CBC Parents

Portable craft kit for kids

2013-05-21T20:31:46Z

Blogger Jackie from Happy Hooligans makes a craft kit that's perfect for little crafters on the go!

]]> By Jackie Currie

Crafting with little ones can be somewhat daunting if you don't have a designated place to keep all of your supplies. And storing your tools and crafty odds and ends in various containers, jars, drawers and cupboards can make it challenging for kids to simply sit down and get creative when the mood strikes.

A Portable Craft Kit is a great way to corral your child's art and craft supplies, and keep them in one handy container for quick and easy access. I'm going to show you how I put mine together, along with a re-purposed denim apron, which requires only basic sewing skills and an old pair of jeans. You'll find the tutorial for the apron further down in this post. Wouldn't this set make a great gift for any little crafter?

A portable craft kit is perfect for:

crafty play dates

sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa's

a child's birthday gift

teenage babysitters

kids of all ages

Start with a case.

I found my craft case at a big box store, but a toolbox or tackle box would work well, too.

Fill it up!

I put this craft kit together as a gift for my niece, and I simply went through my own craft supplies to stock it up. The panel on the very top of the case opens up, and I filled the small compartments there with googly eyes, foam bits, sequined stars and pom poms.

Inside the case, I filled the removable tray with all kinds of goodies: crafts sticks, pipe cleaners, buttons, plastic "straws," scissors, yarn and a glue stick.

Underneath the tray, I packaged up a variety of colourful crafting supplies: feathers, artificial flowers, foam shapes and cornstarch building blocks, and I filled a couple of prescription bottles with pony beads, craft gems and jewels.

I also included some larger materials, several sheets of felt, a package of tissue paper, a foam door-hanger and a stack of paint samples (my daycare Hooligans love using scissors to cut along the white lines).

If you're giving your kit as a gift, you can pair it with an adorable re-purposed denim apron! We've been using these in my daycare for a couple of years now, and I - and the kids - love them. The aprons are durable, somewhat water resistant, and they wash well. I especially love that I can give our old jeans a second life with these. You can find the tutorial for my re-purposed denim aprons here.

Once you're happy with the stash of supplies you've gathered, simply tuck them all into your kit and voilà, your little crafter will have everything they need right at their fingertips! Crafting with your kiddos just got a whole lot easier, didn't it? And what child wouldn't love to receive a gift like this?

If you're looking for more easy and inexpensive ways to get creative with your kids, be sure to visit my blog at Happy Hooligans! You'll find lots of inspiration among the pages there.

Jackie Currie is the mom of two teenage boys, and the owner of a small home daycare in Central Ontario. When her first son was born, she traded in her corporate hat for finger paint and playdough, and she's never looked back. Her passions include dreaming up thrifty crafts and activities for the kids at her daycare (lovingly referred to as The Hooligans), photography, blogging at Happy Hooligans, and of course, the three handsome guys that she is privileged to call family. You can follow Jackie and The Hooligans on Facebook and on Twitter.

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Rocking birdies
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St. Patrick's Day
Light boxes
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Snow paint
Homemade Shape Puzzle
Homemade Paint
Ice Moulds
Icy Activity Bin

Safety tips for outdoor activities

2013-05-21T15:36:03Z

The warm weather is here! ParentsCanada has great tips on staying safe outside.

]]> By Abigale Subdhan, ParentsCanada

If you're firing up your barbecue or going away for the weekend, read these tips - offered by the CSA group (an organization that tests the safety and credibility of everyday products) - to keep your family safe all summer long.

"We want families to have a good long weekend and enjoy the summer, but we also want them to stay mindful of some safety hazards," says Anthony Toderian, a representative for the CSA group.

Using gas grills and barbecues:

Keep things clean. Check if your grill is clean of any blockages from grease, insects or rust build-up before you fire it up. Inspect the burners and burner tubes. Clean or replace any blocked parts.

Check for leaks. Rub a 50/50 solution of soap and water onto the gas hose, fittings and connections. Turn on the gas at the tank, not the burners. If there are any leaks, it will produce bubbles. Try tightening the fittings, and if that doesn't work, you should replace any damaged hoses or fittings.

