, I like to stay on a bridge when I am on it.
4)Start a business... done that! Wink!


What else is there? Travel? I have seen a lot of the world. I have ridden an Elephant, hand fed a black Rhino, visited an orphanage and it broke my heart, climbed the Eiffel tower twice, visited Hiroshima and cried... swam in many different seas and oceans...

Now this may sound obnoxious, and I don't mean to, but I cannot think of a list of things I want to accomplish before I turn 40.

So instead I have come up with a list of things I am looking forward to my 40's bringing to me.

1) Taking back my body. Being able to eat and drink what ever I like when I like. (see #2)
2)Pregnancy will be a thing of the past
3)Reclaiming my breasts! Breastfeeding will be finished in this decade!
4)Claiming that 40 is the new 30!
5)Being in the same decade as my hubby! lol at least for a few years.

Tell me what are you looking forward to the 40's?

Discovery Field Trip: Sunnybrook Farm

We took a field trip to Sunnybrook Farm! The kids had a great time learning about Farming in the area 100 or so years ago.

Here they are checking out old Dairy equipment with a chance to "milk" a cow at the end.

This cow doesn't smell and it doesn't kick!!

Here the kids are feeling the different types of grains that were grown on the farm, I think a few might have been mixed up for a new variety!

Here is the collection of old tractors, the kids loved checking them out and climbing into a few of the drivers seats

Of course a train brought all the kids over, an old steam engine!

In the old Hunting shack they have on the property, the kids felt different furs and pelts, including a bear skin! Our guide was awesome at explaining things so that the kids understood.

In the old tool shed, there was lots to see! So many tools were there for the touching!

All in all it was a great day outside of exploring and learning about Central Alberta's farming history, and the day ended with a wagon ride and the chance to stay for a picnic lunch. It was a very inexpensive day, and the best part, the moms and dads) were free! Looking for other things to do this summer with the kids? Check out our calendar for lots of things to do to keep you and the kids busy!

Alphabet Play: J is for June & Jaguar

Alphabet play is our monthly program where we focus on One letter and create a craft or two along with our story to reinforce the letter literacy learning. This is one of our two programs that is held at Chapters every month.

There is always lots of free play before our event starts as none of the kids can resist the train set that is set up! No matter how often we are there, the kids are still at the train table!

Then our Story time begins, and our Chapters Staff member reads to the kids, asking them questions and making sure they are involved int he story. This month we read a Dora & Diego book, which the kids loved! For June we used the letter J for both JUNE and JAGUAR, that was the centre of our story.

Then it was craft time! space is limited, so we usually have shifts of kids completing their craft, but there is always enough materials to go around.

 The moms help the kids, as there is tracing, cutting and gluing almost always involved. 

All important fine motor skills that the kids will need for kindergarten.

 This months crafts involved making a Jaguar out of the letter J as well as making Jaguar ears! 

I am sure many of the ears were worn all day!!

Love crafting and letter literacy? Join us for our Alphabet Play Program at Chapters. This event is capped at 12 attendees so you need to sign up early!

Have a baby that loves to Jump?

This month we were chosen to try out the Fisher Price Luv U Zoo Jumperoo.

This is a great treat for our youngest who is 8 months old. We have always had the activity "excer-saucers" and the hanging door frame jumping toy for our kids, but never a Jumperoo, so I was curious if it is really that different.

The box arrived and it was very easy to put together, just a few minutes of unwrapping the pieces from their plastic, snap together, and it was assembled.

Instantly it was a hit! Not only did she love it, she wanted to stay in it! With the other toys we might have her stay in for a about 7 minutes. With this toy, she was quite happy to be in for a half an hour!

Being a work from home mom, this is awesome!! I was able to get so much work done!!

I love how the sounds and lights encourage her to jump and play more, the more she plays the more the music plays. She loves the bright colors! She changes from moving the small toys working on her fine motor skills, grabbing the dangling animals and then she jumps to her hearts content!!

The music is also great, not something that you get sick of hearing! As a mom with three kids with lots of noisy toys, this is an awesome feature!

Here is the Jumperoo in action!

The Fisher-Price Luv U Zoo Jumperoo is a great toy for your active baby!
Don't have one? You can still enter to win one until June 15th!

Junior Chef: Fancy Fruit Kabobs

How do you get kids to try different foods? You make it fun of course!

This is what we did this month at our Junior Chef event. We made fancy fruit kabobs! You can use any fruit for this, but we went with easy ones of banana and apple!

First we gave the kids a plastic knife to practice cutting their banana into small pieces. This is a great easy and safe way to teach kids how to use a knife!

Then we handed out the apple pieces and they began to string them on their skewer, of course with moms supervision!

Then the real fun began!
First we rolled the kabobs in coconut, then we added a few sprinkles for color and then we had yogurt for dipping!

Was it messy? Absolutely! Was it fun? Of course! And the best part... the kids all loved their fruit creations and ate them all up!

Many of our moms said they will be doing this at home, makes a fun activity and a healthy snack at the same time!

Thank you Huggies for supplying the much needed wipes for this messy but awesome treat!