Author: Brittney

Toddler Letters – “I” is for “Ice”

Brittney
Letter I Craft - Toddler/Preshooler letter of the week craft I is for Ice with related craft, tracing sheets and fruits/vegetables.

Supplies Needed:

  • Blue Craft Paper
  • White Letter “I” Cutout
  • Food Coloring
  • Ice Cube Tray
  • Glue
  • Markers
  • Paper Towels
  • Scissors

Toddler/Preshooler letter of the week craft I is for Ice with related craft, tracing sheets and fruits/vegetables. Set Up:

I started a day ahead of time by filling an ice cube tray with water and few drops of food coloring so that we would have different colors of ice.

I cut out our “I’s” and, with a pencil, I drew little boxes along it so it would look like stacked ice blocks… (though once we started coloring our “I’s” the lines pretty much faded away).  Then I popped out the colored ice cubes and put them in a small dish.  We took out the different colored ice cubes and rubbed them across our paper “I’s”, painting with the dyed ice.

A couple of things to note. I tried to freeze tooth picks in my ice cubes, so we would have something to hold, but didn’t have a lot of luck getting them to stay.  It would have been nice to have something to hold the ice cubes with besides our hands because the ice was cold and the dye was colorful.  We ended up holding the ice cubes with little strips of paper towel to “paint”.

I rubbed my ice really fast along my “I” and I got more of a speckled look, my son took bunch of ice cubes and laid them out over his “I” and he got more of a blended colorful look.

When we were finished we let our I’s dry then glued them to our paper.

While we waited for them to dry we talked about different things that are cold.

Toddler/Preshooler letter of the week craft I is for Ice with related craft, tracing sheets and fruits/vegetables.

Tracing Letters:

Have you made this craft?  What was your experience like and do you have an suggestions to make it better?  I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below.

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Toddler A-Z – 100 Objects That Start with the Letter “F”

Brittney
Big List of Objects and Things that start with Letter FA group of my friends started doing something we are calling Toddler Time and each week we choose a letter to focus on.  I realized that finding objects that start with the letter of the week can be a challenge and I thought it might be helpful to have a long list of “F” letter objects them on hand.  If I’ve missed something drop me a note in the comments, I would be thrilled to add even more letter “F” objects.
Disclosure: I want to give you a heads up that this blog does use affiliate links (which means I make a percentage of the sale if you buy something) and this post might be sponsored or contain affiliate links. In either case please know all opinions are my own.

