I am so excited to share these empowering toys and books for fierce young females! These products encourage a girl to learn, experiment, and, in turn, grow!
And every item on this list is from a female-owned company!
1. Bravery Magazine is a printed publication for kids features a brave woman in each issue. Full of educational content, fun DIYs, and illustrated biographies, Bravery is as inspiring as it is beautiful. They believe that introducing kids to strong, brave role models will empower them to be strong and brave, too.
2. Hopscotch Girls are beautiful and empowering coloring books for girls!
Encourage girls to think beyond social conventions and stereotypes and inspire conversations about what it really means to be confident, brave and beautiful.
3. Yellow Scope was founded by scientists and moms, Marcie Colledge, PhD and Kelly McCollum, MPH. Yellow Scope grew out of their shared passion for science, education, and closing the gender gap in science! Each kit is lovingly assembled by hand in Portland, Oregon.
4. We couldn't resist including ourselves on this list! Snickerdoos encourages kids to think big, get creative, and find their inner superhero! When a child engages in role play, they must share ideas, and act upon them. What did the doctor say? How did the patient feel?
]]>Creative Halloween Ideas for 2020:
A Halloween Candy Hunt - Think Easter Egg Hunt but with individually wrapped candy hidden throughout the house or yard. Better yet, with a map or clues along the way! Just watch that Fido doesn’t find any candy first!
Flashlight Haunted House Candy Hunt - Hide individually wrapped candy throughout your home, then turn off the lights, hand your child a flashlight and send them on a candy hunt! Once all the candy is found, settle down for popcorn and Halloween movie night!
Virtual Costume Party - Invite your friends, grandparents, and cousins to meet on Zoom for a costume party! See who can get the most into character! Rain or shine, the party will go on!
Good Old-Fashion Carving Pumpkins - Don’t need to explain much more here! Pumpkin carving is a great idea for social distance fun with friends or neighbors outside.
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It's Monday. How are YOU feeling? I know that I am feeling a lot these days. I am feeling big doses of gratitude for valuable time with my family, pleasure in the small things like walking my dogs, and a fair measure worry if I am making the best choices for my two young children. (How much iPad is too much iPad?) I have been wanting to be hyperaware and sensitive to how they are feeling. That is why I decided to turn to Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor, Paige Yang, for her advice and guidance on nurturing and supporting children, especially during COVID.
Snickerdoos: It is clear that children suffer from anxiety and stress, just like adults--possibly more so because they are still learning how to deal with these emotions. Because we aren't able to see you and other acupuncture practitioners during this time of social distancing, can you share acupressure points we can hold to help calm and relax ourselves and our children?
PY: Yes! There are a handful of points that I have been enjoying during quarantine. From the top down: Massaging "DU20" at the crown of your head helps to calm the spirit, while also improving energy. The "LI11" helps to boost your immune system and relieve muscular tension. The "LI4" is a great point for stress, tension, pain in the body, and tightness in the face. It also helps harmonize your body's circulation of energy. The "ST36" is one of the best points to boost your immune system and regulate your digestion. Lastly, "LV3" is wonderful for easing stress and calming energy.
Snickerdoos: I am making more meals than ever before! Are there foods that can help us reduce anxiety and worry?
PY: Foods to help ground your energy will help to reduce your anxiety. Foods that are harvested from the ground, such as root vegetables and foods that are placed inside of the ground, such as seeds, are great for reducing anxiety. You can also look to "heavier" foods or foods that take longer to digest with the same idea as grounding you to reduce anxiety. These "heavier" foods include animal proteins, nuts, beans, and legumes.
Snickerdoos: As a mom, what has been working for you to stay positive during COVID?
PY: I am lucky to be staying with my parents during COVID and sharing childcare responsibilities with my two parents and husband. We made a daily schedule of when we are each in charge of my son. No one person has him for more than 4 hours/day. As a result, we have committed to being present with him and this has made a huge difference for his overall well-being as well as our adult well-beings--forcing us to get off of our devices for the hours we have him each day.
I hope you enjoyed reading Paige Yang's suggestions and insight as much as I did! Want to learn more about her and her practice?
