Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in portland, OR

Which Websites Work Best For Preschoolers?

by Oona Baker

July 27, 2009

My daughter has been using a computer since she was very young, we are big technology freaks in our house. She's learned to be quite self sufficient with a mouse and navigates her way around the desktop with ease. Children feel empowered when they can print out a picture they drew, interact with familiar media characters or select an audio book to listen to--all on their own! Finding quality websites that aren't chock full of advertising or questionable content can be a chore. Here are three websites that are sure to delight any preschooler!

1) Up to Ten This website scores high points for having a massive amount of content for ages 0-6. With over 1341 games, stories, crafts and activities, Up to Ten can be a welcome diversion for young children. The site is easily personalized and friendly animated hosts Boowa and Kwala recognize your child and even respond to emails. Up to Ten has games, short animated films, printable crafts, coloring pages and stories. Each activity on the page has an educational element, whether your child is learning about symmetry or learning fine motor skills as they cut out a paper craft. Website is free, but membership can be purchased that eliminates sidebar of advertising (which is very low-key) Games and activities update weekly and children can save their work or bookmark favorite games online.

2) Starfall Preschoolers love to interact with the ABCs and cheerful interactive graphics on this site, and parents are impressed with the skill building. Pre-readers begin with letter recognition and move on to sight reading simple three letter words. There is also a component that teaches sign language and simple songs reinforce literacy concepts. Children can work their way up to sounding our short books, or enjoy classical pieces, tongue twisters and poetry. Seasoned readers will be enthralled by the selection of Greek myths, folktales or Chinese fables. Best of all, parents can print out worksheets for added fun and the website is free!

3) Space Station 42 is an amazing clearinghouse of printable paper crafts, models and projects. Great for a rainy day when you're stuck indoors with a bored kiddo, this website has links to just about anything you would ever want to make out of paper. Make paper mice complete with high fashion outfits, historical paper dolls, or a cardstock steamroller. These crafts promote creativity and keep a sick preschooler comfortable when they're stuck on the couch. Once you get started with paper models, you'll be hooked!

Parents should always use caution and supervise their child when they're navigating websites with external links. Have regular dialogues regarding what web content is ok in your family: Do you do Disney or would you rather get ideas from homeschooling sites?  Read more...

Fun Facts about the Multnomah County Library

by Oona Baker

July 07, 2009

Every year, my daughter Ramona looks forward to the start of the Summer Reading program through Multnomah County library! She enjoys earning prizes (books, trinkets, or coupons towards swimming/ice cream/play tickets) and the piece de resistance--the Summer Reading shirt! Our city's summer reading program is super impressive--from the library's website "Nearly 58,000 babies, children and teens registered for the Summer Reading program in 2008, making it one of the largest in the nation." The reading program runs until August 31st.

• Did you know the Multnomah County library has a place for your children to submit poems they've written or book reviews? These are creative ways to get your children more involved with the Reading Program and encourage developing literacy over the summer break from preschool/grade school.

• Use the Event Finder to find family events in your neighborhood. During the Summer Reading program, each branch generally has special programs for young children (Mad Science, Captain Bogg + Salty, puppet shows, etc) and on Wednesday, July 15th, from 11am-noon, and again from 1-2pm at the Gresham Library, Courtney Campbell (from the now defunct Mustard Pancakes show) will perform There's a Dinosaur in the Backyard!

• The library has two used bookstores: 

        Tidal Wave bookstore (216 N.E. Knott), open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m) you will find books, records, DVDs, videos, magazines, a huge selection of children's books and cookbooks. Sale of withdrawn items benefits library.


        Friends' bookstore (Multnomah County Central Library, 801 SW 10th Avenue, Portland) Here, you will find high quality used books, Portland-related ephemera, (it's where we found our beloved Ramona Quimby shirt) Inside main branch to your left when entering.

• The library also houses (online and physical) extensive book lists such Creative Activities for Young Children, Books for the Youngest Book Lovers, Classics, Adventure stories,Caldecott and Newbery winners, and books recommended for each age group. 

• One of my daughter's favorite features of the library website is the page that lists websites devoted to authors and illustrators. This is a great jumping off place to write to Jan Brett after reading "The Mitten" or for exploring Dr. Suess' world.

• The "Around Portland" feature lists where to see animals in the Portland Metro area and beyond, with info about local parks, museums, day trips, or places to see sporting events.

• The library website also lists a clearinghouse of entertaining websites (We especially love the sounds in different countries website when my girl was smaller--how do people make a rat-like sound like in japan?).

At this point, you may want to go ahead and change your homepage to the public library, like we have! It offers such a wealth of information, for every member of our house. Now if I just could move in, (slumber parties at the library!), life would be perfect.  Read more...

Illustrator: Three books by Pamela Paparone

by Oona Baker

June 23, 2009

Children's books, and especially their illustrators, have special place in my heart. Back as far as five years old, I wanted to be a children's librarian so that I could surround myself with words, pictures, and crinkly plastic covers. The librarian dream hasn't become a reality as of yet, but I make a point to keep up with current children's releases (thank youMultnomah County library and Powell's) and I also have a wicked vintage book collection.

