Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in sacramento, CA

The Littlest Authors

September 29, 2009

One of the many wonderful things about my son Solomon’s kindergarten teacher is that she is teaching the children not just about books, the alphabet and reading, but that they are becoming writers.  Being a writer myself this thrills me to no end.  But I’ve also spoken with other parents who are equally as excited to see their little ones able to focus their creativity in a whole new way.  Children are natural storytellers and with a little assistance they can write and illustrate their very own books as young as preschool.  Here’s how Solomon and I have been creating his most recent works of fiction. 

I set him up with a stack of white paper and fresh crayons and tell him to draw anything he likes.  Usually the picture involves several things like robots, letters and animals.  I then ask him what’s happening in the picture and as we discuss it and I ask questions the beginning of a story naturally comes to light.  I help him organize his thoughts and then he dictates the text which I write on a blank spot of the drawing – magic! Page 1 is finished.  We then discuss what might happen next in the story and he sets about drawing page two, etc.  Most of his recent books are between three and five pages long.  We staple the edges together, he thinks up a title and then does a drawing for the cover where I write: Written and Illustrated by: and he writes his name.  A trick he has just mastered.  This is a fun and easy project to do with any child who can talk a bit and hold a crayon.  In fact years ago, before he was really drawing he would just make up simple stories and I would write them down in a journal – these are some of our favorite bedtime books because the once-baby talk renditions are absolutely hilarious to the kids!  So give this little exercise a try and delight in the imagination of your little writer.

Mom setbacks

June 29, 2009

So it is usually the wintertime when I fall into funks and wish for the sunshine to bring me happiness and a good attitude.  But when little things start to pile up and soon you have a mountain of whiny kids, dirty laundry, a puppy who chews through your laptop powercord, a mother who won't stop calling, a headlight that mysteriously keeps burning out, a pile of bills and a dishwasher that spews water so that you have to clean the floor everytime you clean the dishes, well - I think you get the picture.

In these mucky times of motherhood the best remedy is always to find ways to take care of ourselves.  So here are some of my favorite things to do anywhere, but especially in Sacramento.

- Have lunch with a girlfriend at Jack's Urban Eats in Midtown or Folsom - their Chinese Chicken Salad is amazing and if you must bring the kids get them sides of homemade macaroni and cheese.

- Get a manicure, pedicure, get a facial, your eyebrows waxed or any beaty treatment that will make you glow and feel like a real woman again.

- Hit a farmer's market, buy fresh tomatoes, basil, parmesan and grilll them up together for a scrumptious and healthy summer treat.  Top them with a drizzle of balsamic vinegrette and yum!

- Take yourself to a chick-flick and if necessary cry - even at the happy parts - it's theraputic!

- Get a tattoo - yes you heard me right - a tattoo!  Even if it's a tiny version of your favorite flower where (almost) no one else can see it.  You'll know it's there and it never hurts to live on the wild side for an afternoon!

Whatever you do, enjoy yourself.  Live in the moment.  Try hard to get grandma, a friend or a babysitter so you can spend this time as a woman, not a mom.  You will be amazed at how refreshed you'll be later that day when your delicious children fall into your arms.

Less is More.

by Kim Mordecai

November 24, 2008

There are moments when our schedule gets so hectic and I'm so frantic to not be late to the next activity that I completely lose all perspective. In a way I think we have all lost perspective these days. We are raised in a country that teaches us that there is a certain way to raise children. We begin by stimulating them with every possible piece of information as little babies, next we  Read more...

Puzzling Puzzling Gifts

by Kim Mordecai

November 21, 2008

So I have already begun my Christmas shopping for my boys and extended family. My goal is to have everything done by December 1st so that I can really enjoy the month. We are planning on multiple trips to admire Christmas lights, family photos, a visit to Santa, etc. So one of the gifts that I plan to purchase for my niece is a really wonderful puzzle from T.A.G. - Think and Grow Toys. They  Read more...

Memories Set in Stone

by Kim Mordecai

October 13, 2008

Not being a mother who put together the adorable baby books with locks of hair, footprints and endearing photos, I am always in search of alternative ways to record my kid's childhood. I've kept blogs, written stories and pieced together photo albums. And while I'm a tiny bit ashamed of the giant storage bin with everything that should have gone into their baby books, I'm also  Read more...