Visit her Instagram! 👈🏾 (Don't just take my word for it--her tutorials are aaamazing!)
Warmly,
Natalie
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I hope you are doing well, and staying healthy during these most unusual and for many stressful times. While we #stayhome in support of our global health, I love seeing communities, parents, and care-takers supporting one another with ideas, inspiration, and a good dose of humor. I praise you, parents, taking on teaching, and nurturing the youngest generation. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite online resources for adults and children staying home.
Scholastic Classroom has tailored enjoyable, interactive lessons for your preschooler. Each day is a new topic that begins with a video lesson, followed by a quiz and project! The topics range from stars and the moon to seasons and animals.
Busy Toddler is an incredible resource for families with young children. Teacher and mother, Susie Allison has a gift for creating fun learning activities from simple household items. No need to make a shopping list; you have everything you need at home for the fun and learning to begin.
Cosmic Kids is a part of our daily routine. Stretch, learn, and grow through yoga. Posses and movements are stimulated through storytelling, which is the perfect way to capture a child's attention.
Mo Willems Draws everyone's favorite children's book author and animator; Mo invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Kids will draw, doodle, and explore new ways of writing. Who knew drawing could be so easy?!
Vooks is a streaming library where children's books are read aloud. Turn screen time into reading time!
Yoga & Meditation because we all know we need a little more zen in our life these days. Join Yogi Charu for daily yoga + meditation, 7 pm (Eastern).
Master Class has 80+ courses (20 lessons per course), all taught by the experts! Learn to cook from Gordan Ramsy, act from Natalie Portman, and boldly express yourself from RuPaul! We will emerge from quarantine with some new tricks up our sleeves.
Museums: Visit the world's most famous museums from the comfort of your sofa. Discover the ancient Rosetta Stone in London, tour the Guggenheim's famous spiral staircase, and peek at artworks from Monet, Cézanne, all in the same afternoon.
Welcome to Harvard! Many elite universities are now offering FREE online courses. From statistics to history, there is so much to learn and relearn.
And our favorite pretend play resource, Snickerdoos costumes. ;) We love encouraging fun imaginative play at home. And right now is the perfect time to visit our website! We are offering 25% off sitewide! Stay home and shop small!
Sending light and love from our home to yours!
Natalie
]]>I love anything that makes my life a little easier and a big bonus if it can save me money! Let's admit, as parents, we are on task 24/7—this is not just a "full-time" job! So I wanted to share with you some of my favorite Mom Hacks (you will love these too, dad and grandma)!
1. Monster Spray
Is your child afraid of the dark or sleeping on his or her own? Let's do something about it and get them involved and empowered! Using any spare spray bottle (or visit the travel section of your drug store), fill the spray bottle with water--bonus if you add lavender scented oil. Call the bottle "Monster Spray" and let your little ones spray it around their room before bedtime. Smell you later, monsters!
2. The Non-Emergency Emergency Kit
Okay, you may not carry a big ole' diaper bag around anymore. Still, whether it is for a bandaid, chapstick, Kleenex, granola bar, rubber band, or hand-sanitizer, you want to have these items on hand at any given time. Use a small pouch-like a pencil case, or one of those free make-up bags with purchase we all have hanging around and fill it with all those small necessary items! No more digging around in your purse or feeling unprepared! You got it, Mom!
3. Cleaning Toys
We hope that our preschools clean their toys often, but now how often do we really get to cleaning the toys in our own home!? I am afraid to answer this question! Between laundry, cooking dinner, and all the other tasks, cleaning toys gets overlooked in my house. Here's a super-easy way to get it done: take a mesh laundry/bra bag and place the toys inside. Pop that bag inside your washing machine and head out to run errands (this isn't a quiet load). Waaala, you have clean toys!
4. Getting Children Excited About Chores
My children LOVE a treasure hunt, and I have found it's the perfect tool to get them excited about doing chores! This is no regular treasure hunt--each clue will lead them to a new chore (think making the bed, organizing their shoes, really wherever you need help in your home)! Write down specific chores on post-its then place them throughout your home. Remember, you need to place the post-it on the location of the previous chore. The last post-it leads them to where they can find their prize (cookie, stickers, $1, etc.)!
