Celebrating Your Tots ~ Last Call for July

This is the last call for July Birthday Tots! Does your tot have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th birthday in July? If so...

We need your info by July 3, in order to include your tot in our monthly post, which will be up SOON!

AND, if you have an August Birthday Tot, I will need your info by July 27!

Tot Food ~ 4th of July Treats

Healthy 4^th of July Treats

In honor of Independence Day, I thought it would be fun to think of some healthy dessert options that are also fun. Here are several healthy ideas that I found. Enjoy!

Fruit Flag

This dessert is great for those of you who would like an all fruit dessert. Ingredients include blackberries, strawberries, bananas and lemon juice. That's it! Simple, healthy, and fun. Find the recipe here: fruit flag

Cream Cheese Dipped Strawberries

They look very festive, but are easy to make. Ingredients include strawberries, cream cheese, sugar, milk and red and blue sprinkles. The sprinkles are the only non-natural part of this recipe, you can try these for a healthier option... Let's Do... Sprinkelz. Of course, you can always skip the sprinkles. You can find the recipe here: dipped strawberries

Sponge Cake Dessert

Here is a picture of a quick and easy dessert that I made in the name of research tonight J It is so easy to make and a perfect size for tots. Take a little sponge cake (you can toast it if you'd like), add whipped cream, and then decorate with strawberries and blueberries. Your tot might enjoy helping you make this dessert.

Blueberry Buckle

This recipe is a bit more time consuming and has quite a few ingredients. You might be able to make this a bit healthier by substituting some of the flour with whole wheat flour if you would like. It's still on the healthier side though, as far as desserts go. All natural ingredients and nothing artificial. You can find the recipe here: blueberry-buckle

Almond Cheesecake Tart

Again, this recipe is a little bit more time consuming as well, but looks very pretty. I like that all the ingredients are natural (no colorings, additives, sugar substitutes etc). So, if you like to bake, check out the recipe here: almond-cheesecake-tart

Please add any tot-food type links. You can share your tot's plates, share a favorite tot recipe, or share your favorite healthy tot snacks. You are welcome to add your "What's on Your Tot's Plate" link anytime between now and Monday. We will put up a new Mr Linky each Tuesday. Please link directly to your Tot Food post and provide a link back to Totally Tots! You can right click and copy the graphic at the top of this post if you would like to use it in your post. You certainly don't have to, but are welcome to.

Treats 4 Your Tot

Here are some more cool give aways for tots/moms of tots, check them out below and let us know if you win something we told you about!!!!

Creation DVDs (hurry....ends/7/1/09)

Bloem & Grow Blocks (ends 7/6/09)

Alex Toys Moody Monsters Game (ends 7/7/09)

Craft Kit for Kids (ends 7/13/09)

Now I Know My ABCs ~ Kk

It's time for some fun Kk activities!!! We hope you enjoy these! If you are new, you can visit our ABC webpage to find links to any other letters we have done, letters (with books listed) coming up, as well as the PDF of the cover sheet for your ABC notebook!

Bear and Kite
by Cliff Wright

Summary: Illustrations and simple, rhyming text follow two bear cubs as they attempt to fly their kite. This charming rhyming story coupled with classic-style illustrations gently introduces young readers to the concept of opposites.

Kite Kk:

Need:

2 pieces of construction paper

Crayons, stickers etc.. to decorate you kite

Scissors

To Make:

Cut out a kite shape from one piece of construction paper

Have your Lo glue the kite to the full piece of construction paper.

Have your LO decorate their kite after the are done add a drawn kite string or a yarn string write both upper and lower case Kk's on the Kite

add hole punches and add to your alphabet book

The Yellow Kite Flies High
by Cecilia Minden

Summary: Herbie and his sister create a kite to fly on a windy day.

Bow Tie Kites...Need:
Construction paper with Kites drawn and colored on

Painted bow tie pasta to match the kites

Marker

Glue

Envelope

To Make:

Cut out small kites in different colors

Paint the bow tie pasta to match the colored kites

Glue the kites onto the construction paper

Use marker to add the kite tails

Place the bow tie pasta into an envelope and attach to the back

hole punch and add to your alphabet book

To Play:

Have your LO match the bow tie pasta to the right kite tail!

Treats 4 Your Tot

Here are some more cool give aways for tots/moms of tots, check them out below and let us know if you win something we told you about!!!!

Perler Bead Craft Kit (ends 7/3/09)

The Ladybug Game (ends 7/10/09)...we own this one it is so cute!

