Some favourite toys for independent and open-ended play

The toys that my children love playing with are also the toys that I love because of their timeless appeal and also because they encourage creative and/or independent, open ended play- for example if they are playing 'babies' this game can go on for a very decent amount of time depending on the age of your children! So I thought I'd share my favourite and my children's favourite toys with you- nearly all of these have been brought from a second hand kids shop nearby or from Trade me-I rarely buy toys brand new, and I love buying things to add to a collection e.g: duplo, toy cars or Fisher Price Little People. These are also the toys that both Jack and Stella love playing with so they appeal to both boys and girls. I've written them in order of what they play with the most...

1. Cars

Definitely the most popular toy in our house, both Stella and Jack love playing with our collection of cars, buses, motorbikes and the like- most of them were bought in a bulk lot of trademe for about $15 all up, with a few extra cars and things coming from christmas and birthday presents. I bought the car mat from Payless Plastics- it comes on a roll so you can choose how much you want. They don't use the car mat all that much though, just the lounge floor and couches are enough most of the time! A friend had this cool car ramp at her place so I did buy this new- it was $10 from K Mart in the toy section with the Matchbox car range.

2. Babies

I bought my first toy baby when I was pregnant with Stella so Amelie would have a baby to play with which was great advice. This is a really popular game to play when they have friends over but they also love playing with them when they're on their own at home too. We have about 4 now I think, 3 from the second hand shop and one was a birthday gift (handy when there are a few kids over -they can all have a baby each.) I got the little cot from Trade Me, the buggy and the high chair were birthday gifts from family, and the bath and baby accessories were also from the second hand shop. 

3. Puzzles

Puzzles are really popular with all 3 of my children, they all loved the wooden ones with the little pegs in them when they were around 2 years and now they are loving the alphabet cardboard ones and some easyish jig saw puzzles as well. I love them playing with puzzles- lots of learning, fine motor skills, problem solving etc and they get a great sense of achievement when they complete one.  Dollar value type shops have heaps of really budget friendly puzzles and again Zero to Five has heaps as well. Also lots on Trade Me.

4. Duplo

Duplo is a fantastic thing to start collecting if you have little ones- I bought a bulk bag for $40 from Zero to Five which was a great starting point to our collection, and then every Christmas my dad has bought them a set which is a great tradition. It's a great open ended imaginative toy and my 7 year old still enjoys playing with it. Lego is great too but we've found it better for older children say 5+ years at least (but that's just our kids, some I know starting playing with lego younger)

5. Fisher Price Little People and Fisher Price Toys

I have a bit of an obsession with vintage Fisher Price toys and have started a little collection of them, nearly all from Trade Me. The kids also got a few Fisher Price Little People Sets for birthdays or Christmas so we have a good little collection of that- the bus is by far the most popular toy, Jack would play with that nearly every day putting his little 'persons' in and out of the bus.  Again on trade me there are quite a few bulk lots of Fisher Price Little People if you were wanting to start a collection.

6. Doctors/Vets

All you need for this is lots of soft toys and a doctors play kit. And plenty of wrap around bandages!

7. Farm animals

I made this reversible playmate last year and the kids love getting out the animals and playing farms with it. If you can find a collection of animals on trademe try and find one that has fences too so they can create their own farm paddocks.

 

8. Playdough

I've included playdough as the kids love it but it's not exactly independent play compared with the other toys, and the mess afterwards.... well lets just say I'm pretty happy I have very old carpet at the moment! I pick up quite a few playdough 'tools' from op shops- look out for anything in the kitchen wares like plastic knives, pastry cutters, old muffin trays etc. 

Here's my recipe for some great sensory play dough...

There are loads more great imaginative toys out there, tea sets for tea parties, dinosaurs, trains, dress-ups are another one of my favourites…would love to hear of your favourite toys :)

Megan 

Scrap Bag Swap 2014 - A Pocket Organiser

Ever since seeing this gorgeous pocket organiser on Pinterest  (from the blog post http://nicety.livejournal.com/1217050.html which has lots more photo's of the stunning kids space the organiser is hanging in) I wanted to make my own one and late last year I finally did, making one for my friend's daughters 7 year old birthday. Some of the fabrics I used were from a fabric scrap bag swap I took part in 2 years ago organised by Nin  (I was very lucky to also get Nin as my swap partner who sent me a beautiful bag of scrap fabrics which have been well used) so it was fun to get them out again to make this.  If you have a bunch of scraps then this is the perfect project as you can have a lot of fun choosing different pieces for the pockets and you don't need a lot of fabric for each pocket. I didn't do any measuring for this project which really appeals to me so it was a reasonably quick project too - it probably took me 2 hours max.

For the white back and front pieces I cut out 2 large pieces of fabric (each one about 50cm x 80 cm approx). I used my favourite off white cotton duck that I get from Bernina, a lovely heavy linen looking fabric that I use for heaps of my projects.  Then the fun part-  I got out all my scraps and found a mix of pink pieces, then cut out different size rectangles and played around fitting them on the front piece of fabric. Once I had them sorted I folded over the tops and sides of each pocket and ironed them, and then stitched around them.