5. Frozen Rice (You read that correctly!)
About once a week in my household, someone gets a boo-boo. I rush to the freezer, looking for something to cool their injury. The problem with ice packs is that they're too hard and cold...and a bag of ice leaks. So, what's a mom to do? Freeze a bag of rice! Place 2-3 cups of rice in a Ziploc bag and freeze. Next time your child hurts him or herself, grab the bag of frozen rice!
6. Ultimate Snack Pack
We all love variety, don't we? Especially when it comes to food! This fun snack hack makes eating fun and a perfect airplane or waiting room activity! Using a
vitamin organizer or similar container, fill each compartment with a different snack. Your child will love discovering each new snack and will end this activity full!
I hope you enjoyed these Mom Hacks! Wishing you a peaceful, healthy, happy week!
Natalie
]]>As I grow older, I can say that it is far better to give than to receive. I know this from the personal happiness I experience from doing for others, but it is also backed by science and the American Psychological Association. "Our findings suggest that the psychological reward experienced from helping others may be deeply ingrained in human nature, emerging in diverse cultural and economic contexts," said lead author Lara Aknin, of Simon Fraser University in Canada, in a news release.
Kindness is love made visible, and the best way to teach kindness to little ones is by modeling and showing the joy of helping others. I love February's celebration and acknowledgment of love. This week is Random Acts of Kindness Week, and I wanted to share some doable, fun ideas to do with your children to show love and kindness to others.
Showing kindness to others
1. Send a postcard together
2. Find a special way to thank your child's teacher
3. Be inclusive—invite another parent/child for a playdate
4. Complement someone
5. Give a hug to a loved one
6. Deliver flowers to someone special
7. Bake cookies for a grandparent
Teaching kindness to the earth
1. Hang clothes to dry
2. Use a reusable bag
3. Pick up a piece of garbage on the street
4. Use a travel mug or bottle
Sometimes it takes courage to be kind and wear your heart on your sleeve, but there is no better time than February and this week!
To celebrate February and Random Acts of Kindness week and show my appreciation to you, Snickerdoos is offering 20% off with the code: Kindness
Enjoy, Natalie
]]>Happy New Year! Yes, I believe we can still say that on January 21st?! ;) As I was reflecting on this past year, I think that I can best summarize it as a year full of action. I launched Snickerdoos and worked towards making the East Coast home for my family. While I love action, movement, and working towards a goal, I recognize that this year, I want to work towards slowing down, appreciating the small moments, and being more fully present and ready to receive.
I love that children can be role models in this goal — their natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them. And when we slow down together with our children, we give them more space to learn and explore and maybe learn something new ourselves.
It’s interesting how, when we slow down, we can notice how things in the natural world change over time. Just looking out the window is an opportunity to discuss wind, growth, and the natural evolution of colors. One of my hopes this year is to ask my children more often what they notice about our surroundings, opening the door for learning and conversation.
And while inside, setting up a space for learning and exploring with readily available tools, inspiring materials, and books.
Here are some in our shelf now:
Play-dough, recycled toilet paper, and paper towel rolls (thanks to Louise for your love of “trash”), crayons, paper, lots of painters tape, and of course, costumes! Sometimes, less is more!
I wanted to share a few resources for slllllooowing down in 2020.
How to Create a Learning Space for Your Child
Children's Books About Curiosity
Something just for you mamas:
10 Essential Rules for Slowing Down
Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy new year. Please reach out with any questions or comments! I would love to hear from you!
Warmly,
Natalie
]]>"I was inspired by the Montessori method’s recognition to nurture the whole child - an education that integrates their mind, body, and spirit." Kristien Alquero
What led you to study early childhood education and the Montessori Method?
I was led to this work after feeling lost trying to discover my purpose. There was a point in my life where I was going through the motions. I had this deep yearning to feel creatively expressed, alive, and passionate about my role in the world.
I discovered Montessori accidentally. As I learned about this educational approach, specifically from birth to age three, I was inspired by the Montessori method’s recognition to nurture the whole child - an education that integrates their mind, body, and spirit. I learned that 85% of the brain is formed by age three when the foundation of our sense of self is formed.