Say Daddy! book (ends 7/9/09)

Oliver's Labels (ends 7/8/09)

Giggle Bug Toddler Tracker (ends 7/2/09)

Kushies Zolo Beanstax toy (ends 6/27/09)

Ladybug Hair Clip (ends 6/27/09)

Ok Go! book (ends 6/30/09)

Terrific Tot Sites ~ PBS Sprout

Although we do have PBS at home, we do not have PBS Kids Sprout as part of our cable package...so truthfully, I can't tell you much about the programing on the channel other than what I've read online. I can tell you about the PBS Kids Sprout website though, since I do have access to that! Our kids love to play on the regular PBS Kids site, but we have never visited the Sprouts site before I reviewed it ~ and our kids will be thrilled to have it added to our list of fun kid sites!

PBS Kids Sprout is a 24 hour preschool network for kids ages 2-5 {and their parents too}. The site provides a multitude of areas for you and your child to explore:

• Games: You can search for a game based on TV characters you enjoy, or you can search by the type of game you would like to play: fine motor, literacy building, numbers/counting, problem solving, etc... Each week Sprouts features a different game. You can also save your favorite games, making them quick to find the next time you visit.
  

• Video & Music: Watch Sprout online and pick the episodes you would like to watch. Find episodes by searching on a topic, show name, newest shows uploaded or watch a featured show.
  
  Sprout is also available 'to go' with both music and videos. There is an itouch/iphone app for Sprout {FREE}. For the sake of an accurate review, I had to download and use it {I'm willing to sacrifice myself like that for you all}. They have a bunch of free podcasts available for download ~ rather handy when it comes time for a doctor's office visit! For those without access to the 24 hour Sprout channel, you can watch episodes of shows this way too.
  

• Crafts & Coloring: A multitude of craft ideas, including printable coloring pages and more. Search by character or look for something quick and easy. They also have a section for party craft ideas!
  

• Recipes: There are over 9 pages of recipes to make with your kids! The recipes give you a type {lunch/dinner/snack} and also the time required to make them. Very fun!
  

• Gallery: You can browse around in here and see things that other kids and families have created. This is a place to share with the Sprouts community.
  

• Activities: Includes demonstrations of sign language, various discovery activities {animal habitats}, and exercises/stretches.
  

Access to the site is available to anyone, but you can also create a free account to access additional features including uploading videos or artwork, a private My Refrigerator page - to show off family pics and artwork to friends and family, and monthly newsletters.

Hope you enjoy this Terrific Tot Site! To see more featured sites, click here!

Once Upon a Book ~ The Little Boat

The Little Boat
by Kathy Henderson

Summary: A little boy playing at the seashore makes a toy sailboat that is swept out to sea, and, after braving storms, hungry fish, and bigger boats, is finally found by a little girl at the opposite shore.


Craft/Art Time: (from Perpetual Preschool)

Sailboat Picture:

Need:

Construction Paper Triangle
Construction Paper Half (semi) Circle
Construction Paper Rectangle
Glue
Construction Paper
Sponge
Blue Paint

To Make:

Have LO sponge the construction paper with blue paint for the ocean
Glue them down the shapes to make a boat

Circle/Song Time:

SailBoat Sailboat (from Perpetual Preschool)

To the tune of "Twinkle twinkle"

Sailboat sailboat in the sea
won't you come and carry me
through the ocean, through the bay
to any place that's far away
Sailboat, sailboat in the sea
won't you come and carry me


Snack Time:

Apple Boats (from Perpetual Preschool)


Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!

Treats 4 Your Tot

Here are some more cool give aways for tots/moms of tots, check them out below and let us know if you win something we told you about!!!!

Brown Bear Puzzle (ends 6/26/09)

Crayola Fun Pack (ends 6/30/09)

ItzaBitza Software (from our very own Jolanthe, ends 7/5/09)

Graco Twin Stroller (ends 7/21/09)

Kiss My Face Kids Products (ends 7/2/09)

Melissa and Doug Chunky Numbers Puzzle (ends 7/6/09)

Finally, one of our loyal Totally Tots readers is starting a new weekly blog carnival called Friday's Gracious Giveaways, she will be hosting a Mr Linky for family-friendly give aways. Go here to learn more!