Check your gas. Check the date stamp on the propane cylinder to see when it was last qualified. These cylinders must be inspected and requalified every 10 years. Also, avoid using a rusty or damaged cylinder.

Be aware of your surroundings. Keep grills and barbecues away from combustible materials like fences, trees and buildings.

Always buy certified. Look for a seal of approval from a credible certification agency when buying a grill or a barbecue. The mark indicates that the product meets national standards.

Be mindful of kids. Educate your children about possible hazards when operating hot equipment.

Camping stoves and lanterns:

Keep a safe distance from the tent. Camping equipment like lanterns, stoves and outdoor cookers should be lit at least three metres away from the tent or any vehicles. Never light a stove or lantern inside a tent or a vehicle.

Use in open spaces. Only use lanterns or stoves in a well-ventilated area.

Stay away from the flame. Keep kids and pets away from the flame. Wait for the equipment to cool before you pack it away. Don't wear loose, flammable clothing when using any fuel-burning equipment.

Boats and cottages:

Stay boat smart. Wear a life jacket or some type of flotation device when using a boat.

Check your alarms. Test the carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in your cottage or boat to see whether they've been properly installed.

Check for pests. The first time you go to your cottage for the summer, inspect all your appliances for damage from rodents and insects.

Be prepared. Keep your boats and cottages stocked up with safety equipment, such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers, in case of an emergency.

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, May 2012.

Related articles on ParentsCanada:
Road safety for kids
Water safety

Kids and comic conventions

2013-05-17T13:21:17Z

Erik and his daughter have a fantastic time exploring the Toronto Comic Arts Festival.

]]> By Erik Missio

As I've oh-so-subtly mentioned, I love comics, and have been sharing them with my three-year-old daughter, L.

One of my favourite weekends of the year is when the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) comes into town in early May. TCAF isn't like most conventions or expos; there are virtually no people in superhero costumes or former TV stars offering autographs. Instead, it's a gathering bringing together established international superstars (France! Japan! Argentina! Australia!) and burgeoning local talent, showcasing all genres and styles. A mash-up of the Toronto International Film Festival and the TED Talks, it's a glorious - and completely free - weekend of lectures, workshops and awards, anchored by a bazaar where fans come to buy comics and art directly from the creators. (I bring a set amount of excessive cash, leaving my cards at home to avoid temptation.)

L has been to TCAF before, but this was going to be the first time she'd actually have some sense of what was happening around her. Even more exciting, her mom was working at the show, helping helm the Owl/Chickadee booth.

Held in the Toronto Reference Library, TCAF's very family-friendly, with a slate of events geared strictly toward kids. Our plan was to walk around, buy some stuff, compliment some of my comic book author/illustrator heroes and attend some readings.

L patiently held my hand and said hello to everyone as I bought books on my wishlist. Some, like Scott Chantler's latest Three Thieves, I had signed in her name in anticipation of her literacy levels one day catching up.

TCAF also had quite a few picture-book illustrators in attendance. Greg Pizzoli sketched a croc in the opening pages of his brand-new (and great) The Watermelon Seed, while Maris Wicks drew a turtle in Yes, Let's - a book about the awesomeness of family hikes. (Maris also allowed us to "win" a copy of her not-yet-released Primates, which is all about the women who dedicated their lives to studying orangutans, gorillas and chimps - three of L's favourites.)

At this point, we'd been trekking back and forth and up and down between two floors for hours. L, to her infinite credit, wasn't even remotely cranky or tired. (A small, shameful part of me was worried she'd ruin "my" day by behaving like a perfectly normal three-year-old.) After a quick visit to say hi to Mommy, L met cartoonist Steve Manale who promised to draw whatever she wanted. The resulting "kangaroo mommy that is smiling and has a baby kangaroo in her pouch that is smiling, too" is now awaiting a frame.

Toward the end of our TCAF adventure, we sat in on a few Toon Books readings. Pulitzer-winning Art Spiegelman, considered one of the most important figures in grown-up comics, was fantastic. He's warm and kind and knows how to speak to kids, but also has this slightly manic energy about him. After showing slides of his old Garbage Pail Kids to gasps of gleeful shock and awe, he launched into a reading of Jack and the Box. We'd libraried the book, and L wasn't a huge fan. With Art reading it to her, though, it was a different story. His pacing and delivery had L giggling and beaming.