I recognized that Montessori is a beautiful approach to nurture a child’s spirit and support them to realize the fullness of the reason they were born. Isn’t the point of education to help us realize our purpose, our passions, and our gifts?
But then I realized there’s no way to create that space for children unless we have done that healing work on ourselves. And that’s why my work is focused on the mother. My curiosity for self-healing led me to study energy medicine, intuition, birth, and sacred sexuality. How do we nourish the whole woman? When we connect to our spirit through embodiment, play & deep acceptance of truth, we can make choices to experience the beauty and radiance that resides so powerfully within. From this space of alignment, our life unfolds in magical ways, and we are able to receive the gifts through all the ebbs and flows of life with ease and grace.
I was inspired by the Montessori method’s recognition to nurture the whole child - an education that integrates their mind, body, and spirit.
What from Montessori has had the biggest influence on you?
The realization that everything goes back to birth and the first three years of life! The first three years of life have a significant impact on how we relate to ourselves, to others and to our environment. I truly believe that we can create a better world starting with our children, by creating safe, intentional environments for them that allow their spirits to soar. When our future citizens grow up feeling grounded in their gifts and purpose, they can live a meaningful life. From this place of inner peace, harmony is created for the greater collective.
Adults can remain to be playful by giving yourself permission to follow your curiosities.
We know children learn tremendously through play—how do you encourage adults to remain playful?
Adults can remain to be playful by giving yourself permission to follow your curiosities. When you get that inspired idea that runs through you, opens your heart, and feels expansive, don’t ignore it! Even if it doesn’t make any sense to you, make the space to explore it. It may be something as subtle as taking a different route home one day, signing up for a class in something that interests you, or saying hi to someone that is passing by. You’ll be surprised what you can learn about yourself and the opportunities that present themselves to you.
Play is where curiosity & pleasure meet. It requires slowing down and being present so you can notice when that spark of curiosity within you lights up. In this state of presence, you start to see the beauty and infinite possibilities around you. Play guides you to discover more of who you are and to live a more joyful life. So, what are you curious about today? How can you make space, even five minutes, to follow your curiosity this week?
What are your favorite activities you encourage parents and children to do together at home?
My work is focused on the child from birth to age three, and it’s amazing to see what a young child is capable of when you present opportunities for them to collaborate with you in their daily living. For example, right now, I’m working with a curious and independent 14-month-old. She is eager to try and do things herself yet is still practicing the skills to do so completely on her own. So we collaborate! She just took her first steps and is practicing working with two hands. She loves nature and putting things in containers.
Example: For a snack, we peeled a clementine together. I held it steady while she practiced her pincer grasp with each peel. She put all the peels into a jar that we later emptied into the compost bin together. We also pick flowers together on our walks. We gather leaves and flowers into a basket. When we get home, she helps me put them into a jar, and we create a flower arrangement together.
Parents can get creative by observing what skills and interests their child is presenting at every stage of their development, and then invite their child to collaborate in the home with their daily activities together. The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies has great tips and illustrations for inspiration. Tip: Slow down and give your child space to explore and do things on their own and in their way. Trusting in the child goes such a long way in witnessing what they are truly capable of.
How can parents support their child’s creativity?
First, by accepting your child fully as the individual, they are with their own unique interests, gifts, and ways of being. This means not making any assumptions or project any ideas on what you think they should be doing, how they should be behaving, or who they’re supposed to be when they grow up. By giving your child the space to be themselves, it allows their essence and creativity to reveal itself and expand. Then all you have to do is prepare an environment that fosters their gifts, interests, and development. ;) This allows for them to experience possibilities and creativity, without limiting their idea of what is possible.
4 tips for creating an environment that encourages a child's creativity?
1. Encourage open-ended play through activities and toys that allow for many ways to play rather than being prescriptive. For example, coloring books ask to be drawn within the lines vs. a blank piece of paper with infinite possibilities of coloring. Another example is choosing wooden blocks or legos vs. a battery-operated toy where you press a button, and it just makes noise.
