Features of Children’s Easels

Posted by gmirage1 on Jan 2, 2012 in Learning | 1 comment

Parents, teachers and others who care for children often seek ways to encourage creativity in their little ones. Children’s easels can inspire them to draw, paint and let their imaginations soar. When shopping for children’s easels, there are several features from which to choose.

For instance, some artist easels have large rolls of paper that hang above the top. Kids can draw, paint, write or scribble to their hearts’ content. When their masterpiece is complete, Mom or Dad can simply snip or tear the paper above the artwork and then pull down enough clean paper for them to start again. Other easels use large pads of paper that clip to the stands. After a child has finished sketching or doodling, he can tear off the page and access a fresh one with ease. Still other children’s easels use a single sheet of paper at a time that connects to the top of the frame. This prevents paint or markers from seeping through and marring other pages.

If you hate the idea of having to purchase and throw away paper again and again, there are other types of children’s easels that you might prefer. For instance, you might opt for a chalkboard on a tripod. Provide your little ones with a variety of colored chalk and an eraser for hours of unlimited creativity.

Likewise, dry erase easels are available as well. Kids can draw, practice writing and play games such as hangman. When they are done, they can wipe off their work and start anew with very little effort. These easels do have a couple of drawbacks, though. Young children might not be ready to use dry erase markers, which can stain clothing, furniture and walls. In addition, if a child accidentally uses the wrong type of marker, the easel may be ruined as well.

Since there are many features available, selecting the best children’s easels can be tough. One way to go is to choose a double-sided children’s easel. Not only will these allow two kids to draw or color at one time, but they provide different features as well. For instance, one side might be a chalkboard and the other a whiteboard, allowing little ones to sketch with chalk while an older sibling doodles using dry erase markers. Some easels are magnetic on one or both sides, offering three features in one.

flickr.com/photos/beatrix_honey

Summer that was Gone

Posted by gmirage1 on Dec 15, 2011 in Three | 3 comments

It’s funny whenever I dig into my archives of photos of the summer that was gone I’ll see how these three would look so sweaty and sunburned with unruly hair. Though it’s but natural and knowing that they enjoyed the summer, I’m good with it.

Kids clothing sizes

Posted by gmirage1 on Dec 8, 2011 in Kids Outfits | 4 comments

 When hubby left for the US we never talked about what he should buy the kids or what he should buy me. He was too work-indulged, I was too worried about his 3 weeks absence. So when there he kept uploading photos of kids clothes (like those below) and made me choose for the kids. He kept asking their sizes. I gave him their sizes, in European standards and he was like, “find the US equivalent!” I found an online kids clothing size chart and sent him detail by detail the kids’ sizes.

I was swooning over the photos seeing the price tag – much lower than the prices of kids clothing here and when I convert it gets even lower. They have a wider range of designs too…makes me want at that time to fly where hubby is.

Hubby came home with perhaps enough for 2 years to last. I’m grateful since having three kids to dress up isn’t necessarily cheap. ^_^ The ones for son1 may be bigger for now but still looks good on him. Little boy got a lot more toys, bonnet than clothes.

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School Ship (Schulschiff)

Posted by gmirage1 on Dec 5, 2011 in Schooling | 18 comments

Bertha von Suttner is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, receiving it in 1905 for her book, Die Waffen Nieder/Lay Down your Arms. The Schulschiff in Vienna, docked at the Danube was named after her and just as the book’s name suggest, despite being an international school in its own right, you can feel the  camaraderie of students when you enter. These students have parents coming from different countries yet here, there’s no blue, no black, no red, no yellow for them.

Friday was somewhat a bit colder than usual with the weather hitting -1° a first time for this season. Bundled up we braved the cold, boarded the tram and off we went to the school. Dawty will move up to a higher school next year so we were looking for schools around. We tagged the boys along because they thought it’s such a cool place to see. It is!

The exterior is every inch a ship, there was even another ship that passed by while we were in one of the rooms – craft/home economics room. Too cool! But what’s cooler is the reception we received from both the students and the faculty. They were all accommodating, answering questions school-related or otherwise.

Two students of the fifth grade toured as around the ship, showing us the more important rooms – library, computer room, gym, cafeteria, faculty area, and the music room among others. We were also showed and brought to some of the classes while the “tour guides” share their own anecdotes.

After the tour we were told that kids could participate in activities in assigned rooms. All three were given passes which will be stamped if they finish a task. We first got into surprisingly, French room. ^_^ The two older kids had to match the names of animals with the pictures—in French. It was a good thing that the names are a bit the same with their Spanish and English counterparts. They went to the next table and did numbers with little boy joining in…it’s a good thing he is taught by his siblings well, he answered quite well too.

We later on went to the library, the computer room, the craft room and made lots of stuff. Will tell you about those on our other blog. Notice the colorful stool – it has been painted by kids.

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Family Time, Wednesday Whites