Next was Rutu Modan - an Israeli cartoonist known to most for decidedly mature books like Exit Wounds, but to my daughter for her beloved Maya Makes a Mess. My wife and I brought L over to meet her, and Rutu honoured L's shyly whispered request for a monkey in the pages of her Maya.

Still, I think my favourite memory of this year's TCAF was earlier in the day. Toronto's Frank Viva was to read along with screen projections from his A Trip to the Bottom of the World, but the computer wasn't working. The kids had lost interest and were over by the windows, looking at pigeons, or complaining to their parents. Frank finally just grabbed a copy of his book and sat in a chair, asking us to join him. We formed a semi-circle, and he told a rapt audience the story of a mouse and a boy who went to Antarctica - the power of simple storytelling in effect.

L and I had to excuse ourselves before the next cartoonist could do the same. (She told me she needed the bathroom "right away," and I've learned she means it.) As we walked out, we passed tables of preschoolers and older kids quietly working on their own comics. Some were colouring drawings of famous superheroes, others were inventing new ones.

"Daddy," L said, "When we go home, we'll read some comics. And then we'll make comics, too."

As I wondered how to gently break the news to her that I was quite possibly the world's worst artist, it struck me just how great comics-making can be for preschoolers. You don't need equipment or fancy toys to pull it off - all that's required is paper, markers or crayons or pencils, and folding ability (and, if you want to be posh, staples).

So yes, TCAF has inspired our next arts-and-crafts project. Maybe by the time the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023, L will be on the other side of the table, selling her awesome stories and sketching animals for toddlers.

Erik Missio used to live in Toronto, have longish hair and write about rock 'n' roll. He now lives in the suburbs, has no-ish hair and edits technical articles. He and his wife are collaborating on a three-year-old girl who may already be smarter than both of them. He received his MA in Journalism from the University of Western Ontario.

My kid loves comics. Yours could, too!

CBC News For You - May 17

2013-05-17T13:00:31Z

Parenting stories that caught our eye: helicoptering parenting, Raffi and choirs.

]]>

Here are the parenting-related stories from around the CBC that caught our attention this week!

Kids sell iced tea to help Edmonton neighbourhood fire victims

It's going to take a lot of iced tea sales, but kids in the Lewis Estates neighbourhood are determined to raise thousands of dollars to help the families who lost their homes in a weekend fire.

David Suzuki on helicopter parenting

David Suzuki on Q with Jian Ghomeshi discusses how helicopter parents are raising a generation that's disconnected from nature.

Choir teams up with inner city youth organization for benefit concert

We all know that music can be transformative. One Winnipeg choir knows that better than most. Spirit's Call Choir is a community based choir that doesn't expect its members to audition or be able to read music.

Legendary kids' entertainer Raffi is in the red chair

Over his long career, Raffi has entranced kids with his music and performances. And he also opened The Centre for Child Honouring on Salt Spring Island, B.C. The Centre advocates for social change and stresses the importance of the childhood years. Check out CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos's interview with Raffi.

Understanding a neighbourhood

Metro Morning's Matt Galloway spoke with Pat Shewchuk, the author of the children's book, In Lucia's Neighborhood. Listen to what inspired her to write about a unique neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario.

Will's Jams

2013-05-16T17:15:11Z

Will's Jams is a series of refreshing, creative and educational music videos about sports, hygiene, vegetables, bike-riding and more!

]]> Will's Jams is a series of refreshing, creative and educational music videos about sports, hygiene, vegetables, bike-riding and more! The series stars Will Stroet, a talented children's entertainer from Vancouver, B.C.

Kids are drawn to Will's songs because they're fun and interactive, and the videos strive to involve kids in the narrative of Will's fun adventures on screen.

New show: Will's Jams!

2013-05-16T14:37:59Z

Tune in to Kids' CBC starting May 20 to watch this fun, musical, educational show!