2. Avoid praise and instead, speak into your child’s effort. Acknowledge their process rather than the result. For example, “I see you mixed two colors of paint together.”3. Give your child space to wonder and to be bored. Rather than thinking we must entertain children at every moment, think about engaging them through their environment - Providing beautiful materials for them to play with, presenting it in a way that is inviting, and making beauty part of the home through art, music, and plants. This is a concept the Montessori method speaks into.
4. Allow for exploration and experimentation as a process of learning. From this attitude, we can show children that there are no mistakes but learning opportunities. We are allowing for more confidence and possibilities in the way we can express our creativity.
Your favorite Maria Montessori quote?
“To serve the children is to feel one is serving the spirit of man, a spirit which has to free itself.” - Dr. Maria Montessori
Learn more about Kristien, her practices, and workshops at www.awakenedplay.com
Kristien Alquero, M.Ed, MIM, is a birth+postpartum doula, 0-3 Montessori educator, and women’s spirituality guide. She integrates Montessori theory with embodiment practices such as connecting with intuition & energy, meditation, self-care, and sacred sexuality to support women from preconception to postpartum. Kristien works with mamas to support them in deeply connecting to their spirits so that they feel empowered to create safe spaces for their children’s spirits to soar.
Keiki Kaukau (https://keikikaukau.com )creates Hawaii inspired wooden toys that resemble island food favorites like loco mocos and poke bowls — bringing exploration and discovery of the Hawaiian culture to your playroom.
I See Me (http://iseeme.com) Encouraging a child's learning is always more fun when it is personalized! Visit I See Me to upload family photos and create customized puzzles.
Jooki (http://jooki.rocks) is a personal story and music player for screen-free time for kids! You can program the Jooki with up to 1000+ songs and stories, and this easy to operate technology is perfect for children.
Pleni Naturals (https://pleninaturals.com) Give the gift of healthy skin! Parents: this is something kids, and you can share! Pleni Naturals, a plant-based skincare line for kids and adults is on a mission to help children develop a lifelong love for their veggies.
]]>What inspires me the most about Nancy and The Chic are the subjects she tackles from parenting and wellness to conscious life and entrepreneurship. I find as I grow older, I am hit with an insatiable desire to learn, and The Chic is an incredible place to go and expand your knowledge and learn something new.
With all the areas that The Chic covers, I wanted to discover what excites and motivates Nancy and dig into her advice on motherhood.
I hope you enjoy the Q&A below!
Q. The Chic covers so many great topics from wellness to entrepreneurship to culture and parenting—what inspires you the most?
A. All the topics that we discuss on The Chic are a reflection of my own and our team and writer's lifestyle choices and approaches to life. Our biggest and most inspiring goal is to encourage kindness and empowerment. We do this through different categories in our content, using a consistent goal and voice. We are kind to the planet and encourage, empower others to embrace sustainability, for example. Or highlight topics of self-care by featuring experts who empower the reader with ways to better your career, health, anxiety, or general human relationship struggles. Parenting- we empower parents to use approaches that revolve around kindness- so as you can see, I am inspired by the overall consistent message that's carries throughout every single article on all verticals and categories. Right now, however, I am having a lot of fun featuring entrepreneurs as our modern mentors. We built this vertical to help aspiring entrepreneurs navigate their entrepreneurial journey by accessing achieved and successful entrepreneurial advice - through their challenges and success.
Q. You grew up in Egypt and are raising your children in America. What aspects of your upbringing or cultural heritage do you most wish to pass along to your children?
A. Language. Every day, I go through the guilt of not speaking to them in Arabic enough or exposing them to enough Arabic culture (music/media). I hope that they will pick up the language somehow along their development! On the other hand, I was raised to be grateful despite ambition, and I try every day to teach them gratefulness, a cultural element that's very important in the Arab community and frequently used in conversation and by all religions/sects. We call it 'Hamdulla'!
Q. I love the idea of teaching kids to appreciate quality over quantity, and that everything you acquire should serve a purpose. What products do you love the most?