  1. Fable: a short fictional story, typically with animals as characters, that teaches a moral lesson
  2. Fabric: cloth or material made by weaving or knitting fibers together
  3. Face: the front part of the head, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks
  4. Factory: a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled on a large scale
  5. Fairy: a mythical creature often depicted as having magical powers and wings, typically portrayed as small and delicate
  6. Falafel: a Middle Eastern dish made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, spices, and herbs, formed into balls or patties and fried or baked
  7. Falcon: a bird of prey with long, pointed wings and a hooked beak, known for its speed and agility in flight
  8. Family: a group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption who live together and share common values and responsibilities
  9. Fan: a device or contraption used to create a current of air, often used for cooling or ventilation purposes
  10. Farm: a piece of land used for cultivating crops and raising livestock, typically managed by a farmer or a group of farmers
  11. Faun: a mythical creature from Roman mythology, often depicted as a half-human, half-goat entity associated with nature and fertility
  12. Feather: any of the flat appendages that cover a bird’s body, providing insulation, lift for flight, and decoration
  13. Feet: the lower extremities of the legs, used for standing, walking, and running
  14. Feijoa (Tropical Fruit): a fruit native to South America, also known as pineapple guava, with a green, aromatic flesh and a sweet-tart flavor
  15. Felt: a type of fabric made from compressed fibers, often used for crafts and as a lining material
  16. Fennel: a flowering plant with feathery leaves and an edible bulb-like base, often used as a herb or vegetable
  17. Fern: a type of non-flowering plant that reproduces through spores and typically has feathery or lacy leaves
  18. Ferret: a domesticated carnivorous mammal, related to the weasel, often kept as a pet or used for hunting rodents
  19. Feta: a salty, crumbly cheese made from sheep’s or goat’s milk, typically associated with Mediterranean cuisine
  20. Fettuccine Alfredo: a pasta dish made with fettuccine noodles tossed in a rich, creamy Parmesan cheese sauce
  21. Fiddle: a stringed musical instrument played with a bow, typically associated with traditional folk music
  22. Fig Newtons: a brand of filled cookies made with a soft, cake-like exterior and a sweet fig filling
  23. Fighter Pilot: a military aviator trained in combat tactics and techniques for aerial warfare
  24. Figs: a sweet, pear-shaped fruit with a soft flesh and a thin skin, often associated with Mediterranean cuisine
  25. Film: a thin, flexible sheet or strip of photographic material used for taking photographs or recording moving images
  26. Finch: a small seed-eating songbird, typically known for its colorful plumage and melodious song
  27. Finger: one of the five digits on the hand, used for grasping and manipulating objects
  28. Fins: the thin, flat, paddle-like structures on the body of a fish or other aquatic animal, used for propulsion and stability in water
  29. Fire: the rapid chemical reaction of a combustible material with oxygen, typically characterized by flames, heat, and the emission of smoke
  30. Fire Engine: a specialized vehicle equipped with firefighting equipment, used to transport firefighters and to extinguish fires
  31. Fire Extinguisher: a portable device used to control and extinguish small fires by releasing a fire-suppressing agent (e.g., foam, water, or gas)
  32. Fire Fighter: a person who is trained and employed to extinguish fires and perform firefighting duties
  33. Fire Hose: a large, flexible tube used to carry water or fire-retardant chemicals from a fire hydrant or fire engine to extinguish fires
  34. Fire Hydrant: a valve or outlet in a public water supply system, typically located in the street, used by firefighters to access water for extinguishing fires
  35. Fire Pit: a structure or container designed for containing and safely burning fires, often used for warmth, cooking, or recreational purposes
  36. Fish: a vertebrate animal that lives in water, typically with gills for breathing and fins for swimming
  37. Fish Bowl: a glass or plastic container used for keeping fish as pets, typically filled with water and equipped with a filtration system
  38. Fish Shaped Crackers (aka Goldfish Crackers): bite-sized cheese crackers shaped like a fish.
  39. Fishing Pole: A long, slender rod used for catching fish.
  40. Fish Sticks: Breaded and fried pieces of fish.
  41. Fisher: A person who catches fish for a living or as a hobby.
  42. Five: The number between four and six.
  43. Five Dollar Bill: A U.S. currency note with a denomination of five dollars.
  44. Flag: A piece of fabric with distinctive colors and design used as a symbol, often representing a country or organization.
  45. Flame: The visible, gaseous part of a fire.
  46. Flamingo: A large, wading bird with long legs and a distinctive pink coloration.
  47. Flan: A baked custard dessert, often topped with caramel sauce.
  48. Flannel: A soft woven fabric, usually made of wool or cotton, with a slightly fuzzy texture.
  49. Flapjack: A thick pancake, typically made with flour, eggs, and milk.
  50. Flashlight: A portable, battery-operated device that produces a focused beam of light.
