May your new year be filled with fun, laughter, slobbery kisses... and crazy hats.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Dancin' Kim!
One of my very favorite things in the world is watching preschoolers dance. They've got some supersilly moves, lemmie tell ya, and they can get really, truly serious about it. The next best thing to watching preschoolers do the robot?... watching Dancin' Kim do the robot. If you're a child of the 80s (or a robot), you'll find these moves, like, totally rad!
'80s Dances:How To Do The Robot
'80s Dances:How To Do The Robot
Labels:
80s cheese,
music,
preschoolers,
silly fun quizes and things
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Paper Chain Shmaper Chain
Instead of making paper chain garlands this year, hand your older kids a gigantic bag of pompoms. String the pompoms the same way you would popcorn or cranberries. Pompoms make the most pretty, happy, colorful garlands... and they save much better than the other options :) Needle-shy littlish ones can get in the act by creating color patterns, and even itsy bitsy little ones can help out by color sorting, elf assembly line style. It's a fun family activity, especially on rainy, stuck-inside days :)
Labels:
christmas,
crafts,
holidays,
preschoolers
Monday, December 22, 2008
Heidi 4 Paws
PBS has a new special that both preschoolers and puppies will love-love-love. It's a retelling of the childhood classic Heidi... using dog actors. Strange?... Yes. Cheesy?... Yes. Wholesome, supercute, heartwarming, and funny?... Yes, yes, yes, and yes! PBS used to have a series called Wishbone, with a similar "dog involvement" concept... but this is one million times better: it's all dogs, 100% dogs; there are no pesky human cast members to speak of. It was wonderfully, oddly charming.
Heidi 4 Paws will be re-airing several times during the week of Christmas. I dare you to resist the lure of yodeling puppies and beagles with random jersey accents. Check your local listings :)
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Tasty Trees and Things
The moms at littlenummies have come up with some really cute and easy-to-make Christmas snacks for picky-fingered kids (like the Healthy Snow Pea Trees, shown above...)
Not-so-healthy, but superyummy Frosting Candy Trees (made from sugar ice cream cones),
and Snowflake Cinnamon Crispas (sugar-cinnamon topped flour tortillas, baked in the oven... reminiscent of the old school Taco Bell treats from the 80s...taaaasty!)
As always, snacks can be a great starting-off point for learning: while eating, talk about colors, shapes, and make size comparisons. Further investigate trees and snowflakes with fun crafts, stories, and hands-on exploration!
Visit the littlenummies site for step-by-step instructions for the snacks shown here, and for even more fun, kidcentric holiday food ideas.
*Reminder for Pet Parents: Please remember that these (and most other) human foods are made for humans only, and should never be shared with our furry friends, most especially dogs.
Labels:
christmas,
cooking,
holidays,
preschoolers
Friday, December 19, 2008
Holiday Imposters!
Take a listen to these pets with silly cgi mouths as they lipsing to Rowlf (the muppet) and John Denver's version of "Merry Little Christmas."
WARNING: there is a creepy cat voice (talking about the importance of pet adoption) at the end of the song...
WARNING: there is a creepy cat voice (talking about the importance of pet adoption) at the end of the song...
Labels:
christmas,
holidays,
silly fun quizes and things
Monday, December 15, 2008
Holly Jolly Christmas
Congratulations to Holly, the beautiful pointer shown here, on winning the AKC Eukanuba National Championship Best in Show title. Watch Holly (and all the other gorgeous contestants) take the floor when Animal Planet airs the event Saturday, Jan. 31st, at 8pm. Even more fun, this year they'll also be showing highlights from the AKC Agility Invitational (Feb. 7th at 8pm.) More than just pretty faces, these dogs are superskilled and really fun to watch! Plan to set your TIVO.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Yay for Misers!
Many preschoolers seem to take a curious liking to movie villains (g-rated, of course!) I think it's the drama: movie villains often move bigger, talk bigger, look really strange, and get the biggest reactions! Kids who love Bumble won't want to miss ABC Family's new Christmas special: The Miser Brother's Christmas, airing tonight at 8pm. In the tradition of Christmas classics, there's singing, dancing, comedy... and a story with an emphasis on cooperation :) If you miss tonight's viewing, stop by the ABC Family site for a schedule of reairings.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Notable Quotable
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Making a Special Holiday Appearance
A juvenile Bald Eagle was recently sighted hunting in the Nature Center's eucalyptus groves. After being on the verge of extinction (because of pesticide exposure and habitat loss), these incredible birds are now flourishing and venturing out into new terrain during their travels. This is in large part due to the Endangered Species Act. Did you know that polar bears are a threatened species? To find out more about the animals who could use your help, explore the WWF and US Fish and Wildlife Service websites.
Photos by Steave Shinn.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Santa Paws Super Picks: Busy Brain Toys!*
This time of the year us humans can get a little preoccupied with our holiday plans, so it's important to remember that we make sure our dogs don't get bored, lonely, and... destructive. These are some of my favorite two-paws-up-rated Busy Brain Toys which I recommend for clients who need a little peace & quiet. They'll help keep your dog's "eyes on the prize" (and away from mischief-inducing lures like your ornaments, wrapping paper, fruit cake...)
