Earth Day 3.0 - sticky Earth

Today we have made another fun Earth related activity:

It was a sudden idea so I didn't do the preparation myself. It was a real whole-family task.

What you need:

- contact or sticky paper (here in Hungary you can buy it as the sticky cover for school books)
- green and blue crepe paper
- scissors
- permanent marker (preferably blue)

Optional for the letters:

- green cardboard strips

While I was drawing the continents on the transparent side of the sticky paper my dear family were cutting the crepe paper into tiny pieces. Then we fixed the sticky sheet on the wall and pulled the paper off.

Sticking could start. Green went on the land and blue on the seas and oceans.

It took a while and we needed to help E. She wouldn't have had patience and persistence to do it all alone.

When we finished, E. stuck the letters up. We directed her how to put the letters. Although we did this activity in Hungarian I chose to put on the English word for our planet as it would have been awfully difficult to cut out the accents in 'FÖLD' in Hungarian.

HAPPY

DAY!!!

Earth Day - Painting Crafts

Before the recycling activity we had done some Earth related crafts like this mess-free zip-lock bag painting. Even very small kids can enjoy pressing the paint into all directions.

What you need:

- a plastic bag that can be sealed (I used Ikea bags)
- a paper plate
- green and blue paint

Process:

- put the paint on the paper plate (I put a little more blue than green as there is more water than land)
- place the paper plate (very carefully) into the plastic bag and seal it
- seal the bag

Your child will know what to do right away, I'm sure. If not, tell him or her to press and see how the paint will move everywhere.

E. realised how much more she can spread the paint with the edge of her hand.

The first plate had too much paint on so we pressed it against another paper plate. Although it is called a MESS-FREE painting method, with this change everything became grubby.

I used leftover baby paint so it was easy to clean up.

E. enjoyed it so much we needed to paint one more Earth.

Here is the final result:

Another activity was dot-marker painting of Planet Earth. Click here to download it for free.

I searched for a picture of Earth and I made white dots on land and sea as well.

I wasn't surprised at all that she started to count the dots while she was painting them the right colour.

We ended up writing the numbers and Earth next the Globe. E. traced my numbers and letters. This is her new "hobby". As you can see she stamped some hearts all around Earth, because:
- I love you Mommy, and the Earth, too.

You can find more ideas of Earth day fun and crafts on my Pinterest board.

Earth Day - recycling

April is dedicated to paying more attention to our planet, Earth. 22 April is Earth Day so we did some activities both in English and Hungarian to "celebrate OUR Earth" - as E. has put it modestly.

While we were painting, drawing and selecting we used plenty of special phrases. I'll put together a word list concerning Earth Day and recycling in one of my upcoming Earth related posts.

 But now, in this post, here comes some selective rubbish collection fun:

Preparation:

1. I prepared 5 boxes (4 shoe boxes and a blue, IKEA box)
2. Then I printed, coloured (you can print the bins on coloured paper) and stuck the bins with different labels (plastic, glass metal, paper) on the side of the shoe boxes.
3. I selected some rubbish items from our recycling bins:
   - beer cans
   - tins
   - a milk and juice carton
   - scraps of paper
   - magazines
   - a glass olives jar
   - a cider bottle (glass)
   - plastic bags
   - bottle tops and plastic bottles
   - yogurt cups (etc.)
4. I placed the rubbish in the blue box.
5. I let E. do the selecting.

First, she was checking what is what, which went with several questions.

She didn't really know how to make a difference between the different materials although she had been helping sort out the rubbish in our everyday life.

So I asked her a few questions and showed her the actions at the same time:
- Can you crumple it up? (And I was crumpling up a piece of paper)
- Can you tear it? (tearing a piece of the magazine's cover)
- Is it flexible? (I was smashing a yogurt cup)
- Is it hard? (knocking my finger against the glass)

She was copying me while I was showing her crumpling, tearing or smashing.

And she got the hang of it:

I also mentioned to her that we need to flatten the cartons so she tried it.

Having finished we took the boxes to our selective bins and put them in their designated places.

