From the category archives:

Indoors

Activity #548: Make ‘em tap

by Whitney on January 28, 2010

in Indoors, Preschooler, Toddler

When fellow parenting blogger and amateur fashion designer Mike posted about tap dancing with his daughter Emme, I knew Julian and I had to try it.

Mike gives Charlene credit, and she gives someone else credit, but it doesn’t really matter as long as Julian gives ME credit for the idea of taping quarters to one’s [...]

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Activity #210: Roll, bounce

by RookieMom Heather on January 20, 2010

in Free/Cheap, Indoors, Month 4, Silly, Toddler

If you still have that yoga ball around — and you’re not currently using it for ab work — get it out to thrill and impress your baby.
We kept ours in Holden’s room for about 22 months — until his new brother was born and the room just got too crowded.
Each morning, [...]

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Join a museum with a friend

by Whitney on January 18, 2010

in Indoors, Toddler

Before I had a baby, I had never been a member of a museum or zoo.  I just never went back to one cultural venue with any frequency.  Since I discovered the world of children’s museums, I have purchased memberships to several types. In some cases, it’s clear that the membership will pay for itself [...]

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6 sanity savers for cold days

by Whitney on December 30, 2009

in Crafty, Indoors, Mommy, Month 6, Silly

While you are reading this, I am driving from Yosemite back to my house in Berkeley. Therefore, I wrote this post in advance. We bloggers can be sneaky that way.
I’m surely suffering a little case of family-gatherings-mostly-take-place-indoors-especially-when-you’ve-rented-a-cabin-in-the-winter, so I bring you a few thematically linked posts. All intended to help fight the Stir Crazies.

Fussy [...]

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Activity #328: Swap ’til you drop

by RookieMom Heather on December 29, 2009

in Crafty, Free/Cheap, Indoors, Mommy, Moms Night In, Month 8

… or How to Host a Clothes Swap Party.

It’s almost January, so it’s time to plan another clothing swap! Whitney totally hates this photo series but I love it. To be fair, she was trying on outfits from the “pass-through” pile.
We’ve mentioned this idea here and there, but maybe it’s time to full-on tell you [...]

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Activity #35: Learn baby massage

by RookieMom Heather on October 26, 2009

in Indoors, Month 2, Sleepy

Whether you’re a total zen mama or a skeptic, I highly recommend learning a few techniques of infant massage. You can enjoy some quiet time and get to know your baby’s tiny developing body AND often get the kid to chill out and go to sleep. Win win.
I took a short workshop in baby massage [...]

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Activity #163: Set the timer for 15 minutes

by RookieMom Heather on September 22, 2009

in Indoors, Month 7

Having trouble motivating to clean the house? Me too!
It seems like every time I manage to pick up all the plastic crap, some little person chucks it around again. And don’t get me started on the laundry situation.
One idea that I like when the messes are particularly out of control is to [...]

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Activity #189: Trick baby into napping

by RookieMom Heather on September 16, 2009

in Indoors, Month 6, Sleepy

When Holden was six months old, we were still doing about 3 to 4 naps each day. But once in a while, Holden would have an I-hate-Mondays and I-won’t-nap-for-you protest thing. After the requisite nap routine (dim lights, cuddle, story, milk), fussing, talking, diaper “situations”, I often gave up and played with him for [...]

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Activity #476: Play poker with your baby

by RookieMom Heather on September 8, 2009

in Free/Cheap, Indoors, Mommy, Moms Night In, Month 2

My very good friend, Crystal, lives in Chicago as a writer with her wee little son, Harry.
Harry is a mere one day younger than Milo and sadly they’ve never met in person. We fully expect that one day they’ll be using Crystal’s instructions in poker for their own miseducation.
Here’s what Crystal has to say [...]

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Activity #291: Let your baby ride the family pet

by RookieMom Heather on August 19, 2009

in Free/Cheap, Indoors, Month 5, Photo

Some day, your baby will be a man. When that time comes, your pet will fit in your kid’s lap.
But for now, isn’t it super cute and funny to take pictures that really show how teeny weeny your little one is?
Make sure to follow common sense tips for pet safety, but he’s [...]

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Activity #259: Amp up your own musical theater

by RookieMom Heather on August 11, 2009

in Free/Cheap, Indoors, Month 6, Silly

File this one under silly.
I know from my five Music Together classes that it is important to infuse more music, singing, chanting, and scarf-play into our daily lives. So, I challenge you to integrate these activities into your day today.
I discovered this silly trick with my childhood best friend, Monica (as [...]

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A few weeks ago, a stroke of genius hit and I laid these “train tracks” down on the rug in Julian’s room. At four-and-three-quarters, he is over the whole Thomas thing, but larger scale train action definitely still turns him on.
All you need is a roll of painter’s tape, the kind that removes from [...]

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