Treehouse TV

Stay Safe in the Summer

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:06:00 GMT

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Summer weather has arrived and when it gets too hot outside the kids just want to cool off. Make it a fun and safe trip to the local pool, lake, or beach!

Be sure to protect yourself

While spending all day by the water, don’t forget to apply plenty of sunscreen. It’s recommended to apply a minimum of SPF 30 to prevent painful sunburns. There are many different types that can be found at your local drug or grocery store. Be sure to get one that is waterproof and sweat proof. Reapply if they’ve been in the water a lot.

Keep cool

Make sure you bring plenty of water and liquids to keep yourself and the kids hydrated. Heatstroke and dehydration can ruin an otherwise great day. You can try avoiding the hottest hours of the day from 10am to 4pm or be sure to call the kids back in for a water/juice break every hour or so.

Also be sure to protect your child’s eyes from harsh UV rays, get a pair of sunglasses which will block out both UVA and UVB rays. Walking around all day pool side can expose your child’s feet to sharp rocks and rough concrete. To prevent scraped feet encourage them to wear water shoes or flip flops instead of going barefoot.

Water Safety

The best thing to stay safe in the water is to learn to swim. There are many classes available at your local community pool designed for all ages. Children should learn to respect the rules of the water. Water splashed beside the pool can make the tiles or concrete slippery. Always walk to keep a good footing. Teach your children to use a feet-first entry. Only go headfirst when they’re in a clearly marked diving area without obstructions.

When swimming with the family set general guidelines based on swimming abilities. With young children, set limits to stay in water less than chest deep. Children should always swim with a buddy; never alone. In case anything happens, they can go for help. If you’re by the beach or lake find out any potential hazards, such as sudden deep areas, currents, or low lying obstructions. The more you know, the safer you’ll be.

Backyard Pool Safety

If your cooling off in your backyard pool, keep a cordless phone nearby so you can call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency. You can take a course on CPR and insist any caretakers do too. Enclose the pool with a secure self-locking fence, and keep it clear of furniture to prevent a toddler from climbing over. Also keep toys away from the pool when not in use; toys can attract kids to the pool when you let them play in the yard. Keep safety items near the pool at all times, a rope, pole, and lifejacket are recommended.

Chester's Back!

admin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:07:00 GMT

Written and Illustrated by Mélanie Watt

In this uproarious sequel to Chester, the battle of the picture-book makers continues. Which author-illustrator will come out on top — Chester or Mélanie Watt — is anybody’s guess!

This time, there’s no denying (in Chester’s mind) that he’s the star of the show. His already outsize ego has ballooned even more due to a spate of “fan mail” on the heels of his self-titled debut. As Chester sees it, who needs Melanie Watt when they have Chester? He’s got no shortage of his own storytelling ideas. With heavy paw and red marker, this control-freak cat does not hesitate to commit them to paper. When Chester starts acting far too Hollywood, Melanie calls an open audition to replace the high-maintenance feline. This isn’t a move that Chester will take lying down.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

This is Daniel Cook Making Honey

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:07:00 GMT

Buzz! Buzz! Join Daniel as he visits a bee farm. Learn about different kinds of bees, how they make honey and how a beekeeper gets the honey from the hive. Lucky Daniel also gets a taste test.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

This is Daniel Cook on a Plane

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:05:00 GMT

Up, up and away! Daniel does a flight check, gets the “all clear” and takes off into the big blue sky. Join Daniel as he soars through the clouds and learns all about planes and the history of flight.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

This is Daniel Cook on a Hike

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:02:00 GMT

With his bug spray ready, Daniel’s off on a guided walk through the forest. Insects, animals and plants are just a few of the things to learn about on a nature hike.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

This is Daniel Cook at the Fire Station

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Wee-oooh, wee-oooh, wee-oooh! goes the fire alarm. The firefighters are on the move — and Daniel Cook is right by their side.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

This is Daniel Cook at the Construction Site

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:58:00 GMT

Be careful where you walk, and don’t forget your hard hat! Join Daniel as he visits a construction site and helps workers build a sidewalk. He even gets to help operate a huge backhoe.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

This is Daniel Cook at the Farm

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:34:00 GMT

Mmmm. Daniel gets to drink milk fresh from a cow. He also meets and learns all about sheep, floppy-eared pigs, horses and other farm animals.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

Finger Print Pictures

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Kids love any excuse to get their little fingers messy.
So go ahead! Try making finger print pictures. Just make sure to wash up before they start running around the house.