E. was really excited about recycling and rubbish selection. Before dinner she wanted to watch "recycling videos". And she did. Here they are:

Peppa Pig - recycling

Betsy's Happy Earth Day

Mother Goose Club - Earth is our home

What is recycling for children? - HooplaKidz

Happy Earth Day, Everybody!

FAQ

In the last couple of weeks I have bumped into a lot of mums who asked me similar questions about raising our daughter bilingual in a totally monolingual environment. So I collected a bunch of questions and my answers to them with some links from earlier blog posts:

1. Do you speak to her English only?
   
   
   No, I don't. I can't do that. My mother tongue is my mother tongue, no matter how high my level of English is. (High level of language command is relative. I always feel my English is deteriorating.)
   
   
   I assigned certain times to speak English. When E. was a baby we had a timetable which meant that we used a little bit more English than Hungarian as she spent loads of time with me. Then we needed to change our schedule, still we had 50-50 % balanced language usage. (When she was around 2). Nowadays, (she's almost 3) we are in trouble with the balance between the two languages as we do not spend so much time together therefore there is less English in her life. BUT! Her English basis is so strong that she asks for changing languages when she feels she misses one of them (it's usually English)
   
   
   Even today, whenever there are just the two of us she says: - Uh-uh, Mommy. We need to change into English. We are just two.
   or
   - I've already changed into English, because there is only Mommy and I.
   
   
2. When do you speak English to her and when Hungarian?
   
   There are many methods you can follow. What I use is a special one: I call it the timetable method. By now we don't have a timetable any more. Whenever we can, we speak English, as the Hungarian input of the environment is too influencing.
   
   
3. When did you start talking to her in English?
   
   When we took her home from the hospital. At first, I was just singing songs and chanting rhymes to her in English. I wasn't sure about what I was doing and it felt strange. Then I got some inspirations after having read some books and contacted some other moms in the same shoes. From the age of 6 months I've been talking to her in English just like in Hungarian.
    
4. Wasn't she late with speech development?
   
   Not at all, although it would have been perfectly normal. She was about 1 year old when she could say 6-8 English words (and Hungarian ones too). Actually, her first word (bib) was in English. Of course, these words were fuzzy and not distinct for the untrained ears. But by the time she turned 18 months these words had become clear and a LOT more had been added to them. Not to mention, she started to build up 2-3 word sentences at that time too.
   
   I have to admit that the period between the age of 12 and 18 months was filled with more English sessions that Hungarian.
   
   
5. Doesn't she mix the languages?
   
   She does! At first she didn't, however, nowadays more and more. I'm not worried about it... okay... I am a little bit concerned, but I know if we keep up the balance between the languages she'll have all the language tools in both languages to express herself. Most of the time she mixes Hungarian into her English because she doesn't know a word or she can't express something due to lacking a structure.
   
   Though it happens the other way round, too. She makes her grandparents puzzled when she asks for some stories with the telescope in it (mind you, pronounced it with a perfect British accent) or when she says she wants to play on the see-saw at the playground. Sometimes she names some bugs (bumble bees, wasps, ants) or plants (pansies, daffodils, shepherd's purse etc) she sees in the park in English. They can sort out this teeny-weeny language problem... for the time being.
   
   
6. What do you do when she mixes the languages?
   
   I keep on talking in the given language. I don't change. And I do NOT advise you to let your child take the lead (although it is also an option.) I go on talking, let's say, in English when she says some Hungarian words or sentences here and there. If I know she could say it in English I ask back: - What did you say? or - What's that in English?
   
   If I am aware of the fact that she can't express herself, I simply repeat in English what she said in Hungarian. Some sources suggest not to make your child repeat a word or sentence, yet sometimes I ask her to repeat just to reinforce we use English and help her fix a structure she cannot use (at all, or properly). Nonetheless, I'm not forcing it. Normally, she repeats expressions after me by herself. If she doesn't want to, we move on.
   