Meet...Isabella

Isabella is the second oldest of four kids. She's 47 months old with a 5 year old sister, 2 year old sister, and 1 year old brother! She's our wild and crazy one, the one who keeps us laughing. Isabella can usually be found in high heels, a feather boa, and some type of costume. She never wants to wear "clothes," only dresses. (To her, anything that's not a dress is labeled clothes). Isabella can be found most days looking through our very extensive collection of children's books (It was hard to list favorites for her because she really enjoys them all). Isabella loves to watch Strawberry Shortcake in her pajamas and would stay that way all day if I let her! But being a former schoolteacher, we only get videos in short doses. Isabella is ready to be "big like Abby (her sister)" so that she too can go to kindergarten. She says she'll "love homework" and that she needs to go too. Isabella has a sweet tooth the size of Texas too! She loves chocolate!

Her Top Ten Tot School Tools...

1. M & Ms (We use these for math counting and adding activities)
2. Play-doh
3. Watercolors
4. Vtech Write and Learn Writing Pad Letter Alphabet
5. Leapster
6. Chalkboard with colored chalk
7. Sidewalk chalk
8. Melissa and Doug puzzles
9. www.starfall.com
10. Ziploc bags (for collecting bits of nature!)

Her Favorite DVDs/TV Shows...

1. Strawberry Shortcake (any and all episodes!)
2. Handy Manny
3. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
4. Barbie and the Diamond Castle

Her Favorite Books...

1. Princess Penelope's Parrot
2. Any Berenstein Bears book
3. Any Strawberry Shortcake book
4. D.W. Flips!

Isabella's Mommy blogs at...

www.mommytimesfour.blogspot.com

www.duckduckgoosedesigns.blogspot.com

Do you want your tot to be featured one week? Go here to read more details!

TOTally Working for Me ~ Gotta Hold a Hand

When our three oldest were younger, parking lot safety was a big concern. To help the kids remember that they needed to hold a hand we made up a little song to sing while walking. The second verse is completely optional {ahem}, but generally involves lots of giggles and was the kid's favorite!

Gotta Hold a Hand
{sung to the tune of 'Dinah Won't You Blow}

Gotta hold a hand, you gotta hold a hand,

You gotta hold a hand in the parking lot.

{repeat}

You might get squished, you might get squashed,

If you don't hold a hand in the parking lot.

{repeat}

This TOTally Working for Me post was written by Crystal. You can visit Crystal at Five Times the Fun . Thanks Crystal for the great tip!

Do you have something that is working for you and your tot? We'd love to hear about it!

Tot Food ~ What's On Your Tot's Plate?

Here's one of our lunches form last week...Nectarine, frozen corn, whole wheat pasta with butter/garlic/parm, an Arnold Sandwich Thin made into garlic toast (the boys LOVE these), and dip for veggies.

Krash was digging this meal...
I decided to put the veggies out as a whole instead of on their plates just to see what K would do.
He surprised me by trying a cucumber voluntarily for the first time. I think it was because he saw Pac Man eating out of the tray and Pac LOVES veggies so K wanted to follow!!!

Please add any tot-food type links. You can share your tot's plates, share a favorite tot recipe, or share your favorite healthy tot snacks. You are welcome to add your "What's on Your Tot's Plate" link anytime between now and Monday. We will put up a new Mr Linky each Tuesday. Please link directly to your Tot Food post and provide a link back to Totally Tots! You can right click and copy the graphic at the top of this post if you would like to use it in your post. You certainly don't have to, but are welcome to.

In My Heart ~ Philippians 4:13

As I mentioned before, our family loves to incorporate God's word in everything we do. We teach the children from an early age to pray and to ask God for all they need. We believe that the children can learn and understand God's word the more they hear us using it and sharing it with them. We have seen this with our four youngest...who are 4, 3, 28 months and 18 months. We use DVD's that teach bible verses, songs about Jesus, songs about the bible and movies that tell them specific stories from the bible. We read many books to them that also incorporate the word of God. Some of their favorites are:

• My ABC Bible Verses(which tells a story about this verse and how important it is to honor your parents)
• Jesus A to Z
• Five Minute Devotions for Children
• More Five Minute Devotions for Children
• The Jesus Storybook Bible

A day doesn't go by without one of our children singing the song {from Steve Green's DVD} to this verse, "I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me. I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens MEEEEE! I - CAN - DO - ALL -THINGS - THROUGH, Christ who strengthens me."