For some pockets I added a bit of embellishment like a piece of lace or ricrac.

You could also do things like hand stitch the initial of their name to a pocket, or appliqué their name across the top of the organiser.

I added a ribbon down one side to put hair clips on, and a little ribbon loop under one pocket to attach things like headbands, or a carabina with hair ties on it like this one I shared on my Facebook page a few weeks ago.

I also added a line of lace across the top of the pockets so things like cards and postcards could be attached with pegs.

Then I pinned the pockets on and sewed around the sides and bottom of each pocket to attach them to the front piece of fabric. Once that was done I placed my back piece over the front piece (right sides together), sewed around the whole thing leaving a gap at the bottom for turning, then turned it right sides out and top stitched around the organiser to finish it off. I added two ribbon loops to the top back of the organiser so it could be hung on the wall.

I found a small container and filled it with a few things for the pockets to give with the organiser- 7 year old girls are lots of fun to buy for :) 

I can't wait to make one of these for each of my kids - anything to facilitate any sort of tidying/storage will be a good thing in their bedrooms!

Don't forget to check out all the other blog posts for Nin's Scrap Bag Swap series- there's a link to them all here, and join in the swap next year if you are keen!

http://notchkas-wardrobe.blogspot.co.nz/2014/02/a-blog-hop-quilt-along-and-competition.html

Megan

Ideas for advent, stocking or Santa Sack gifts

I have finally got myself sorted for my advent pocket bunting just a few days late.
I made this bunting last year...

http://domesticblissnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/christmas-advent-bunting.html

so I thought I would share some ideas for things to put in either your advent calendar if you have one that fits small treats, or you could use these ideas for stocking or santa sack presents. Most of the things I got from the supermarket (yes the irony of the toothbrush surrounded by sugary treats!) so it wasn't too much extra work finding the bits and bobs. So here are my ideas plus a few extra ones that I haven't got for the photo...

*mini treat cereal boxes
*hair bobbles/hair ties
*matchbox cars
*water bottle treat (my kids are always asking me to buy these water buddies so they'll be v excited to see these!)
*mini playdough and cookie cutters
*popcorn (you could add a note saying 'it's Christmas movie night tonight)
*balloons
*bubbles
*bandaids (my kids have an obsession with bandaids)
*lollipops
*candy canes, chocolate santa's, gold coins, mini chocolate bars
*a handmade or store bought decoration for each child
*lego mini figurines
*stickers and cut out stars to decorate (you could put these in a pocket on the day you are decorating your Christmas tree)
*hair clips
*christmas bead bracelet or necklace
*stamps
*Christmas cards to write to family and friends
*new toothbrushes

*other ideas are...

• new Christmas books 
• new summer PJ's
• new underwear
• instant kiwi $1 scratchie

 So hope that helps if you are getting ready to do your christmas shopping or making :)
Megan x

Picture Books for 5 year olds

A mousehouse reader Stephanie asked me last night for some ideas for good picture books for her 5 year old daughter who has started reading by herself but would still like to listen and read along to some picture books as well. My 6 year old likes to read her own books now (waaaaay too much Rainbow Magic) plus other short chapter books and her readers from school, but as she shares a room with Stella (4) she still loves listening to picture books as well. So here are some of Amelie and Stella's favourite picture books- most of the these are also the tried and true ones I grab if I am doing a days relieving in a classroom- all of them are popular with boys and girls around the 5/6 age group but there are a couple that particuarly appeal to girls from this list. 

Colour the Stars by Dawn McMillan- this is a lovely story about a little boy who is blind and his friend who teaches him what stars look like

Guji Guji by Chih-Yuan Chen- this is really a cute story that kids love with lovely illustrations

I Had a Favourite Dress by Boni Ashburn- this is one for the girls all about a girl who has a favourite dress and as she outgrows it her mum sews it into different items- Amelie loves this

A Lion in the Meadow by Margaret Mahy- a classic story written in the 70's and still just as popular today- I love this story

The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr- another classic story by a wonderful author

The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson- this is Amelie and Stella's (and mine) favourite picture book at the moment- such a cute story, lovely illustrations and a good book to read aloud

Princess, Fairy by Penny Dale- Stella's favourite- I'm pretty sure it is a take on the fairy tale The Frog Prince but with the very appealing characters to young girls princesses and fairies!

The Princess and her Panther by Wendy Orr- another book Stella lovese especially about 2 sisters who dress up and have an adventure using their imagination

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion- another classic story I think written in the 50's or 60's- a lovely story of a dog who really doesn't like having a bath, lovely retro illustrations

The Smallest Turtle by Lynley Dodd- always a good one to read aloud, lovely simple story with beautiful language- hard to find online though :(

What good luck What bad luck by Remy Charlip-  I found this at an Op Shop- when I read it to a class of 6 year olds they absolutely loved it and wanted me to read it again straight away! Can also be found printed as 'Unfortunately'. 