   Also, you can pretend you do not understand what your child says, but in our case (we do not follow the One Parent One Language -OPOL-strategy; she can hear me talk both Hungarian and English) it wouldn't work as my daughter knows that I understand and speak both. The other problem with this could be that your child can get frustrated if he or she can't put an idea or a wish across.
   
   
7. What English activities/programmes can you take part in?
   
   We used to have a native British nanny for almost 2 years. I'm really grateful for her as she meant that I could have some free time (cooking, washing, ironing, shopping, cleaning etc.) while I knew English was still in focus in my daughter's life. Now we are looking for a new nanny. If you happen to know someone in Budapest who would be interested I would appreciate it.
   
   I've organised a Mums' English Club (MEC) in the library nearby, where mums gather with their little ones and chat in English while the kids play away. At the end of our sessions we sing some English songs for the kids. An afternoon session of MEC is badly needed but I haven't had time to find a place where we could go free of charge.
   
   We've been taking part in the well-known Helen Doron School's programme since E. was 10 months old. We are planning to leave it, but I'll write about that in a later post.
   
   For almost a year we took part in a swimming course which was instructed both in English and Hungarian. We met there some non-Hungarian families who communicated mainly in English, so E. could hear during the swimming sessions that English is not just Mommy's crazy language.
   
   We also visited Rhyme Time sessions (singing and playing in English) for a few times, but we do not go regularly.
   
   
8. Does Daddy speak English to her?
   
   He does. Daddy speaks a lot of languages, it's no problem for him at all. What's more, practising English regularly helps him improve his spoken skills as well. I suppose he also enjoys our English session;
   
   Again, at the beginning we did it differently. When Daddy arrived home from work we changed into Hungarian, but the whole day was in English. Nowadays, as I'm starting to work, E. is spending more time with the grandparents or she is in the nursery (not to mention that our native nanny, A. has left) we have been trying to fit in as many English sessions as we can.
   
   We have plenty of dinners, weekend programmes, playground visits, craft activities and bath times in English with Daddy. I'm very lucky, because my husband is very supportive concerning our bilingual project.
   
   
9. Can she say sentences?
   
   Haha. This has been the funniest question so far I've received. Sure she can. :) Sometimes very complicated ones. I was really amazed when she said a passive sentence in the playground (- Look, Mommy, the other swing is taken) or when she talks to her soft toy using present perfect (- What have I told you?). One day she was replaying a Berry and Dolly episode (Gingerbread) that we watch in English.
   
   The following left her mouth: - I'm making gingerbread with the cookie cutter and then I'll put it out in the winter (sic) to cold (sic). Magpie, (that is me) come and take it away.
   Later in the story: - Don't take away that belongs to somebody else.
   
   Here is the episode:
   
   
   
   
   Not only her sentences but her vocabulary is also outstanding. I'm often surprised at how eloquent words she knows. The other day she called a pan saucepan. I don't think I have ever used this word with her. Or she can name different kinds of onions: leek, garlic, spring onion as well as varied expressions for the eating process: munch, chew, stuff your face, digest, feed, bite
   
   
10. How do you "teach" her (sic)?
    This is exactly how this question is asked most of the time.
    
    And the answer is : I do not teach her.
    
    What I do is to play with her in English just like in Hungarian. We do the daily routines in both languages. I try to prepare everyday and special activities for her which give us a chance to meet a lot of new situations:
    
    - experimenting,
    - prepping for holidays of the English speaking world,
    - doing fun craft activities,
    - cooking and baking
    - doing housework together
    - exploring nature
    - reading books and singing a lot as well as watching videos
    
    These are just a few examples. In short, we LIVE our lives in 2 languages.
    
    
    +1. How shall WE start?

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started" - Mark Twain

So just start it.

If you want to get some ideas read through the blog... HAHA. Believe me, it'll be much easier to find your own ways. But you can get some ideas here. (Feel free to search for keywords if you're looking for something exact)

Start with some songs that you sing to your child while changing nappies or waking him/her up.

Search some videos online around a topic (cars, shapes, animals, numbers, planets etc.) that your child is interested in and watch them together. You can also explain what you see in the videos.