  51. Flatbread: A thin, unleavened bread often used as a base for toppings or fillings.
  52. Fleece: A soft, warm fabric made from synthetic fibers or the wool of sheep.
  53. Flint: A hard, sedimentary rock used to produce sparks for starting fires.
  54. Floor: The lower surface of a room or building, on which people walk.
  55. Floor Board: A plank of wood used to construct the flooring of a building.
  56. Floor Lamp: A tall, freestanding lamp that provides lighting in a room.
  57. Floss: A thin thread used for cleaning between teeth.
  58. Flounder: A type of fish, known for its flat body and both eyes located on one side of the head.
  59. Flour: A powdery substance obtained by grinding grains, used as a basic ingredient in baking.
  60. Flouta: A wind instrument consisting of a long tube with holes, typically made of wood or metal.
  61. Flower: The reproductive structure of a flowering plant, often brightly colored and fragrant.
  62. Flute: A musical instrument in the woodwind family, played by blowing air across a hole in a tube.
  63. Fly: An insect with two wings and often associated with buzzing and landing on surfaces.
  64. Flying Fox: A type of large bat found in tropical areas, known for its ability to fly long distances.
  65. Flying Squirrel: A type of squirrel that has the ability to glide through the air using flaps of skin between its limbs.
  66. Foal: A young horse, usually less than one year old.
  67. Foam: A mass of small bubbles formed on or in liquid, often used in mattresses, cushions, or insulation materials.
  68. Fondue: A dish in which small pieces of food are dipped into a communal pot of melted cheese, chocolate, or hot oil.
  69. Fondue Pot: A pot specifically designed for use in fondue, with a mechanism to keep the contents warm.
  70. Food: Any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism.
  71. Fool’s Gold: Iron pyrite, a mineral that resembles gold but has no actual value.
  72. Football: A team sport played with an oval-shaped ball, typically involving two teams of eleven players.
  73. Fork: A utensil with two or more prongs used for lifting or eating food.
  74. Formula: A prescribed set of instructions, often used in scientific or mathematical contexts.
  75. Fort: A fortified structure or building, typically used for defense or military purposes.
  76. Fortune Cookie: A crisp cookie with a hidden message or prediction inside.
  77. Fossils: Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms embedded in rock.
  78. Four: The number between three and five.
  79. Fowl: Any domesticated bird, especially one raised for food.
  80. Fox: A small carnivorous mammal of the dog family, known for its cunning and distinctive bushy tail.
  81. Frame: A rigid structure that provides support or enclosure for something.
  82. Frankfurter: A seasoned, smoked sausage often referred to as a hot dog or frank.
  83. Freckle: A small, pigmented spot on the skin, usually caused by sun exposure.
  84. French Bread: A long, narrow loaf of bread with a crispy crust and soft interior.
  85. French Fries: Deep-fried, elongated strips of potatoes, typically served as a side dish.
  86. French Onion Soup: A soup made with caramelized onions, often topped with melted cheese and served with a crusty bread.
  87. French Toast: Bread slices soaked in a mixture of beaten eggs and milk, then fried until golden brown.
  88. Fried Rice: A dish made by stir-frying cooked rice with various ingredients, such as vegetables, meat, and soy sauce.
  89. Frisbee: A lightweight, disc-shaped toy that is thrown and caught for entertainment or sport.
  90. Frog: An amphibian that typically has long hind legs for leaping and a smooth, moist skin.
  91. Frost: A thin layer of ice crystals that forms on surfaces when water vapor freezes.
  92. Frosting: A sweet mixture that is spread on cakes or other baked goods to add flavor and decoration.
  93. Fruit: The edible reproductive part of a flowering plant, typically containing seeds and having a sweet or tart taste.
  94. Fruit Cake: A dense cake filled with candied or dried fruits and nuts, often soaked in alcohol.
  95. Fruit Cup: A serving of assorted fresh or canned fruits, typically served in a small container or cup.
  96. Fruit Roll Ups: A type of sweet snack made from pureed fruit that has been dried and rolled into a sheet.
  97. Fruit Salad: A mixture of various chopped or sliced fruits, often served as a dessert or side dish.
  98. Fruit Snack: A small, sweet snack made from fruit puree or fruit juice concentrate, often in the form of gummies or chewy bars.
  99. Fudge: A sweet, soft candy made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream, often flavored with chocolate or other ingredients.
  100. Funnel: A cone-shaped utensil with a narrow tube, used for pouring liquids or powders into containers with small openings.
  101. Fur: The soft, thick hair covering the skin of certain animals, often used to make clothing or accessories.
  102. Furnace: A device that generates heat or produces hot air, typically used for heating a building or powering industrial processes.
  103. Furniture: Moveable objects such as chairs, tables, and cabinets that are used to make a space suitable for living or working.
  104. Fuchsia: A vivid purplish-red color often seen in flowers or dyes, named after the fuchsia plant.
  105. Futon: A Japanese-style mattress that can be folded or rolled up and used as a sofa or bed.