They are learning that with Christ all things are possible. In our home that means living a godly life is 100% possible. It means that we are empowered by Jesus and the Holy Spirit to live a sinless life. When we are walking by faith and in the Spirit - fully abiding in God it is impossible for us to choose self and sin. Sin is an attitude before we act and it is a choice. It is only a choice to the believer. When a person is not saved - they are held bondage to their sins and it is impossible for them to truly choose anything but to be ruled by the flesh. As a child of God or being raised to grow up in the grace and knowledge of Jesus - we can all choose to abide in Him or ourselves. We have been set free and sin no longer rules us.

Thus applying this verse to our children's daily lives. In themselves they can NOT do all things. It is impossible to be loving, gentle, kind, patient, joyful, peaceful, faithful, and display self-control when depending our own resources 24/7. However, when we humble ourselves and learn to fully depend upon God to empower us by His Spirit nothing is impossible.

As parents we teach our children how to speak, eat, drink, sit, stand and walk. As they get a little older we teach them to go potty, to read, to write, to add/subtract and list goes on and on. We teach them eventually they can do all of these things without our help. We even teach children in our society to learn how to fix problems on their own - like sharing, how to handle a disagreement with a sibling or friend, etc.

We humans make the mistake in believing we can do all things alone and don't need anyone's help let alone seek God for His help to do the little things in life! And this gets taught from a very young age in our society.

We praise our children for every achievement they accomplish on their own. We praise our children when they study for a test and get a good grade. We praise them when they do their best during a sports event - win or lose. We praise them for all the things they can do without our help.

Imagine what our children would feel like if they were all taught to seek God first before doing anything - from learning their alphabet, to a new skill, to what sport to try, that nothing begins or ends without prayer. Imagine what kind of Kingdom warriors we would all raise if they learned first and foremost to lean on God to supply all things and that through Him anything according to His will is possible in their lives. That because of Him they can do all the things He wants them to do. Because He will supply them with all things for godliness and contentment for whatever path He has for them! All glory being given to God and not them!

So how do we teach them to do things alone while relying on God?

It begins with teaching them at a young age that they need the fruits of the Spirit to do anything in this life to give God the glory. Sure they can walk, talk, eat, etc all without His help. But to walk, talk and eat the food which God is offering is a life worth living!

It is a life full of promise and hope!

It is a life that is not held down by fear of failure or the worry of success.

It is a life where the child knows the first place to go for wisdom is God.

Learning to live this way produces peace, joy and comfort knowing that God will supply all of their needs to do His will. It is a life that through proper training they will always know where to turn when the road ahead is uncertain. It is a life that has already been laid down and knows to never rely on themselves.

We have begun teaching our 18 month old daughter and our 28 month old son who struggle with self-control to stop what they are doing and if they can't get control of themselves immediately (ie. not about to bite one another or hit); they must pray ask God to help them gain control of themselves. You can watch them wanting to resist doing what we are asking and then see the peace come over them within seconds of their submission to bowing down and asking God for help. We have no idea what or if they are really praying. We just know that it has become second nature to them when prompted to go directly to God and ask for His help. Our older children are watching this and learning to do the same thing for themselves without the prompting.

Through Christ we can all do the things in which God desires us to do. It is not for us to do our will, nor to follow our own path and agenda. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me - is to empower, encourage, instruct and comfort us in every situation.

This is a great verse to practice with every day - begin the day asking God to help them in an area you are working on together - whether it be patience, kindness, self-control, etc. Have them repeat the verse with you - then throughout the day when they begin to struggle - ask them to pray to God: "Lord, I am unable to be a good listener on my own, but You say that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Please Father, strengthen me to be a good listener for Mommy so I can do Your will. AMEN!"

Have them sing the song and practice learning the verse on their own. Soon they will have this verse deeply hidden in their hearts and the fruit they will bear will not be their own!

Find the PDF files for Philippians 4:13 HERE!!!

Now I Know My ABCs ~ Review F-J

It's time for some fun review activities!!! We hope you enjoy these! If you are new, you can visit our ABC webpage to find links to any other letters we have done, letters (with books listed) coming up, as well as the PDF of the cover sheet for your ABC notebook!

Here are some other ideas to review the letters and add to your LO's alphabet learning!

Letter Ff:

No Time for Flashcards made a Flag F

Letter Gg:

MoziEsme made Gold Sticker G's,you'll also get some other great Gg ideas that she did for the letter.

Letter Hh:

MoziEsme made Happy face paper plate puppets, you'll also get some other great ideas that she did for the letter.

Letter Ii:

MoziEsme made Igloos, you'll also get some other great ideas that she did for the letter.

Letter Jj:

MoziEsme made really cute Juice Jello in an orange as the cup! You'll also get some other great ideas that she did for the letter.