Learn some rhymes/songs with sign language and play with your munchkin.

Flashcards are almost always fascinating for children, but rather time-consuming to prepare your own home-made ones. On the other hand, our own flashcards are much more attractive to my daughter. You can find really good flashcards online, which you only need to print (and perhaps laminate).
If you don't mind spending some money, you can buy some beautiful ones.

And I haven't mentioned the endless opportunities that books offer to speak and practise a foreign language.

Again, these are some very basic ideas to start with your little one from an early age.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me either in the comments or via email. You can come an visit my facebook page as well.

Enjoy!

Easter egg crafts

There's no Easter without eggs. Egg painting, egg making, blowing out eggs, eating eggs, sticking egg, decorating with eggs and so on.

Here are a few things we've been doing with eggs lately.


Decor tape eggs

Just draw an egg and supply your little one with some decor tape or washi tape. Be prepared: tape will be everywhere. In hair, on clothes and some on your drawn egg, too. If you want to save a pretty decor tape, do NOT give it into the hands of a 3 year old.

A lot of cutting is involved, which is great practice for little hands.

If you put it around the house all your guests can admire the final product.

While doing it we were talking about the different colours and patterns on the tapes.

Dot marker eggs

The original plan was to follow some patterns (ABAB or ABBABB), but it didn't work that way. I plan something and E. thinks differently. So we went with the flow. Some hand painting, making fingerprints, drawing lines, colouring freely etc.

You can print or draw an egg shape and provide your child with dot-markers. (If you don't have one you can also your some paint and wine cork or your child can use her finger)

Pom-pom painting 

This is a variation of the dot marker painting. If you don't have dot markers use pom-pom and clothes pegs.

First, E. started to use the colours one by one (although she was drawing with the pom-poms like with a paintbrush; she refused to make dots like with the dot marker)

Then colour mixing kicked it.

I was crazy enough to let her sprinkle a little glitter over the wet, painted eggs (well, never again, it's more than MESSY). I must admit she helped me happily with the cleaning up.

After they have dried I cut them out, added a ribbon and stuck them on the door frame in our living-room.

Of course, we had some traditional egg painting (with blown out eggs and acrylic paint, which E. calls "the big girl paint"). On Sunday during church time, children could paint eggs. There and then we tried wax crayon drawing and painting on eggs for the first time which is beautiful. I have a plan for next year's egg painting.

According to the Hungarian tradition, we also decorated a bunch of goat/pussy willow (which we simply call catkins) with eggs and other ornaments.

I hope you'll have an EGG-cellent Easter!

Easter Bunny and chick craft

This year I've hardly had any time to prepare Easter activities. My main focus was to find fun crafts that are easy to prepare and I can find the necessary supplies here at home.

Pussy/goat willow (Barka in Hungarian) Easter Bunny 

I bought some branches of pussy or goat willow. Honestly, I hate the English name of this beautiful plant, so we just call it catkin, the name referring to this kind of flower.

Anyway, I picked the catkins off the branch, placed them in bowl. I printed a bunny (more precisely 2 types of rabbit colouring pages) from the net and stuck it on card stock. I also added some glue and the fun could begin.

My daughter's idea of fun was different. After having stuck 8-10 catkins on the body of the bunny she told me: - Let's do it tomorrow.

Then she left. She tried it with Daddy the next day and they finished the rabbits more or less. The heads were still missing.

We are almost there

So on the third day we managed to finish the whole rabbit.

Split pea chick (Sárgaborsó csibe in Hungarian)

On our usually grocery shopping I picked up a bag of split peas forgetting that E. won't eat it, so I used some of it in our craft. Again, I just printed a chick from the net served E. with the split peas (raw) and glue.

After applying the glue all over the chick with a paintbrush, she enjoyed sprinkling the split peas on the chick, then pouring the excess back into the bowl.

The final art pieces have been stuck on our living-room door.

I took the ideas (Catkin Bunny, I couldn't find the Split Pea Chick idea again) from Pinterest collections on Easter crafts.

HOPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!