The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker music plays in the background, the smell of cinnamon tea is in the air,a digital picture of beautiful Nutcrackers are displayed on the computer and now, let the crafting begin.  This week we took felt, glue guns, thick cardboard tubes and embellishments and made our very own Nutcrackers.  Take a look at these beauties made by PattyKakes Kidz.

 Our supplies above.

After covering the cardboard tube with felt, we rolled pieces of felt to make the arms.

He chose a green top for his Nutcracker.

Oooh, traditional red looks good too.

Helping with the glue gun is necessary with our little ones.  No burnt fingers here.

Rolling felt is harder than it looks. 

The finished Nutcracker stands next to a miniature tree. 

The Nutcrackers march in a row side by side.

We had a table full of Nutcrackers and they looked beautiful.  

Next week, Hanukkah books.

  

Happy Birthday Mr. 5 Year Old

We celebrated one of our friend's birthdays today.  
Carlo has turned 5 years old.  He asked for a large Chocolate Cake and we did just that!
Join us as we make our cake together.

 

 We wrapped up our evening at Starbucks for Hot Chocolate and a stroll through a neighborhood of Holiday Lights.  Happy Birthday Carlo from all of us at PattyKakesKidz!

Lend a Hand

This is an impromptu blog.  I happened to catch a moment on camera and wanted to share with everyone.
We have a rule here:  If a friend has fallen, you lend a hand.  You wouldn't really know it, but everyday the kids here look out for one another's safety.  It has become a game to see if your friend truly will remember to pick you up.  From faking a fall on a bike or pretending to trip over the slide, you will see little ones looking around for a friend to notice they have fallen.  Then a friend will shout out, 911, 911 and everyone comes running over to help their friend up, pick up the fallen toy and ask, "Are you ok?".  Hugs follow and friendships become stronger and stronger.  Ok, enough writing, time for a few cute pics I happened to catch yesterday:

"Help, we are falling....."  These are the words coming 
from two little girls.  And, before you know it, the game of lending a hand begins....

This one above is my favorite cause they were all working together to help.

Everyday I try to stay in the background, (sort of the "fly on the wall" idea).  I listen, photograph, provide, care, nurture, and just allow the children to follow their instincts.  At times, a gentle push in the right direction can go a long way.  They all care for one another as if they are family.  And in some ways, we are all truly family.  We look out for one another, set tables and eat together, play together, work together and go explore our world through fieldtrips together.  The continuity of our home based program will provide long, lasting impressions.  I believe they will take this lasting memory and use their loving skills in their future as young adults.        

Do you inspire Lending A Hand?

Winter Themes Begin

Out with our fall themes and in with our winter themes.  

This week we begin with the decorating of a small Christmas tree.  This tree will be on a sensory table for the whole month to explore.  

The kids explored a basket full of decorations and continuously throughout the day, redecorated over and over again.  

Each time it was a different tree.  I can't take full credit for coming up with this idea because I spend many evenings either reading creative books or creative websites to find that oh so perfect idea.  Come explore with us here at PattyKakesKidz blog.

I love providing new and exciting ideas every week for our Kidz here.  

The sounds of laughter and the looks of contentment make life wonderful.

Until our next blog.....

Happy Holidays from PattyKakesKidz