The Nickel Nackle Tree by Lynley Dodd-a neat counting book, again with great language and illustrations- appeals to all ages

Mouse Mansion By Karina Schaapman- this isn't a picture book as such, more a chapter book presented in a picture book format- Amelie loves this book especially the detailed photos

Well I know there are so many other wonderful picture books out there but these are the ones I could think of straight away- would love to hear of any of your or your child's favourite picture books too.

The other stories I would recommend reading is any fairy tales you can get your hands on- op shops seem to always have one or two when I take a look.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/196962183674898958/

These are some of my favourite ones...

Cinderella

Dick Whittington

The Elves and the Shoemaker

The Emperors New Clothes

The Frog Prince

The Gingerbread Man

The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs

Jack and the Beanstalk

The Little Match Girl

The Little Mermaid

Little Red Riding Hood

The Ugly Duckling

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

The Princess and the Pea

Rumplestiltskin

The Dancing Princesses

Snow White

Stone Soup

Thumbelina

The Boy who cried Wolf

I'll write another blog post with some of my favourite chapter books as well, basically anything by Michael Morpurgo plus a few of my other favourites :)

Happy reading!

Megan x

A gift for a teacher

About two years ago I came across this cute gift idea for teachers and filed it away as a cool idea to remember (this was pre pinterest so I must have bookmarked it!). I have a bit of a thing for those plastic compartment organisers (sad but true) and I love stationery and I do so love putting little items into those little compartments so this gift was a lot of fun to make ;) There are a lot of ideas on pinterest now for 'teacher appreciation' gifts and with my 5 year old starting her second year of school today I thought I'd make a little kit up for her new teacher. Now I was in two minds about sharing this on my blog as I really don't want mums to feel that they should be giving a gift to the teacher on the first day but it's a bit different for me as I was a full time teacher before having children (now I do relieving which is great) so I remember how full on that first day of term is, meeting up to 30 new people as well as most of their parents so I thought a little 'emergency kit' would be a fun little thing to give (and putting the kit together was a lot of fun!) This would also make a neat gift for someone training to be a teacher and off on their first teaching placement, or a gift for a friend who is a teacher too.

Here's what I put in the kit...

-tic tacs

-hand sanitiser

-lip balm

-panadol

-magnets

-staple gun staples and bull dog clips

-mini Whittakers hokey pokey chocolate bars (these are soooo delicious!)

-barley sugars for energy

-mini post its and paper clips

-lemon and ginger tea bags for a sort throat after a day's teaching

I also thought I'd share this idea as it could be used for so many other themed gift ideas -these are a few I've thought of or come across....

-fill one with hair accessories and other girly things- girls love having containers to put all of their little treasures in!

-give on as a kids craft kit- I made this one up to keep our collage things in

-fill one with lego pieces or little cars for a fun travel gift

-make up a crafty kit for a friend- fill with buttons, ribbon, threads, needles and other handy notions

And here are a few teacher quotes I found via pinterest too...all the teachers I know are amazingly passionate, hard working and dedicated people so I wish them (and the lucky children in their classes) a great first day today :)

http://pinterest.com/pin/210684088789730453/

http://pinterest.com/pin/70579919130425405/

http://pinterest.com/pin/254312710179943544/

http://pinterest.com/pin/80572280803401398/

So true!  http://pinterest.com/pin/517421444658263338/

Megan x

Happy Christmas (and giveaway winner)

Hello all, well I've got time for one last post for 2012 and to share a few things I've been up to crafting wise in the last few weeks...

I made these key rings for Jack and Stella's lovely teachers- I got the heart shaped key rings from a bead shop close by- Uncle Black Beetles Beads. I got the idea after seeing this project via pinterest

I also made a couple of my waterproof make-up purses for Amelie's awesome school teachers but forgot to get a photo of them!

I made a Christmas cracker for Lindsay at her blog Arohanui Vegan Love as part of Katie's fun Christmas Cracker Swap.  Lindsay is going to open hers on Christmas Day so I won't share what I put it in yet but lets just say this shop is very cool if you are wanting vegan or ethical and eco friendly products- I was pretty relieved when I found it!

I bought a new Christmas tea towel from one of my favourite gift shops in Tauranga- Mainly Gifts in Cherrywood.

 

And the girls had a nice surprise for one of their advent pockets one morning- the dollhouse had a little Christmas tree and one of the dolls even dressed up as Santa! After umming and ahhing for a while over this Lundby Christmas tree I finally bought it, shame I could only get one of the lights on it going though!

  

And the winner of my christmas giveaway is comment number 97...

Dianna Townsend- congratulations Dianna, please email me your postal adress to megan(at)mouse house (dot)co(dot)nz. I'm sorry I didn't do the draw in time for a Christmas delivery!

Thank you so much everyone for reading mousehouse this year- I truly appreciate your comments and feedback and really love writing this blog -my 'happy place' I call it :) Hopefully in 2013 I will have a bit more time to write and share even more! It's pretty funny seeing how many half finished posts I have written this year including at least 5 'organised home' posts so hopefully next year I'll be more organised and will be able to finish writing them! Merry Christmas to my fellow bloggers and all of you blog readers and a Happy New Year to you and your families.

Megan x