]]> Will's Jams is a series of refreshing, creative and educational music videos about sports, hygiene, vegetables and more starring Will Stroet, a talented children's entertainer from Vancouver, B.C.

Will's Jams will begin airing on May 20 on Kids' CBC on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:25 a.m.

Read Will's story on how he became a children's entertainer.

Meet Turtlebox Productions, the talented company that produces the Will's Jams music videos.

Chef Dad's homemade marshmallows!

2013-05-15T19:18:42Z

A perfect recipe for any long weekend. But no campfire for roasting? No problem, says Chef Dad!

]]> By Patrick Engel

[Chef Patrick shares delicious recipes, his thoughts on cooking, cooking with kids, food shopping and more!]

As the first official long weekend of the summer is upon us, I'm beginning to feel a little extra "Canadian." I want to spend time outdoors. I'd like to catch a fish. And I also want to build a campfire. And anytime I build a campfire, my kids go genuinely bonkers about ... MARSHMALLOWS!

Marshmallows have been known to lead to s'mores. And what's more Canadian than s'mores on a long weekend? Nothing short of a salmon stuffed into a beaver stuffed into a caribou poached in maple syrup. Who needs a turducken when you can have a maple-poached "salm-beav-ibou" anyway?

There is one catch: I am a chef. I work long weekends. I won't be outdoors. I won't catch a fish, and there will definitely not be a campfire. But as a freshly hatched batch of blackflies as my witness, there will be s'mores! With homemade marshmallows at that.

I've been making my own marshmallows for a few years now. There is nothing particularly wrong with store-bought marshmallows. They are basically sugar, more sugar and a couple of things you can't pronounce. In the cheffing world, however, if I want to make "marshmallow anything," I can't go to the grocery store and pick up a bag of commercially produced marshmallows (gotta keep my pride!). I need to start with my own homemade marshmallows. They are still basically sugar and sugar, but I leave out the unpronounceable stuff - plus they are quite easy to make, not to mention just a terrible (-ly fun) mess for the kids to get into.

So here we go with a recipe for homemade marshmallows, followed by s'mores, and a great method for making gooey s'mores in the absence of a campfire.

Homemade Marshmallows (printer friendly pdf)

You'll need ...

2 packets powdered gelatin

dash vanilla

1/2 cup + 1/3 cup ice water

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup corn syrup

pinch salt

3 tbsp icing sugar

3 tbsp corn starch

non-stick cooking spray

Here's what you do ...

1. Combine the gelatin, vanilla and 1/2 cup of water in the bowl of a stand mixer.

2. In a small heavy bottomed pot, combine the remaining water, sugar, corn syrup and salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook this mixture until it reaches 240˚F ("soft ball" stage) then remove from the heat.

3. Start the mixer on low speed, and slowly and smoothly pour the hot sugar syrup into the mixer until combined. Now jack the mixer up to high, and whip until the mixture is thick and foamy and cooled to about body temperature.

4. While the mixture is whipping, spray a 9 X 9 or a 9 X 13 inch pan with cooking spray. Sift together the icing sugar and cornstarch, and generously dust the sprayed pan (but save some powder for later).

5. With the help of a rubber spatula, pour the marshmallow stickiness into the dusted pan (the kids will LOVE licking the beater on this one).

6. Smooth out the marshmallow slab, and dust the top with the icing sugar/corn starch blend (save a bit for later!). Allow to cool at room temperature for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. No need to refrigerate.

7. Once cool, cut the marshmallow slab into the kids' favourite shapes, and dust again with the icing sugar/cornstarch powder. Congratulations on your homemade marshmallows!

S'mores

Below is a simple and tidy method for making s'mores in the absence of a campfire. A toaster oven is all you'll need.

Here's what you do ...

1. Cut the marshmallow slab into squares the size of a graham cracker.

2. On a small cookie sheet, place 4 or 6 graham crackers, top them with a marshmallow, and broil until the marshmallow is toasty and soft - about 3 or 4 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips over a double boiler (or microwave the chips). When the marshmallows are toasted, drizzle liberally (is there any other kind of drizzling?) with the melted chocolate, and go to town on your "open-faced" s'mores!