Most toys are built with strong puppy mouths in mind, but, as always, you'll want to supervise your dog's first interaction with a new toy, just in case. Also, be sure to throw away old toys as they begin to wear, so that your dog won't accidentally ingest or choke on any loose parts :)
Puzzle Toys:
Kongs
Twist N Treat by Premier Pet Products
Buster Cubes
Tricky Treats Ball Toy by Omega Paw
Teaser Ball by Jolly Pets
Muttropolis Leo Canine Genius Treat Releaser
Muttropolis Plush Leo
IQube Puzzle Plush by Plush Puppies
Intellibone (a soft squeaky puzzle that develops eye-paw coordination, also by Plush Puppies)
Chewing:
Booda Bones (get one in a color that matches your pup's fur to avoid slobber streaks)
Nylabone Puppy Teething Key Ring
Pet Stages Cool Teething Stick
Fill N' Freeze Bone (instead of water, fill with diluted apple juice or broth for yumminess)
Booda Bone Rope Toy (try freezing for extra-soothing power)
Comfort:
Dog on TV DVD
Harp Music to Soothe the Savage Beast CD, by Alianna Boone
Comfort Zone Plug-in Pheromone Diffuser
A Cozy Blanket or Sweatshirt to snuggle up with that's well-worn (& smells like you)
Sniff out these products (minus the blanket or sweatshirt that smells like you, of course...) at major pet supply retailers such as: Petco , PetSmart , Muttropolis , and Dogtoys.com
*FYI: this is an encore posting from 12/07 :)
Most toys are built with strong puppy mouths in mind, but, as always, you'll want to supervise your dog's first interaction with a new toy, just in case. Also, be sure to throw away old toys as they begin to wear, so that your dog won't accidentally ingest or choke on any loose parts :)
Puzzle Toys:
Kongs
Twist N Treat by Premier Pet Products
Buster Cubes
Tricky Treats Ball Toy by Omega Paw
Teaser Ball by Jolly Pets
Muttropolis Leo Canine Genius Treat Releaser
Muttropolis Plush Leo
IQube Puzzle Plush by Plush Puppies
Intellibone (a soft squeaky puzzle that develops eye-paw coordination, also by Plush Puppies)
Chewing:
Booda Bones (get one in a color that matches your pup's fur to avoid slobber streaks)
Nylabone Puppy Teething Key Ring
Pet Stages Cool Teething Stick
Fill N' Freeze Bone (instead of water, fill with diluted apple juice or broth for yumminess)
Booda Bone Rope Toy (try freezing for extra-soothing power)
Comfort:
Dog on TV DVD
Harp Music to Soothe the Savage Beast CD, by Alianna Boone
Comfort Zone Plug-in Pheromone Diffuser
A Cozy Blanket or Sweatshirt to snuggle up with that's well-worn (& smells like you)
Sniff out these products (minus the blanket or sweatshirt that smells like you, of course...) at major pet supply retailers such as: Petco , PetSmart , Muttropolis , and Dogtoys.com
*FYI: this is an encore posting from 12/07 :)
Labels:
christmas,
holidays,
products,
training tips
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Music for Humbugs
I looooove Christmas music. So much so, that I listen to it pretty much all year round. Kind of like how some preschoolers will insist on wearing the same purple shirt over and over and OVER. When I like something, my enthusiasm can be a little nutty... and I like me my Christmas tunes!
Sadly, some people just don't like Christmas music. OR SO THEY THINK! In honor of those with Christmasmusicphobia, I give you my "Cheer Shmeer" playlist, full of strangely beautiful, sad, angry, and morose holiday songs guaranteed to win over humbugs at heart. OK, it's not guaranteed, but it's still worth a shot... and regardless, it's fun offbeatsy listening... Enjoy the sample (or embrace your inner Grinch and turn it off...neeheehee...!)
25th December, Everything But the Girl
That was the Worst Christmas Ever!, Sufjan Stevens
Hallelujah , Jeff Buckley
I believe In You, Sinead O'Connor
Under The Mistletoe, Kyle Andrews
The Christmas Song, The Raveonettes
Merry Christmas, Not X-Mas, Arrah and the Ferns
Bittersweet Eve, Belasana
Christmas Is The Saddest Day Of The Year, Jill Sobule
Christmas Dirge, Nellie McKay
Little Jack Frost, Bing Crosby
All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue, Over The Rhine
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Martha Wainwright
River, Travis/ Joni Mitchell
Lonely Xmas Eve, Ben folds
Mistletoe, Colbie Caillat
Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight), The Ramones
Please Come Home for Xmas, Fiona Apple
2000 Miles, Coldplay/ Pretenders
Fairytale of NY, Pilate
Christmas Intentions, Scissors for Lefty
Xmas Curtain, My Morning Jacket
Do They Know it's Christmas, Band Aid
Just For Now, Imogen Heap
Christmas, Baby Please Come Home, U2/ Death Cab for Cutie
Song for a Winter's Night, Sarah McLachlan
Christmas Day, Dido
Rudy, The Be Good Tanyas
The Cat Carol, Meryan Cadell
Cracking, Suzanne Vega
Winter Song, Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
A note for moms and dads: these particular songs aren't brimming over with cheer and jolly jingle stuff... so if you have wee ones, you'll want to use your own best judgement with regards to little ear exposure. Happy listening :)
Monday, December 1, 2008
Train Your Dog to Christmas Carol
Make your very own silly Christmas ecard at Petcentric. You can even personalize it by uploading a photo of your puppy or kitten. Using computer magic, you'll be able to dress him up in snazzy holiday clothing, and watch him sing a classic Christmas carol of your choosing. Yay for virtual training!
Labels:
christmas,
holidays,
silly fun quizes and things
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