Learning Letter F - 100 things that start with letter F for preschoolers and teaching toddlers

Can you think of any other letter “F” words?  If so please comment and let me know, I’d love to get them added to the list.

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7 Things You Need to Know About Visiting The Rhode Island Newport Mansions with Kids

Brittney
If you live in the Boston area one thing you really have to see are the Rhode Island Newport Mansions.  It’s not to bad of a drive (2 hours from Boston) and the mansions are like nothing I’d ever seen before.

You can get tickets to see a whole bunch of mansions from the Preservation Society of Newport County but if you only have time to see one… or really the one you have to see is the Vanderbilt Summer Cottage.. which is about as far from a cottage as I can imagine.

7 Things You Need to Know About Visiting The Rhode Island Newport Mansions with Kids

The Vanderbilt mansion is huge and the Vanderbilt’s spared no expense when building it. They were part of New York’s elite Millionaire club and the home was built in the late 1800’s for a sweet $11 million.  We found out that a wall in one of the rooms was made of platinum,  the ceiling of the study had gold pressed over leather to give it a decorative texture of books and on the lower floor most of the rooms had rich gold and marble ornamentation.

I wish they would have allowed pictures inside because it was amazingly lavish.  At least I got some good ones of the outside and the incredible yard/lawn they had.  It was huge and went right to the cliffs edge, and was very very enviable.

After seeing the house we walked around the garden and finally ended our trip by walking along the Breakers cliff walk (thankfully most of it was fenced in).

Breakers Newport Mansion

Things to Note:

1) Price
The prices vary, but it’s a fairly expensive tour.  You can see 5 of the Newport mansions for $30/Adult, $11/children ages 6-17 (children under 6 are free)

To just see the Breakers $21/Adult, $7/children ages 6-17 (children under 6 are free)

2) Tour Options
At the Breakers you have the option of touring the place via audio tour.  There is an adult version and child version… personally I thought the child version was more entertaining, though you will learn slightly different things depending on what tour you listen to.

3) Stroller Friendliness
Zero amount stroller friendly.  They don’t even have a place for you to check a stroller should you bring one and instead ask you to leave it your car.  The reasoning being that they are abrasive and damaging to the historic surfaces.  :/  This was kind of lame since I ended up having to carry my giant two year old all around the place to make sure that he didn’t run under the velvet ropes to touch all the off limits things.

4) Child Friendliness
Children are welcome at the Newport Mansions, but if you have younger children you’ll need to keep a close eye on them since many parts of the mansion are only roped off by velvet ropes.  We went with a friend and she ended up having to chase her young daughter across those off limits sections…

5) Parking
There is free parking available right out side the front of the Breakers and most of the other mansion as easily within walking distance from there.

Breakers Newport Mansion Yard Green

6) Green space
After you tour the mansions you’ll definitely want to tour the gardens and lawns, they are huge, amazing and a great place for kiddos to get some energy out after having to be hands off during the tour.

7) Photography
None of the mansions allow you to take pictures inside of them, but you can take all the pictures you want of the outsides and gardens.

8) Cliff Walk
There is an amazing cliff walk that runs along the backside of the mansions, most of it has bars preventing young ones from getting too near the cliffs and we really enjoyed the scenic view, but again you’ll want to keep a close eye on your tots.  Also the cliff walk is a couple of miles long, if you did happen to bring a stroller this is where you would want to use it.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Summary & Rating ★★★★☆

Four Stars.  Honestly I thought that being able to see and tour a mansion of this caliber was incredible, if only it wasn’t so dang expensive!  I found myself fascinated seeing the lavish decor used in something as trivial as a summer home… one that was only used for a handful of years and to be able to imagine what it would have been like to live such a life style.  I feel like the opportunities to see this kind of wealth are fairly limited and in my opinion it was totally worth experiencing.