Cheffer's Inside Scoop

These homemade marshmallows can be a little goopier than the commercial kind.

Trust me, leaving your s'mores open-faced will seriously cut down on the already massive "mess factor."

Patrick Engel has been cooking professionally for 15 years. After graduating from George Brown College in Toronto, and training in the kitchens of Rodney's Oyster House and Bymark Restaurant, Patrick relocated to Niagara's wine region, working at Inn on the Twenty, followed by six years as resident chef instructor at The Good Earth Cooking School. Patrick is currently the chef at Hospice Niagara's Stabler Centre and associate chef at The Garrison House in Niagara-on-the Lake. Patrick lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, with his wife, Marnie, and their two boys, Charlie (7) and Johnny (5).

Listen to Canada's best kids' performers!

2013-05-15T16:00:00Z

Listen to the 4 songs that made it to the finals, then vote for your favourite!

]]>

Are you Canada's next great children's performer?

If you or your band can inspire kids to jump up, sing and dance - send us your original song, along with a photo.

Your song may be selected to be on our play list so be sure to tune into the Kids' CBC Music Stream!

One performer or band will be chosen in the 1^st annual
THE GREAT KIDS' CBC VIEWER VOTED SONG SEARCH.
The song with the most votes wins!

GRAND PRIZE:

A trip to Toronto to perform at Kids'CBC Days in July.
We produce your music video and air it on Kids' CBC.
You will receive performers' rates (as per CBC/CFM agreement).

Encourage your family, friends and fans to vote for your song because...

One lucky family will win a trip to Toronto as our VIP guests at Kids' CBC Days.

Check back April 8 to vote for your favourite song!

Contest Details:

Entry deadline is April 1.
Must be 18 or older to enter.
You retain the rights to your song.
Only one entry per solo artist or per band.
Bands are limited to no more than 6 performers.
Performers represented by agents must obtain consent.
Entries from a band must have consent from all its members.
All performers must be available, in Toronto, July 15-17.
Please review Contest Rules and complete entry form below.

Note: We are currently experiencing some technical difficulties. Please come back tomorrow to upload your song. We apologize for any inconvenience.

-->

Help us redesign our school-age site!

2013-05-15T15:21:07Z

Ask your kids to share their thoughts on our designs. They'll get a sneak peek at a new game!

]]> cbc.ca/kids, and we'd love for your kids to help us out!

They can share their thoughts by answering a few questions about our designs. What do they like? What don't they like? How would they design the site? Check back often because we'll be adding new questions regularly!

As a thank-you, they'll get a sneak peek at a beta version of one of our new games, Elemental Hero, which we'll be launching this summer.

Encourage your kids to visit cbc.ca/kids and click the graphic below to share their thoughts. Thanks!

Music Video: Call me, Stanley!

2013-05-14T21:06:49Z

What would you do if you had the Stanley Cup for a day? Here's what Patty and Sid did!

]]>

Meet Turtlebox Productions!

2013-05-14T16:44:46Z

Discover the talented duo behind "Will's Jams," a fun new music show airing on Kids' CBC!

]]> Cam and Kat Hayduk are the talented duo behind Turtlebox Productions, the company that produces the Will's Jams music videos. Will's Jams are fun, educational music videos that will begin airing May 20 on Kids' CBC (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:25 a.m.). We talked to Kat and Cam at their home in Bowen Island, B.C.

How do you feel knowing that Will's Jams is airing on Kids' CBC?

Kat: We're really happy that it's Kids' CBC we're working with because it fulfills both sides of Turtlebox Productions' mandate (non-profit and kids content).

Cam: It's great. We love that Kids' CBC is commercial free. There's no advertising to kids - or cartoons where kids are behaving badly!

How do you think of the concepts for the music videos?

Cam: Kat and I listen to Will's albums then we wonder, What's the visual hook or gag? What's the funny part or joke here? We then present the concepts to Will and Kim (Will's manager and wife). Will usually loves everything we present, and puts so much trust in us. It's a great collaboration between his music and our visuals.

Kat: Cam does all the shooting, editing and animation. I handle the business side of things.

What's it like to shoot a music video with a large cast of kids?

