Playroom Fridge Light

Can you tell what I added to the play fridge?

A tap light! I was tired of Bug opening and closing our fridge to experiment with the light. Now she can play with this light and leave my fridge alone.

I got mine at Target in the hardware section.  Skip the dollar store tap lights. There is a reason why they are only a dollar. Your kids will just get frustrated by them.

If you have tap lights in your playroom or kid's room, I'd love to see how you use them. Post a pic on my facebook page: facebook.com/bluewaterroadkids.

How to Organize Your Child's Personal Library: Five Lessons from a Former Teacher Turned Mommy

My experience in the classroom has definitely influenced the way I designed Bug's playroom. It has been particularly helpful when it comes to choosing and organizing her books. Here are some of the lessons I learned in the classroom that I have applied to our home.

{Lesson 1} Books should be everywhere!

We have baskets of books in multiple rooms in our house. Although most of Bug's books are in her playroom, we also have books in other rooms of the house.

Playroom  We store miscellaneous books, seasonal books and audio books in the playroom. Seasonal books are books that are relevant to the time of year. Currently we have books about winter and Valentine's Day.

Playroom books:  author set (top) and misc books (bottom).

Seasonal books: currently winter and Valentine's Day.

Bathroom  Potty (training) books are stored in our main floor bathroom. If you've done any potty training then you know you sometimes have time to kill. We also have waterproof books for the bathtub in our upstairs bathroom.

Potty training books.

Bathtime books.

Bedroom We keep her nite nite books in a basket in her room. Her nite nite books have characters that are getting ready to go to bed and usually are asleep at the end.

Nite Nite books.

Office I stash a few books in my office to keep Bug entertained while I work. Currently we are practicing the names of all the colors.

Books about colors.

Family Room Library books are stored separately in the family room so we don't loose them.

Library books.

{Lesson 2} Offer a variety of books.

Expose your kids to all kinds of books and a variety of topics. For little ones who are teething board books are great but don't forget to expose them to paperback books too.

Fiction: Include character sets, author sets and theme sets (such as school, holidays, going to the doctor/dentist).

Books about the doctor's and dentist's office.

Author set: Sandra Boynton

Seasonal books: winter and Valentine's Day.

Nonfiction: For younger kids, include ABC books, counting books, simple picture books about animals or things in their world. For older kids, include books about science or social studies concepts, biographies, how-tos and even joke/riddle books.

Simple nonfiction books: animals, counting and first words.

Big Kid Nonfiction

Don't forget joke books!

Magazines: There are lots of options for kids of all ages (even babies!) that cover a wide range of interests.

Magazines

Poetry: For little ones, include nursery rhymes and song books. For older kids include poetry with a variety of themes.

Song Books: Raffi Songs to Read.

Poetry books for big kids.

{Lesson 3} Face book covers out.

Children are more likely to grab a book if they can see the cover (as opposed to just the spine.)

Do: use a basket or bin. Don't: line up on a shelf.

See the difference? Which books are you more likely to grab?

{Lesson 4} Get your child his/her own library card.

Feel free to purchase a few favorites but then get a library card to fill in any "holes". This is especially helpful when kids get into a series or character. Currently, Bug is into Clifford the Big Red Dog. We have a couple of favorite paperbacks and visit the library to get the rest of the series.

Our Clifford books and the library's Clifford books.

{Lesson 5} Don't go broke buying books!

Places to purchase books besides Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com:

Library: Most libraries have a "Friends of the Library" section where they sell donated books or books and magazines that are longer be in circulation. Generally, children's books cost $.25 to $1.00.

Notice the "withdrawn" stamp.

Craigslist: You might find a mom who is selling the books her kids have outgrown. You can also score big from individuals who are selling books from their former home day care.

Goodwill/Thrift Stores: It's amazing what some people will give away. I once saw a complete set of Magic Tree House books at thrift store.

Garage Sales: I've gotten books for as little as 25 cents.

TJ Maxx/Home Goods: Books are always priced less than retail.

Notice the price tag.

Target: Check out the dollar section at Target. It is a great way to score new books for airplane trips or long car rides.

Target $1 Dollar Section book.

Scholastic Book Orders: Brand new books are available for as low as $1.

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I hope this helps you bring books into your child's life. Happy reading!

How to Line Up Wall Decals Without a Level

We just moved the playroom from the basement to our underused upstairs sitting room because Bug doesn't like to play down in the basement by herself. This included moving her alphabet wall decal. Yes. All 102 pieces.

The first time I applied the decals to the basement wall, I had a laser level which has since disappeared. (Sigh.) As I sat there staring at the wall, I remembered my dad and I used chalk line to create straight lines when we put up dry wall in my parents' garage. Some chalk line would have been awesome (then again so would a laser level) but I was stuck at home with my car at the mechanic.  I would just have to make due with stuff I had in my house.

Here is what I gathered: measuring tape, pencil, hammer, finishing nails and yarn. (Thanks, Jojo, for the yarn!)

My materials

 

First I measured and marked 42 inches (from the ground) where the A would sit and again where the Z would sit. Then I hammered a nail on each mark. Next I tied one end of a piece of yarn to each nail, creating a straight line across my wall.

Close-up of yarn tied to nail.

 

Using the yarn as my guide, I adhered the letters on the wall. Because each letter is a different size and font, I placed the bottom of each letter against the yarn.

 

In progress...

It took some patience but I finally finished. My next project is create a wall gallery above the alphabet to display Bug's art (because the tape looks ridiculous), finish the coffee shop and find a way to display/store picture books. Stay tuned!

 

 

-C