Newport Mansions (The Breakers Mansion)
44 Ochre Point Avenue
Newport, RI 02840

Phone: 401-847-1000
Website: http://www.newportmansions.org/explore/the-breakers
Hours: Vary

Review – Begin Again Toys Wooden Dinosaur A-Z Puzzle

Brittney
I adore wooden toys. I love how resilient they are.  They don’t fade or break, they have a little bit of substance when you hold them in your hand, and they last forever! By forever, I’m talking generations. My grandma has a freestanding wooden elephant puzzle in her house with about four pieces. (It’s white and was a white elephant gift.  Ha!) Growing up my cousins and I loved playing with it. It was always out around the house, and as I grew older the silly elephant stuck around. The only up keep it needed was a paint job every now and then because the white started to look a bit dingy with so many little hands carrying it around, but it never broke and it never grew old. Twenty years later my grandma still has that puzzle!
I first saw BeginAgain Toys as part of a Zulily promotion for wooden toys. Since I already love the idea of wooden toys I was enthralled with the whole list of toys but I was absolutely mesmerized by the BeginAgain Puzzles. I was hit with a wave of nostalgia seeing the free standing animal family puzzles (they even have an elephant!) and pulled in by the beauty and simplicity of their designs. The patterns on their puzzles are unique, the painting is colorful, and they’ve made them even better learning tools by having numbered or lettered pieces on some of the puzzles (uppercase and lowercase depending on the side of the puzzle you’re looking at).
Plus I can really get behind the BeginAgain company and their “Workshop Rules” aka moto for toys:
  1. Kids are the true noisemakers!
    – No batteries, no electronics, ever!
  2. Share your ideas, then build
    – Collaborate, share, and build in partnership.
  3. Don’t leave a mess
    – Take OIL out of play, use plant based materials whenever possible and always reduce, recycle, and seek improvement.
  4. Great products have greater purpose
    – BeginAgain gives 1% to the community.
These puzzles are fairly expensive ranging from $10-$30, but my grandmas puzzles had lasted through multiple generations and these puzzles looked like they were built for the same kind of multi generational love.  To me it seemed worth the price.  And so we got the wooden alphabet dinosaur puzzle.  A puzzle I knew was a little advanced for my young son, but it seemed like a puzzle he could grow into and one that I could use as a teaching tool in a lot of different ways as he did. 
The puzzle came with a nice wooden tray, great for storing the pieces in when the puzzle if finished or still in pieces (though I wish the tray had a lid…). One side of the puzzle has capital letters the other side has lowercase letters so your child has a chance to learn both, and the puzzle can be built face up, face down or standing on it’s feet.
The puzzle is well crafted and the pieces are solid and easy to put together. I was a little surprised by the difficulty of the puzzle, I thought it would be a breeze since it’s more or less alphabetized, but I think I relied on the alphabet a little too much and it took me a try or two to piece the thing back together. I thought it was surprisingly fun to piece together and I really love how big the pieces are the 3D feel of the puzzle.
My son LOVED that this was a dinosaur! But the actual puzzle part was still a bit beyond his ability. While he wasn’t able to build the puzzle, but he did get a good chance to work on his fine motor skills as I helped him piece little bits of it together and he had a blast identifying the different letters on the pieces and sorting the colored shapes into piles. And the great thing about puzzle is, it’s wood, it’s not going to fade or break and we can play with it all over again when he’s ready to start piecing the whole thing together.

Begin Again toys wooden puzzles review

Begin Again toys wooden puzzles review
I guess I really got this puzzle in part for me.  On their website they have a whole range of puzzle, many with much more simple pieces (like the cat puzzle pictured above). I have a feeling that my two year old would have had a lot more success piecing those together.. and possibly also enjoyed being able to play with the individual cat pieces in the process.

They have a butterfly that is a tint but more intense than my dinosaur puzzle suggested for 5 year olds, a food assortment puzzle (Alphabites) that is suggest for 3+, and adorable wooden block puzzles for 18+ months. The Alphabites Puzzle, has pieces shaped like a bunch of food, and when all the pieces are removed from the tray, the tray is shaped like a serving tray, complete with plate and napkin and the flip side of the tray is shaved like a stove top! It sounds like some fantastic, dual use play food to me.