Cam: First of all, Will is great. We rarely need to do more than one take of him performing. He has so much energy! And as director, that's one thing I focus on, too - keeping my energy levels up in order to keep the kids' energy levels up.

Kat: It's a lot of fun with the kids, and very busy. It's also sometimes challenging to keep the kids occupied in between filming!

Where do you find the kids who appear in Will's Jams?

Cam: A lot of the kids are friends of our son, and we have teachers who are friends, so we always have help finding kids who are a great fit.

Kat: Bowen Island has a lot of film talent we're able to leverage and employ, including great kids! We love that as Turtlebox grows, we're able to give back to our community.

Why did you establish Turtlebox Productions?

Kat: When our son was four (he's now 10), he became very sick with a rare auto-immune disease (JDMS). Dealing with the illness of your child definitely makes you reflect on what's important in life. We were feeling unfulfilled with our current jobs and wanted to do something more meaningful. Our son achieved remission at the age of six, so his illness is behind us, but Turtlebox continues to grow.

How did you meet Will Stroet?

Cam: Around the same time that we were establishing Turtlebox, I was also producing a kid concert series on Bowen Island. I decided it would be fun to have Turtlebox do more kid content.

Kat: We looked around at all the kid musicians we knew and we admired Will the most, so we talked to him about doing a video. "Bike Safety Boogie" was our first video with Will. Will and Kim approached us to do more, and we produced all the videos that are now part of series one.

What is the best thing about making kids' music videos?

Kat: That we get to be creative and make kids laugh.

Cam: That I get to invent things in my head and then make them real. Plus, I get to giggle at the screen all day while I'm editing.

How did you decide on the name Turtlebox Productions?

Kat: It's named after our pet box turtles!

***

Will Stroet and his Backyard Band are touring Western Canada this spring and summer. Visit their tour schedule for more info.

Join Will in celebrating the launch of Will's Jams on Kids' CBC at his free concert in Vancouver on May 25 for UBC's Alumni Weekend celebration. You can also join the #willsjams Tweet Up online.

Play date idea: pasta necklaces

2013-05-13T12:00:00Z

Jackie and the kids at her daycare make pretty pasta necklaces!

]]> By Jackie Currie

One of my favourite activities to do in my home daycare at this time of year is to whip up a vibrant batch of pasta for playing and crafting with.

The process of hand-dyeing pasta is simple, using vinegar and food colouring. The vinegar helps to distribute the food colouring, and to ensure that the pasta is colour-fast once dry. I prefer it as a child-friendly alternative to rubbing alcohol.

On this day, we had pasta necklaces in mind so we dyed six small batches of pasta, using every colour of the rainbow.

What you'll need:

uncooked pasta (choose a hollow pasta, like penne, if you're making necklaces)

food colouring (icing gels, as seen above, or liquid food colouring)

vinegar

plastic containers with lids (or re-sealable food storage bags)

cookie rack

Dye your pasta in 4 simple steps:

1. Place the pasta in a food container (the amount can be a couple of handfuls to a couple of cups).

2. In a small bowl, mix together 1 tsp of vinegar with a generous dab of icing gel or several drops of food colouring. (Do each colour one at a time. No mixing! Unless you really want to!)

3. Pour the vinegar/icing gel mix over the pasta, seal the container, and now for the fun part, have your child SHAKE IT like crazy, until the pasta is well coated. (Hint: purple pasta must always be done twice; we re-coat immediately while still wet.)

4. Pour the pasta out in a single layer onto a cookie sheet to dry.

Isn't it gorgeous?

It's great for sensory play, too!

The pasta looked so inviting that I let The Hooligans explore it before crafting with it. I set out a few bowls and a shallow cardboard box, and they simply sifted through the pasta, scooping and pouring it into the various containers, enjoying the colours, the feel and the sound of the pasta as they ran their hands through it.

How we made them:

When the children were ready to make their necklaces, I gave each child a plastic sewing needle and a long length of yarn. I tied one piece of pasta on to the end of the yarn to prevent the pasta from slipping off.

Young children can thread their pasta in random order, while older children can practice patterning with their necklaces.