A. When it comes to toys- my boys spend a lot of time on their Magna-tiles building and never get bored. It's one of the few toys that they have. It also grows with the child and can serve a purpose during each milestone. For myself, I always buy good quality leather items and James Perse t-shirts that last through several seasons without losing color or structure. I use face oils at night that acts as a hair oil, nail cuticle oil and feet. On my face, a tinted lip and cheek balm like the one from Mineral Lip Fusion Lastly, in the kitchen, I am a big fan of the beeswax wraps (beeswax wraps amazon), they work and are long-lasting- I've been using them for over a year now, and they still work!
Q. In The Chic, you often start your Modern Mentors interviews off with a favorite quote. What is your favorite quote that pertains to motherhood?
A. "Patience is Bitter. But it's fruit is sweet" - Aristotle. - on challenging yourself to be patient when raising children, starting a business, or self-work.
Warmly,
Natalie
PS. Read my Female Founder's interview at The Chic here!
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This summer, when visiting with my dear family friend, doctor, and author Joyce Jia, I took the opportunity to ask her for her advice on raising two small children. Joyce is an expert in child development and education. I wanted her opinion of the most valuable things I could do to support young growing minds. Her response was EXPOSURE. Exposing your child to as much a possible through books, unique experiences, trying new actives, and whenever possible, travel. It is here where a child begins to discover their interests, strengths, and develop a more global understanding of the world. |
Joyce Jia’s book “Enjoy Your Children When They Are On Your Side” 享受孩子成长 will be published November and hopefully an English version to follow.
How can we expose our children to more close to home?
With this history of bonfires, returning spirits and frightful costumes, it is no wonder this time of year can be scary for small children, who are still figuring this world out.
Why is everything so scary? Is it real? Are you still you when you have a costume on?
This is a great time to talk it out, explain whats going on, what to expect and maybe avoid the Halloween aisle at Walgreens.
If you child is comfortable with the concept of Halloween but the itchy costumes, you can use comfortable basics or even your child’s everyday clothes to make sensory friendly costumes. Pajamas are a great place to start or visit our website for our selection of soft, wearable, Snickerdoos costumes.
]]>The wonderful thing about storytelling is the endless possibilities and adventures that can be created with your words and in a child’s mind. This magical listening experience keeps children entertained in a smart, screen-free way! (I know we are always looking for those!) And while you might not see yourself as a natural storyteller, children can be our least discerning of audiences, often captivated by the simplest or silliest of stories. Here are some tips to bring out the storyteller in yourself:
1. Make your child the lead or best supporting actor in the story! Maybe your story starts with your child and her favorite super-dog, Bugsy. Children get a kick out of imagining themselves or the characters they know in the story.
2. Keep it simple. Story-time is often used for the purpose of unwind or signaling bedtime. Your stories can be a single event or account but just make sure to give a few details that children are familiar with like color, shape, or animal. “Once upon a time there was a happy purple fish named Bob. He was very hungry so he went the the market to buy some food. That is when he bumped into a goldfish named Shirley. She was new to town. Bob and Shirley became great friends.” That simple!
3. If fantasy doesn’t fly off your tongue, use stories you already know or possibly non-fiction from your own life or family! If the Three Little Bears is the story you know best, tell it! Children love familiarity and being able to predict and know what happens next.
4. Ask your child to participate—filling in details or deciding what happened next! Did the Unicorn go into the forest or to the mall? This is opportunity to encourage their creativity or confidence.
So next time find yourself with your little one in quiet waiting room, or a too long airplane, or bedside, tell a story!
Natalie
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Watching my children learn to dress themselves will often bring me proud moments of seeing them discover their independence and personal style, other moments of laugher when they have their shoes on the wrong feet, and many moments that downright test my patience when I want to jump in and say, “let me just help you.”
When we take a step back and examine all that is involved in self-dressing, we can see the incredible benefits that make it worth the little extra time and patience called upon. Self-dressing is a physiological and emotional milestone that can lead to a more confident, independent and coordinated child and that is why at Snickerdoos we love encouraging it!
Below I explore some of the benefits of self-dressing, as well as share some tips!
