Monday Inspiration

Happy Monday lovely readers.

L&V

Thought of The Day

love, L & V

HOW CLEARLY SHOULD CHILDREN SPEAK?

Here is rough guide from Speech-language-therapy for how intelligible kids are when conversing with unfamiliar listeners, or "strangers"

Child aged 1 year = 25% intelligible to strangers

Child aged 2 years = 50% intelligible to strangers

Child aged 3 years = 75% intelligible to strangers

Child aged 4 years = 100% intelligible to strangers

Ref: Flipsen (2006), Coplan & Gleason (1988), Pascoe (2005)

Remember to contact a speech pathologist if you have any concerns regarding your child's communication development!

Love,

V & L

KIDOODLES: A FINE-MOTOR-BOOSTING STICKER PAINT CREATION

Courtesy of Lilsugar

Finger painting is tons of fun for lil ones, so take things to the next level with the help of a few puffy stickers. Along with honing fine motor skills, finger painting introduces your tot to color and what happens when they mix together. Adding puffy stickers kicks your tyke's fine motor skills up a notch as they are a bit easier to grasp onto than regular flat stickers. Once the paint has dried, add another step to the project by carefully peeling away those puffy stickers, creating a really fun finished product. Tailor the project to fit the season with different-shaped stickers, such as leaf shapes for Fall, flowers for Spring or Summer, or snowflakes for Winter.

Keep reading for the directions.

What You'll Need:

• Finger paint
• White drawing paper
• Puffy stickers
• Smock or wet wipes
• Tape

Directions:

1. Offer your child a sheet of white drawing paper and an assortment of puffy stickers. Using drawing paper or white construction paper will help keep the paper from tearing later. Invite your tot to peel away the backing from the stickers and then place on the paper. Older kids can create an arrangement of stickers to make an organized picture, while little ones can peel and stick in a random design.
2. Once your child is happy with the sticker arrangement, get ready for mess by tossing on a smock or having wet wipes handy. Before beginning to paint, tape the edges of your tot's paper to the work table to keep it from moving around while finger painting.
3. Dollop a small amount of various colors of finger paint around the white paper and invite your tot to paint around and over the puffy stickers. He can use his fingertips to create moving lines of blended colors.
4. Continue finger painting until the entire paper is covered. Allow the paint to dry and then carefully peel away the puffy stickers, which also builds fine motor skills. Find the perfect spot to display the finished artwork for the whole family to see.

Happy finger painting!

Vanessa & Lauren

Thought of the day

FREE printable games for kids

Head to Family fun go for some fantastic free printable word games, memory games, mazes, matching games and puzzles.

Fill them in stories

Word searches

Memory games

Mazes

Puzzles

Let the games begin!

Love,

Vanessa & Lauren 

Chemical free cleaning recipes for your home

Here are some wonderful chemical free cleaning recipes courtesy of Supercharged Food

ALL PURPOSE CLEANER

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

This can be used on most surfaces and for so many areas of the home. To give the cleaner a beautiful scent when cleaning just add 10 drops of essential oil, which will make the house smell amazing.

Ingredients:

·         1 tablespoon soap (plant based is good)

·         1 litre hot water

·         ¼ cup white distilled vinegar

·         1 lemon squeezed

·         10 drops of essential oil for fragrance 

Mix together and pour into a cleaner trigger spray bottle shake carefully until mixed. Then use as a spray and wipe down surfaces.

 DISHWASHING LIQUID

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         1/4 cup soap flakes

·         2 cups hot water

·         1/4 cup glycerin

·         1/2 tsp. lavender or lemon essential oil

Mix soap flakes and water in a medium bowl or glass jug and stir until the soap is dissolved and let cool
Stir in glycerin and essential oil
As it cools it will form a loose gel
Stir then pour into a bottle or squeezie container

FURNITURE & FLOOR POLISHES

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         ¼ cup of Olive Oil

·         ¼ cup of lemon juice

The best way to polish an item is to use an equal mixture of olive oil and lemon juice and apply with a soft cloth to furniture. Mayonnaise is also highly effective.

AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER DETERGENT

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         1/2 cup liquid plant or animal fat based soap

·         1/2 cup warm water

·         1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

·         4 drops tea tree oil

·         1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

Mix together soap, water, lemon, tea tree and vinegar
Pour into squeeze bottle.
Use 1 TBS per wash
2 TBS baking soda can also be sprinkled over dirty dishes to absorb odors

 MICROWAVE CLEANER

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         1/4 cup baking soda

·         2 tsp. vinegar

·         6 drops essential oil

Combine all ingredients to make a paste
Apply inside microwave with a soft cloth
Rinse well and air dry for 15 mins

DISINFECTANT SPRAY

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·          2 Cups Water

·         1/4 Cup White Vinegar

·         1/4 tsp. Tea Tree Oil

·         1/4 tsp. Lavender Oil

Combine and store in a spray bottle
Shake and use when needed

OVEN CLEANER

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         Warm water

·         2 teaspoons borax

·         2 TBS liquid soap

·         1 cup Baking soda

Combine baking soda with enough water to make a paste
Apply it to oven surfaces, and let it sit for 15 mins
Now take a scouring pad and scrub the inside of the oven remove deposits and then wipe dry
It’s a good idea to use gloves and glasses if you have them

 FLOOR CLEANER

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         1 cup vinegar 

·         1/4 cup washing soda 

·         1 tablespoon vegetable oil-based liquid soap

·         2 gallons hot water 

Combine all ingredients, stir well and place in bucket

GLASS CLEANER

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         1-1/2 cups vinegar

·         1/2 cup water

·         8 drops citrus essential oil of choice

Combine all ingredients in a pump spray bottle and shake well before use
Spray solution onto mirror and wipe with a dry cloth or scrunched up newspaper

 FABRIC SOFTENER

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         2 cups baking soda

·         2 cups white vinegar

·         4 cups water

Mix these ingredients and use 1/4 cup per load in the final rinse

LAUNDRY DETERGENT

WRITTEN BY LEE ON MAY 18, 2012. POSTED IN CLEANING RECIPES

·         1 ounce liquid castile soap

·         1 cup washing soda

·         1 cup baking soda

·         1 cup white vinegar

Mix ingredients and add to wash.

Enjoy dear readers!

Vanessa & Lauren