BeginAgain Puzzle Pros: 
  • Super Sturdy Puzzle
  • Duel Use Puzzle 
  • Brightly Colored 
  • Made Sustainably 
  • Teaching Tool
  • Easy to Hold Pieces 

BeginAgain Puzzle Cons: 
  • Expensive
  • The storage box doesn’t have a lid
Anyway.  I’ve been really happy with my puzzle.  It’s as awesome as it looks and it’s fun to build.  I really think these puzzles and this company is worth checking out! See more BeginAgain Toys on: 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

We love puzzles at our house, if you’ve come across any great or unique ones please tell me more about them in the comments section,

Touring Boston – What to Know About Visiting the USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) with Kids

Brittney
The Freedom Trail is pretty well split into two parts, the city part, where everything is pretty close together – you can easily see many famous buildings in a short amount of time, and the monument part (I guess I’ll call it?)…

To get to this second half/monument part you walk away from the main city, over a huge bridge and then are rewarded by seeing the USS Constitution and the Beacon Hill Monument, which are fairly close together.

Touring Boston - What to Know About Visiting the USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) with Kids

The USS Constitution, or Old Iron Side, is the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy.  In order to keep her title she has to sail at least one nautical mile every year, so on Independent Day they sail her half a mile out into the harbor and half a mile back in. She was also named by President George Washington after the constitution of the United States.

USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) plaque

The ship was incredible, and fierce.  It totally looked like a pirate ship, and you could walk onto it and see the different levels.  Mostly I just felt like barking orders and saying “Land Ho” which my husband might have found a little obnoxious.  🙂

In any case being able to walk all over the ship and explore it’s nooks and crannies was something I had been missing out on and is easily my new favorite part of the Freedom Trail.

Things to Note:

USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) rigging

1) Price
Free… with a suggested donation.  This amazing ship is sitting in the harbor just waiting to be visited by you and yours at whatever price you fancy… or don’t fancy.  You can walk through the gift/shop museum, then past the navy officers stations at the ship right onto the boat.  No charge, but an amazing chance to walk around a very cool ship.

2) Identification
Because this is still a navel ship they require some form of identification for anyone over 18.  This can be in the form of a passport, driver’s license, or state issued ID, and you will have to pass through a security check.

3) Stroller Friendliness
You can bring your stroller through the gift shop, but not onto the ship.  We were able to leave ours with one of the navy people stationed outside the gift shop and we carried our son onto the ship.  It makes a lot of sense since once you’re on the ship there is no space for a stroller and it would be impossible or at least very dangerous to try to bring one up and down the steep ship stairs.

USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) boat ship

4) Child Friendliness
Yes!  They love kids and they love seeing children being able to explore the ship.  There are giant wheels to see, cannons, port holes and all sorts of interesting things to touch, but you will be on a ship so you’ll want to keep an eye on your little ones to make sure they don’t try to climb on anything to dangerous.

5) Parking
Off street parking is available at the Nautica Parking Garage, located at 88 Constitution Road, Charlestown, MA 02129 (Validation is available at the museum and the National Park Service Visitors Center). The Museum is few minutes walk from the garage. Street and metered parking are available around the area.

USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) boat ship

Summary and Rating: ★★★★★

Five Stars. I thought this ship was amazing!  I loved being able to walk around and both touch and see it, and being able to do it all at the price I choose was great.  The ship was amazing and though my son was fairly little at the time I think he is only going to be more and more interested in seeing it as he grows older.  I would highly suggest walking the second half of the Freedom Trail to experience this gem.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

USS Constitution, or Old Iron Side
Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22
Charlestown, MA 02129

Phone: 617.426.1812
Website: https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ 

 Museum Hours 
 April 01 – October 31 Open Daily | 9:00 – 6:00
 November 01 – March 31 Open Daily | 10:00 – 5:00

USS Constitution Hours 
October 1 – October 28 Open Tuesday – Friday | 2:30 – 5:00 Open Saturday – Sunday | 10:00 – 5:00 Closed Mondays
October 29 – March 13 Open Saturday & Sunday | 10:00 – 4:00* Closed Monday – Friday, *Last tour leaves at 3:30