It all starts with a child’s discovery and selection of what they like and what they want to wear. What is their favorite color or style and how does it make them feel? Next comes the cognitive exercise and understanding the sequence of putting on clothing and to think of how seasons, temperatures and activities affect what should be worn. Lifting their arms up and legs in specific coordinated motions to get into shirts over head or pant legs on call upon gross motor skills. Sports aren’t the only exercise! ;) And then being able to use their fingers to manipulate small objects like zippers, buttons, laces, and buckles, they will be practicing their fine motor skills.
With each step of self-dressing, frustrations can arise—clothes do not always fit the desired way or a child can become challenged by a pesky zipper or too tight sock. This is the time to offer praise, encouragement and helpful guidance, giving them the opportunity to show us and themselves that they can indeed do hard things.
A few tips for supporting a self-dressing child:
At Snickerdoos, we love taking opportunities to encourage a child’s independence from experimenting with self-dressing to exploring pretend play. That is why all of our costumes are one-piece designs from easy pull overs tops to slip on rompers. No to limited parent participation needed here!
]]>It’s the start of summer and our family has already enjoyed a wonderful mix of adventures thanks to travel and exploring the outdoors but I admit, when at home we've succumbed to TV more than I'd like, so I've been researching activity and exploration to encourage a child's imagination and playfulness at home.
1. Have materials on hand! We love having a craft drawer full of crayons, paper, stickers, and play-dough, but I'm also constantly on the lookout for materials that can be recycled and repurposed into art. Water bottle caps can be the perfect start to googly eyes, and empty toilet paper rolls can transform into bracelets, building materials, or a pretend telescope. Leave it to a child’s imagination to create something new, beautiful, and fun!
2. Encourage pretend play -- the Snickerdoos specialty! Pretend play is a remarkable tool for learning and growth. From using new vocabulary to practicing cooperation, we love witnessing the transformative power of play as children create stories and characters with their vivid imaginations. It can be helpful to provide props like tea cups, a children’s cash register, or a Snickerdoos costume to spark and encourage pretend play.
3. The next one is simple and no tools or materials are necessary: Ask questions!Children are great at being naturally curious and asking questions, and it is fun to flip the script and be curious with them, too! Ask them about their feelings and experiences. What do you love to do with your friends? Tell me about your favorite adventure? You will be expanding their use of vocabulary and getting a peek into their mind.
4. Spend time outside! The great outdoors provide us with an incredible landscape for learning and calming. While outside in your own yard, dig in deeper with a scavenger hunt or by initiating collecting and sorting of leaves, flower, rocks, etc. Both scavenger hunts and collecting provide opportunities for children to discover and adventure in a familiar place while stretching their views and interests.
]]>In the playroom and in social settings, children begin to develop their identity through storytelling. Children often recount meaningful life experiences and events that both define and excite them. One of my daughter Louise’s favorite stories to tell is of the day we ran into a friend at the mall and then later at the beach. “It was craziest day ever!” This wonderful form of self-expression and communication helps children begin to manage their self-identity.
But where does story-telling all begin?
One of the most valuable ways in which children begin to understand storytelling and story structure is by being read to by their parents, caretakers and teachers. Fairy tales are full of moral obligations, what is right and wrong, this where children begin to gain feeling of conscious and therefore self-worth. Fairy tales are also filled with enchantment and wonder, painting an imaginative world where a child is able to look inward and identify their own feelings and emotions. Ask your child: Why did that story make you so happy?
Here are some of my favorite children’s books:
Raise Your Hand by Alice Tapper
This book encourages girls to be brave, to be bold, and to participate! We must note that Alice Tapper was only 11 years old when she penned this beautiful book!
Stand in my shoes Kids Learning About Empathy by Bob Sornson, Ph.D.
This book introduces the concept of empathy and noticing the feelings of others. Do we need to say more!?
Moody Cow Meditates by Kerri Lee MacLean
Kids can meditate too! This is a wonderful book for children and parents to share together and discuss the concept of mindfulness.
What Do You Do With an Idea? By Kobi Yamada
Wow! Do we love this book! When we were developing Snickerdoos, we felt like we were going through all the same emotions as the lead character in What Do You Do With an Idea? From toddlers to adults, it can be scary to share our ideas and feelings; and Yamada beautifully helps to illustrate that is completely normal!
And of course, you know my favorite costumes for supporting and enhancing a child’s story-telling: Snickerdoos!
