July 4th Fun

Check out this link for some fun Fourth of July ideas for the kiddos.

Try Out Free Trial Classes

Most summer camps require kids to be at least three years old to attend, but here are some other organized activities that you might want to consider signing your baby or toddler up for. These indoor activities are especially good during the heat of summer and the friendships you and your child make will probably last beyond the summer sessions.

Most of these offer a FREE trial class and who doesn't like free things? Sign up for a few different free trials, so you can test them out and see what's the best fit for you and your child. You'll also have a lot of fun participating in and potentially meeting new people in the free classes in the meantime.

Here are some to consider:

1. Gymboree Play and Music - 0-5 years of age; fitness, yoga, arts and music in seven program levels.
   
   
2. My Gym Children's Fitness Center - helps children six weeks to thirteen years of age develop physically, cognitively and emotionally.
   
   
3. Kindermusik - the world's leading publisher of music and movement curricula for parents and their children, ages newborn to 7 years old.
   
   
4. Gymnastics Center - check your local gymnastics centers for mommy and me type classes. If your toddler likes gymnastics enough, they may graduate to classes on their own.
   
   
5. Fitness Centers - If you have a family fitness center in your area, they may offer various mommy and me classes which are great way for your child to burn off energy indoors and for you to meet other parents. Many offer free trial classes too.
   
   
6. Churches - Some churches offer mommy and me programs. If your own church doesn't, look at other churches in the area for this type of program. Many of them don't require you to be a member of their church.

Let us know about any other national or local classes in the comments section here. You may be able to introduce other BBA readers to a free trial class that might turn into their favorite activity too!

Wanted: Creative Summer Fun Ideas

We want your ideas for a list we'll publish soon. Whether it's a Slip 'N Slide in the front yard or a fun game you invented, e-mail the ideas to babyblogaddict@yahoo.com and include pictures if you'd like.

Website Spotlight: The Craft Crow

Some of you may be just recovering from winter, I'm already thinking about how hot the summer will be here in the South.

Here's a fun blog of great crafts for rainy days and the upcoming hot days of summer. The Crafty Crow features lots of creative activities and links to other creative sites too. They even have a breakdown in the right column by child's age, so you can easily find age appropiate crafts with the click of a button.

Toddler Activities from Sprout

Looking for some inside activites since we're in the dead of winter? Check out PBS Kids Sprout Craft Ideas. They have some fun ideas to keep kids entertained and most of the supplies are things you have around the house.

My son made the rainstick, but improvised a bit since we had a toilet paper roll instead of a wrapping paper roll, so it was more like a music shaker. He had so much fun coloring it, putting stickers on it, adding rice to it and of course, shaking it! I think the pretend binoculars will be our next project.

If you have a baby/toddler, keep a box for empty toilet paper, paper towel and wrapping paper rolls. You will definitely use them for lots of projects.

Toddler Activities

Melissa asked a great question on the forum: "...Does anyone have any suggestions for fun activities, centered around music, that I can do with my 2 year old at home? Suggestions not related to music are welcomed as well."

Here are a few music ideas I suggested:

1) Xylophone - Fill 3 or more drinking glass with different amounts of water. Gently tap each one with a wooden spoon. Ask him if the glasses with the most water sound the highest or the lowest. Get him to make up his own song by tapping different glasses.

2) Maracas - Buy toddler size maracas or you can make them. Put raw pasta, like macaroni, or beans in a 2-liter jug, milk jug or even a sippy cup.

3) Play music and let him dance around. Tell him when the music stops, he should stop and sit down. When it starts again, he should dance around again.

Non-music activity:
Gardening - Plant sunflower seeds with kids at the beginning of the summer and watch them grow. Take their picture with the growing sunflowers each week. Maybe even have the child hold a paper with the date and week of growth. By the end of summer, the sunflowers may grow to be taller than the kids.

Chime in with your own ideas for creative toddler activities.