Once your child is happy with their creation, simply un-tie that first piece of pasta you secured in place, and knot both ends of the yarn together. So simple, so fun and so beautiful!

If you're looking for more creative, yet inexpensive arts, crafts and activities for young children, come on over and visit me at Happy Hooligans. You'll find loads of affordable inspiration over there!

Jackie Currie is the mom of two teenage boys, and the owner of a small home daycare in Central Ontario. When her first son was born, she traded in her corporate hat for finger paint and playdough, and she's never looked back. Her passions include dreaming up thrifty crafts and activities for the kids at her daycare (lovingly referred to as The Hooligans), photography, blogging at Happy Hooligans, and of course, the three handsome guys that she is privileged to call family. You can follow Jackie and The Hooligans on Facebook and on Twitter.

Related articles:
Mosaic art project
Rocking birdies
Animal hospital
St. Patrick's Day
Light boxes
Crayon art
Snow paint
Homemade Shape Puzzle
Homemade Paint
Ice Moulds
Icy Activity Bin

Reading comics in school

2013-05-10T18:18:39Z

Kids love comics! Many parents do, too, and now teachers are using them in the classroom.

]]> [On May 11 and 12, 2013, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival welcomed more than 10,000 visitors to its two-day celebration. One of the events was Librarian and Educator Day, where blogger Nataliz Diaz spoke to teachers during the Owlkids Coffee Break. Her blog below discusses the growing popularity of comics in the classroom.]

By Natalia Diaz

Comics for kids are growing more popular than ever, thanks to renowned author/illustrators like Jeff Smith and his beloved Bone series, and author Raina Telgemeier and her graphic novel adaptation of The Babysitters Club series (plus original titles like Smile and Drama).

Part of the reason for this boost in popularity is simple math: publishers are making more comics for kids, and discovering there is a real audience and niche market for comics.

Comics have also been embraced by educators, as teachers see merit in having comics in school and classroom libraries, as well as integrating comics in class as literacy and drama extensions. The medium lends itself well to visual literacy and active learning since the reader has to engage and interpret the text, as well as the art, and the story that lies between the panels.

Jennifer Johnston, a Grade 3/4 teacher with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, has been using comics in her classroom for seven years. She uses single issues, graphic novels and compilations.

Says Johnston, "I use them as resources for direct lessons. Owly by Andy Runton is perfect for teaching usage of punctuation. And this year, I branched out and used comics to teach the higher order reading skill of inferring. Comics are almost all inferring as you need to put together the visual information with what the character is saying, monitor the scene changes, and remember key information about complex character backgrounds and lineage."

Johnston has also had great results using comics as a writing tool.

"I often use the program Bitstrips for Schools to assign reading responses, where students can add alternate endings to something we've read in class, or publish a piece of writing," says Johnston. "It's powerful, especially for reluctant writers."

From character development to storyboarding concepts to prompting critical inquiry, there are many uses for comics in the classroom. Plus, comic books make learning fun.

According to Andrew Woodrow Butcher from Little Island Comics, Canada's only comic book store for kids, the biggest reason comics for kids are on the rise and getting attention from both teachers and parents is because comics get kids excited about reading.

"The most popular comics for teachers and librarians are also the most popular for kids and parents. Things like Adventure Time and Raina Telgemeier's latest book, Drama, get kids (and grown-ups) excited about reading, and that's what teachers and librarians want," he says.

Woodrow Butcher believes comics can serve a variety of functions in the classroom. "A lot of teachers use comics because they offer a level of access to kids who struggle with text, with language learning or with reading in general," he says.

As well, comic books come with built-in visual cues that can help kids decode writing and help to develop visual literacy skills.

Woodrow Butcher thinks comics can also be less intimidating for emergent or struggling readers than chapter books, but argues they are just as valuable, educational and integral to a school library collection.

"There are comics about almost any topic you can imagine: science, history, journalism, social justice, even plain old arithmetic! There's a comic for every class, not just English and Art," he says.

What's more, Woodrow Butcher argues the real draw for buying comics is the stories. "[I] think the most important reason teachers are using comics today is that there are truly great stories being told in the medium," he adds.