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Some kids are dare devils—naturally curious and up for adventure at every turn. Some kids are observers and hesitant to dive in until they are familiar and feel safe. Most are honest (or really really bad at being dishonest) with their feelings and experiences. But what most kids have in common is that they are fully present seeking out only things that make them smile.
I believe as adults there are many opportunities to look to children as our teachers and inspirations.
As the founder of Snickerdoos, I love a child’s natural curiosity that shine in role play and their boldness to experiment and create a new world around them.
Be bold, be present, and be childish!
-Natalie Smith
Illustration by Lisa Congdon
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I love a child’s inquisitive and curious nature, and I also love flipping the script and being curious too—asking questions and giving children the opportunity to share their knowledge, creativity and feelings.
Here are some of my favorite questions to ask:
Ask the who’s, the what’s, the why’s and the how’s! You will not only be teaching a child the art of conversation, but also getting to peek inside a their world and mind.
]]>Did you know that early play can enrich a child’s literacy?
One day, Louise (my daughter) came home from school and was so excited to report that there was a special visitor that day: a lovely librarian named Michele. Later that day, I found a pamphlet from the library on activities to help prepare Louise for reading tucked away in her backpack. I’m not a literacy expert myself, and was surprised to see some activities listed that I wouldn’t have associated with reading! The four stepping stones listed to prepare your child for reading were talking, singing, playing, and writing (scribbling counts too)!
I was thrilled to see playing listed among these reading readiness skills—it’s something we do often, and I love encouraging it on our Snickerdoos platforms.
I dug in to find out more and learned that play, in addition to being fun, helps children think symbolically. For example, have you ever noticed how a child can associate a wooden block with a phone from a young age? Hi! Hi!…Bye-bye! That is because at a young age, children begin thinking symbolically. One shape or symbol can represent and giving meaning to another. This kind of symbolic thinking can relate to reading as children begin learning that each individual letter (shape) represents a particular sound.
So where does dramatic play come in?
During dramatic play, children create and act out stories, which builds their knowledge and understanding of how a story works. This helps them understand the characters, structures, and themes when they begin to read books. Who is going to play doctor, who is the patient, and what will happen next?!
I am constantly in awe of the power of play-based learning. I could just scream it from the roof-tops: not a minute is wasted on the playground or in the playroom!
]]>I can’t wait to share our monthly blog and newsletter, which will explore all the wonderful benefits of dress up, provide play-based resources, and keep you informed on all the latest news from Snickerdoos!
So, where do I begin? The inspiration? Snickerdoos all began with my daughter, Louise.
Have you ever witnessed a child’s pure joy and excitement when they use their imagination? Or how thrilled they are when they learn something new and are able to show off that knowledge? Louise’s uninhibited zeal for dress-up sent me on a mission to improve what was in her costume drawer.
I hope to make dress-up as comfortable and sensory-friendly as it is fun! I understand that children have different sensitivities, and we kept this in mind during the design process. We eliminated all tags, scratchiness, and glitter from our costumes, and manufactured them only with the softest materials. I want every Snickerdoos child to find our costumes as comfortable and wearable as their everyday clothing!
What makes Snickerdoos unique is our desire to encourage a child’s learning and development through dress up.
Doctors, Dinosaurs, and Tigers, oh my! We design characters that encourage children to learn, think, and find meaning in the world around them. In costume, children have the opportunity to expand their vocabulary, and practice using the words they already know: Pass the stethoscope! Through role-play, children are able to give these words context by acting out scenarios that use them. Suddenly, check-ups can feel playful! The cognitive and emotional benefits of dress up go far beyond the fun.
My goal is simple, but important: to support and inspire the children wearing our costumes.
We will also give costumes and the opportunity for dress up to children in need through an organization called Beverly’s Birthdays. Learn more about them on Social Mission page our website!
When Snickerdoos launches in just a couple of days, we will continue to learn and adapt in every way possible to benefit you and the children in your life! I would love to hear your feedback, questions, and suggestions to help me create the best possible experience for the Snickerdoos kids.
Thank you so much for your time in reading this and going on this journey with me!
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