You'll need:
Ink pad
Paper
colored pencils, crayons, or markers

What to do:
Firmly press finger your tip onto an ink pad and
immediately press onto paper. Using markers, add arms, legs etc. to your creation.

Make theme suggestions like a swimming school of fish, a teddy bear, or a family finger print portrait!

Toothpick Shapes

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:59:00 GMT

You'll Need:
Toothpicks
coloured, mini or regular sized marshmallows, gum drops, or gummies (bears, keys, worms)

What to do:
Insert the toothpicks into the marshmallows. Keep adding marshmallows as connection points to make any shape you wish.

Start by making triangles and squares, then experiment with star, hexagon, pyramid or complex structures like a tall building or a bridge.

Straw Painting

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:58:00 GMT

Who said you need to paintbrushes to paint? All you need is a straw and then BLOW!

Maneuver the paint to go in any direction, by moving your straw.

You'll need :
Straws
Poster or tempera paint
Paper

What to do:
Place drops of paint onto the paper, and blow!
Be sure to line the table with old newspapers to avoid any messy cleanup. Remind children to take a break, to avoid dizziness.

Box Town

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:54:00 GMT

With a bit of help from you, your child can make a play town with your old containers boxes!

You'll Need :
Saved boxes, cartons, etc. ie. Kleenex/cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, egg/juice cartons
Glue or Glue stick
scissors
Construction or wrapping paper
Crayons or markers

Directions:
Cover boxes and cartons with paper, younger children will need help. Carefully cut windows and decorations from construction paper or simply
color to decorate. Help cut doorways and tunnels.
Now it's ready for play!

For more fun, make cone trees out of green paper and let your child create their own store and road signs with their own name! This town works well with toy figures and cars.

Shake it up Chocolate Pudding!

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:45:00 GMT

Get your kids involved in making their own serving of a favourite snack. This chocolate pudding is fun and easy to make, let your kids jump around and they’ll love watching it change right before their eyes.

What you’ll need:

empty baby food jars
milk
instant chocolate pudding

What to do:
Fill the baby food jar ¾ full with milk.
Add a teaspoon of instant chocolate pudding.
Get your child to shake the pudding jar.
When they’re all tired out you can sit down and enjoy!

Ice Cream Creatures

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:41:00 GMT

Need to a cool treat to beat the heat? Have fun creating an ice cream creature!

What you’ll need:
small brownie ie. Two bite brownies
ice cream
m&m’s
peanuts
raisins
tringy licorice, cut in 1-3 inch lengths
chocolate sauce
spinkles

What to do:
Cut the brownie in half for feet.
Place a scoop of ice cream over the two brownie halves.
Add m&m’s for eyes.
se chocolate sauce, peanuts, raisins, sprinkles, or licorice as hair.

Butterfly Bites

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:36:00 GMT

Have fun playing with your food! Your kids will love making these cute butterfly snacks flutter around before they land in their mouth.

What you’ll need:

celery, cut 2-3 inches long
twist pretzels
stick pretzels
peanut butter or cream cheese

What to do:
Spread the peanut butter in the celery.
Stick 2 twist pretzels in the peanut butter to make the wings.
Add 2 stick pretzels as antennae.

Yogurt Berry Granola Cups

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:33:00 GMT

Make a colourful healthy snack. Kids will enjoy seeing and eating the different colours and layers of their creations!

What you’ll need:

clear cup
different flavours of yogurt: strawberry, blueberry, vanilla, etc.
granola cereal -berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries

What to do:
Give each child their own clear cup, so they can see the different layers.
Let your child alternate layers of berries and granola with a dollop of yogurt to separate them. Then enjoy!

Summer Medley Edible Art

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:24:00 GMT

Want a fun way to enjoy healthy fruits and veggies? It’s simple! Just play with your food.

What you’ll need:

toothpicks with two pointed ends
veggies normally eaten raw: broccoli florets, cauliflower, celery, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots
or you can use fruits: strawberries, blueberries, grapes, orange chunks, apple chunks, pear wedges, pineapple, bananas, peach wedges

What to do:

Set the veggies or fruits on a table for the children to select from.
Let them skewer their choice onto toothpicks to make their own picture or sculpture.
Then, of course, eat your creations! You may be surprised at how many kids who normally refuse to eat veggies will chow down on their art!