One of the most beloved illustrators in my collection is Pamela Paparone. I discovered her sweet, retro work by chance in the library and my daughter and I constantly bring her books out to pour over the cheerful artwork. (We even incorporated kitties from "I Like Cats" as part of the decorations for my daughter's sixth birthday party.) Here are several books featuring her artwork that your child is sure to adore too:

Raindrop, Plop!--I wish I could jump inside this book and splash around with the main character! I loved to read this book on a rainy day with my daughter (now she reads it to me) and then make cocoa together. This book uses rhyme and counting to tell the story of a little girl who is wishing for the sun to return and her many animal companions. If you can find the book/tape set used, it would be a cozy activity for a rainy day in the Northwest.

The Little School Bus--If I come across this book while cleaning in my daughter's room, I always have to stop and sit down to read it. The pictures are so silly and cheerful. It's one of those books that I truly enjoy reading (much like the Skippy Jon Jones series of picture books). The words have a rolling rhythm that lend themselves to repeated reading, and each scene has lots of hidden details. Look for all the working animals and their everyday lives! "A quick, quick chick, a fox with socks...." The colors in this book make me think of cupcakes, and old Fisher-Price Little People toys. It's a true delight for parent and preschooler!


How a Baby Grows--I used to read this board book to my daughter every night (nestled in the rocking chair) as part of our night time routine from the time she was just a month or two old. She was captivated by the simple, calming pictures, and the repetitive words. It's short and has simple illustrations of every day objects that your baby can recognize. A perfect book for snuggly time with a parent or caregiver after a bath!

 

 

Who are some of your favorite illustrators? 

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Top 5 Things to Do in Portland on a Rainy Day (AKA Please Lord, not the trek to OMSI again)

by Oona Baker

April 17, 2009

Six years of living in Portland with a child has taught me that when it rains, the usual child-friendly haunts fill to ear-shattering capacity and I have grown to avoid them. My daughter came down with walking pneumonia the past two years in a row, and after her pediatrician suggested we avoid the usual suspects, we’ve managed to escape most of the winter gunk going around. Here are five places to try that I can promise won’t be flooded with hordes of contagious kiddos:

SCRAP-2915 NE MLK Blvd. (MLK & Stanton) (Note new location) Closed Mondays/Tuesdays. (503) 294-0769  
Scrap is an amazing clearing-house of supplies for crafting and art projects. Broken down bits of machinery make great “robot brains” as my daughter calls them, or you may want to construct something out of yarn, mat board, or wood scraps. The SCRAP website features a handy inventory of the latest donated items.

Ed’s House of Gems 7712 N.E. Sandy Blvd (503)284-8990  Going to Ed’s House of Gems is a special treat for my daughter. Your little scientist can pick out small shells, rocks, and minerals to embark upon a collection.  It’s possible to get a beginning collector set up for just a few dollars.

Head to Beaverton and spend an afternoon browsing the aisles of Uwajimaya 10500 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale HWY. This Asian market has a huge assortment of fruits and vegetables, (buy some ingredients you may not have tried before to make a soup that you and your child invent) and a big section of origami and paper crafts.

If you’re looking for a sweet or savory treat, throw a coat on over your pajamas and hit the Waffle Window on Hawthorne Ave. (SE 36th Ave and Hawthorne Blvd, around the corner from Break & Ink Café) (503) 239-4756  Get a Three B’s or a Huckleberry Dream waffle and sit in your car and munch while the rains pours down around you!

Why not bundle up in boots and raingear and do some geocaching? You can be fancy and use a GPS, but a plain old compass and city map will help with the outdoor treasure hunt.  Geocaching involves finding hidden spots all over the city (in many neighborhoods across the city, and locating logbooks (many have stamps to collect). You can research everything at www.Oregongeocaching.org .  Read more...

Look at me: Discovering the little kid in the mirror

by Sarah Gilbert

January 13, 2009

As a photographer of daily life, I am always on the lookout for my reflection: the better to photograph myself, my dear! And there's nothing better to enchant a child than his own reflection; even my six-year-old adores a good mirror. Here are some of the places I've found to look at me! : Downtown windows. So many of the ground-level windows are brilliantly-mirrored; I like the ones on Taylor  Read more...

Top Five Things to Do on a Rainy Day

by Sarah Gilbert

October 31, 2008

The rain in Portland falls ... mainly. And what a time to launch this blog, as we squelch firmly into the rainy season (it ends in June. Usually). When it rains, we tend to spend a lot of our time inside; but this is Portland and we can't spend all the time inside. Instead, we do this:
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Splash: On mud puddles

by Sarah Gilbert

January 07, 2008

It is raining. Oh, it is raining . And in any other city that might mean many posts exploring the wonders of inside play. Not in Portland. At least, not in my Portland, the city where I grew up to understand that people don't melt , the city where I am a mama to boys who love to splash and who do not consider winter a bad time to play in the sand box. Reflecting with another mama that no time  Read more...