Parents and teachers can visit Little Island Comics for specific reader recommendations.

"If kids aren't reading comics, they're missing out on some of the best books, the best characters, the best stories that are being written today," says Woodrow Butcher.

Natalia Diaz is passionate about education and raising readers. She has been working in media education for the last 10 years as senior editor at Scholastic Education, as editor of Funschool.com, and as writer and producer at TVOntario and the Independent Learning Centre (ILC). Currently, she is the editor of chickaDEE Magazine. She lives with her family in Markham, Ontario.

Related articles:
For the love of libraries
Kids' CBC has fun literacy games for kids

One mom's perfect day

2013-05-10T12:00:00Z

Vancouverite Kerry has clear ideas about Mother's Day: no brunch. Read her top 10 list!

]]> By Kerry Sauriol

Let's get this out there right away: if you are a mom who LOVES a Mother's Day brunch with your entire extended family, you will not like this post.

Before I had kids, Mother's Day for me went like this: I found a fittingly mediocre card to pay respect to my mom who I - as an only child raised by a single mom - was, and still is, very close to. We usually made the "DAY" an excuse to go see a movie or plan a night out. We rarely hit the more family friendly brunches at restaurants, and when we did, we gazed in sympathy at the mom (and grandma) at the centre of some maelstrom of family togetherness.

After all, who had gotten all the children gussied up in their Sunday best for this special meal? Who had managed to not only get herself dressed up and presentable, but dressed and packed enough snacks, toys and diapers to keep everyone happy for more than five minutes? This brunch was supposed to be special for whom? My mom and I would look at each other and say, "Not our idea of fun." Then we'd sit back and sip our mimosas smugly.

When I started my own family, I could tell my mom could not WAIT until my first Mother's Day as a mom. She felt certain my childless sneering past would come back and bite me. I am proud to say that I have so far avoided the whole big celebratory brunch deal so far. However, I have, in respect of my own mom, and her need for "tradition" planned a few brunches with one kid in tow, usually the youngest. I even pushed it up a notch last year and took my mom and my oldest daughter to a formal tea at the Museum of Vancouver. It was very genteel and a lot of fun.

It was fun because my daughter doesn't wear diapers, didn't need to be chased around, and enjoyed the idea of dressing up for "tea." Unlike a typical dinner for most moms with kids in which you barely get to eat your own food (since you're too busy making sure you children don't destroy the table and themselves), I was able to relax and enjoy my tea and crumpets. To me, THAT is what Mother's Day should be all about, and Father's Day for that matter, but that is another post.

Don't get me wrong. I love my kids, totally adore being a mother, but I spend every waking hour with at least one of them. If Mother's Day is supposed to be a thank-you day to all moms, would we not also want them to NOT have to do all the things you want to thank them for?

Here are a few items I would like for this up-and-coming day:

To go to the bathroom alone. (I grow weary of conversations while I am either in the loo or in the shower.)
To drink my coffee while it is still hot. (Microwaved coffee just isn't the same.)
To not have to get up 30 seconds after I sat down because SOMEONE asked me for something.
To not smell poop. (Really. I can't take it much longer.)
To not be the first one up.
To not sort ANY laundry.
To not hear ANY fighting over the iPad.
To see my BFF and have an uninterrupted conversation with her ... and perhaps drink wine!
To read a book for more than 3 minutes.
To have time and quiet to think about why I love my family without any of them ruining it by saying something.

Those are my top ten Mother's Day requests. Honestly, though, they would work for any day!

Kerry Sauriol is the Vancouver mom behind the blog, Crunchy Carpets. She has three children and sundry pets, and tries to balance it all while keeping her sanity. Her blog focuses on the juggling act called parenting - in her case, the act of juggling a preschooler, two burgeoning "tweens" and keeping everyone out of therapy when they're older.

Other articles by this writer:
Surviving spring break with the kids
New ideas for Valentine's Day
Celebrating B.C.'s first Family Day
Level Up? Parents vs. Video Games
Mall Santa Madness

Video: Stanley Cup Playoffs!

2013-05-09T20:58:01Z

Patty helps Sid with his dream of being a hockey superstar and winning the Stanley Cup!
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