Chester

admin — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:39:00 GMT

Written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt

Chester is more than a picture book. It is a story told, and retold, by dueling author-illustrators.

Mélanie Watt starts out with the story of a mouse in a house. Then Mélanie's cat, Chester, sends the mouse packing and proceeds to cover the pages with rewrites from his red marker, and the gloves are off.

Mélanie and her mouse won't take Chester's antics lying down. And Chester is obviously a creative powerhouse with confidence to spare. Where will this war of the picture-book makers lead? Is it a one-way ticket to Chesterville, or will Mélanie get her mouse production off the ground?

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

admin — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:09:00 GMT

Here's a tasty sweet and salty treat. You and your preschooler will have fun making, and eating them. Most of all deciding who gets to lick the bowl clean!

Ingredients:

chocolate chips, white or milk chocolate
1 pkg pretzels
optional: sprinkles

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler, stirring constantly. Dip pretzel half-way or all the way, remove with a fork. Place on wax paper or parchment paper to cool. Sprinkle sprinkles before chocolate hardens. Place in refrigerator to cool.

Raisin ABC's

admin — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Here's an easy and educational treat. You and your preschooler will have fun making and eating.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. rice cakes
peanut butter or cream cheese
raisins or dried cranberries

Spread peanut butter or cream cheese on the rice cakes. Use raisins or dried cranberries to make letters on the rice cakes.

A few ideas:
You can decorate rice cakes with letters and ask your child to match the rice cakes that have the same letters.
Ask your children to name the letters on their rice cakes.
Ask your child to hand you a rice cake with a certain letter on it.

Bugs on a Log

admin — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:54:00 GMT

Here's a healthy treat that's fun to eat, and it's quick to prepare.

Ingredients:

celery cut into 4" lengths
peanut butter
raisins

Spread peanut butter in celery and arrange the raisins on top.

Touch It!

admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:05:00 GMT

Written by Adrienne Mason Illustrated by Claudia Dávila

Developed with the cooperation of a science consultant, these books are a tool to teach the physical sciences to young children. Move It! and Touch It! follow science curricula in the largest Canadian provinces. Each book is loaded with surprising facts and hands-on activities designed to hold young readers’ interest and tap into their fascination with the everyday world.

Touch It! explores materials — their colour, shape, texture, size, mass, magnetism and more.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

Move It!

admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:02:00 GMT

Written by Adrienne Mason Illustrated by Claudia Dávila

Developed with the cooperation of a science consultant, these books are a tool to teach the physical sciences to young children. Move It! and Touch It! follow science curricula in the largest Canadian provinces. Each book is loaded with surprising facts and hands-on activities designed to hold young readers’ interest and tap into their fascination with the everyday world.

Move It! explores the physics of why and how things move.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

Once Upon a Dragon

admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:58:00 GMT

Written by Jean E. Pendziwol Illustrated by Martine Gourbault

After a thump-bumping ride on a slide, a little girl and her dragon friend find themselves inside a fairy-tale book. The stories are familiar, and there’s lots of silly fun as the Dragon is transformed into fairy-tale characters. But danger lurks in the form of strangers — including the hungry wolf from Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White’s evil stepmother. And it’s up to the girl to keep an eye on the dragon, who walks alone through deep dark woods and takes treats from people he doesn’t know. Little by little, the girl teaches her irrepressible friend to be careful about strangers.

The winning combination of fairy-tale adventure and concrete safety information — including the Dragon’s Stranger Safety Rhyme and the checklist of rules at the end of the book — provide the perfect starting point for discussions with children about stranger safety.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

Who Likes the Snow?

admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:56:00 GMT

Written by Etta Kaner Illustrated by Marie Lafrance

Snow — it crunches when we walk on it, floats down like feathers onto our faces and makes our sleds zoom. But what is snow? And how does it transform the world around us?

With a wonderful sense of movement and colour, this unique book invites children to explore their world with delight and curiosity. Young readers will open the flaps to find the science of snow and related topics clearly explained. Inside, they will discover why snow is white, what snowflakes look like up close, how snow makes the night brighter and much more.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.