This blog is a place where parents and teachers of children 3-7 years of age can find information about topics specific to children in this age group, share ideas and access free resources for home and the classroom.
December 7, 2015
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Posted by jean
For as long as I can remember I have been making and gifting braided fabric wreaths. When my child was in the early years in grade school, he would enjoy helping stuff the fabric tubes and braiding the tubes for the wreaths. Most of all, he enjoyed talking about the role he played in its creation!
For friends who celebrated Christmas there were wreaths made of Christmas scene patterns braided with a solid red or green. Friends who didn’t celebrate Christmas were happy to receive wreaths that were suitable for hanging year round.
You will need to sew up the fabric tubes and the bows for the wreaths on a sewing machine, but children can help with the other parts of the wreath making.
Materials for One Wreath:
3 strips of Fabric (assorted/solid colors) cut 72 inches long by 10 inches wide
1 strip of a solid color/print for the bow cut 60 inches long by 10 inches wide
1 circular wire ring 12 inches in diameter (a large clothing hanger will do – bend to shape* )
Thread to match the color of the fabric
Sewing needles for hand sewing
Use of a sewing machine to make the strips into tubes for stuffing
2 bag of 100% Poly-fil for stuffing -20 ounces
1 long stick about 1 and ½ inches wide to use for pushing the fiber-fil into the tubing
Cutting Directions:
Cut 3 strips of fabric 72“long by 10” wide
Cut one strip of cloth for the bow – 60” long by 10“wide
Sewing Directions:
Wreath
- Turn 3 strips (tubes) to be used for the wreath to the wrong side, pin or baste stitch one ½ inch from the edge. Leave openings every 12 inches to make stuffing easier. Machine stitch to openings (every 12 inches, leaving 4 inches open for stuffing, machine stitch for 12 inches, leave 4’ open…repeat until finished.
- Turn tubes right side out, begin stuffing, use stick to help position stuffing in the tube, stuff each open section then hand stitch closed until you finish each tube.
- Secure 3 tubes with a pin or stitch together at one end. Begin to braid until the 3 tubes have only 4 inches to the end ( use this to join with that part of the wreath that is held together with a pin or stitching)
- Shape into a circle, join beginning and end of wreath together, hand sew.
- Mount on wire ring by sewing wreath tubes to the wire at a few inch intervals
Bow
- Turn bow fabric wrong side out, baste ½ inch from the edge, machine stitch the long side and one short side, turn inside out, press, hand stitch or machine stitch the open end closed.
- Tie bow around the wreath at the point where you joined the top and bottom of the wreath , be sure to include the wire
Note: You can purchase wire rings for your wreaths at a hardware store or online.*
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Store News: The “Can Do” Character Towel is perfect for bath time and beach time! Just click on the store logo and check it out. There’s free shipping on all items!
Categories: braided wreath
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Tags: "Can Do" Kids, braided fabric wreaths, education, gifting, good choices, life skills, parents, projects for Ma n' Me, sewing. crafts, wreaths that last for years
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November 30, 2015
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Posted by jean
It’s the holidays and you want your dog to share in the treats of the season. Before you share bones from the holiday roast, please read what the Food an Drug Administration wants you to know why giving your dog bones is a bad idea. Here is what they had to say:
You’ve just finished a big weekend family dinner and you are wondering what to do with the bones from the ham and roast, when in trots your big black Labrador Retriever. It’s hard to resist those longing, puppy-dog eyes.Your veterinarian has told you it’s a bad idea to give bones to your dog, but you’ve done so in the past with no harm done.
“Some people think it’s OK to give dogs large bones to chew on” says Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Giving your dog a bone might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet.”FDA has received about 35 reports of pet illnesses related to bone treats and seven reports of product problems, such as bones shattering when pulled from their packaging. The reports, sent in by pet owners and veterinarians, involved about 45 dogs.
A variety of commercially-available bone treats for dogs—including treats described as “Ham Bones,” “Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones”—were listed in the reports. Many of these products differ from uncooked butcher-type bones because they are processed and packaged for sale as dog treats. The products may be dried through a smoking process or by baking, and may contain other ingredients such as preservatives, seasonings, and smoke flavorings.
Pet owners and veterinarians have reported the following illnesses in dogs that have eaten bone treats:
- Gastrointestinal obstruction (blockage in the digestive tract)
- Choking
- Cuts and wounds in the mouth or on the tonsils
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bleeding from the rectum, and
- Death. Approximately eight dogs reportedly died after eating a bone treat.
Remember that your dog can pick up bones while out on a walk. He could also get into the kitchen trash and eat bones that you may have thrown away.
Talk with your veterinarian about other toys or treats that are most appropriate for your dog,” says Stamper. “There are many available products made with different materials for dogs to chew on.”“We recommend supervising your dog with any chew toy or treat, especially one she hasn’t had before,” adds Stamper. “And if she ‘just isn’t acting right,’ call your veterinarian right away!”
Categories: bones
| Tags: bones, dog, dog bones, education, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, food safety, good choices, health smart, holiday roast bones, nutrition, veterinarians
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November 19, 2015
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Posted by jean
The Store at “Can Do Street opened today with 30% Savings on Value Packs and Free Shipping on orders of $25+. Children are sure to enjoy the “Can Do” Kid products and parents and other shoppers will appreciate that all the products are well-made, easy to care for, and budget friendly.
This holiday season, we are offering our first of many “Can Do “Kids” books. Our first book is a full color, hard cover book which deals with a real fear of children who will be away for Christmas. The book title says it all…Can Santa Find Me on Christmas?
Our value packs offer products at a 30% savings compared to buying each product individually.
The Christmas Book Value Pack includes:
- Our book, Can Santa Find Me on Christmas?
- A set of “Can Do” Kids Safety Flash Cards that feature a character on one side of the card and a safety message on the other side
- 2 scratch off cards for down loading 2 ping-pong game apps for use on Android smart phones.
- 2 full-color “Can Do” Street tee shirt iron ons.
The Young Chef Value Pack includes:
- A 100% cotton apron and chef hat
- 2 scratch off cards for down loading 2 ping-pong game apps for use on Android smart phones
- 2 Chefs Club tee shirt irons ons.
Don’t forget to check out the “Can Do” Kid Character beach towel that works well as an after bath towel!
Payments are processed through PayPal. You can choose to use your PayPal account or a credit card.
You Can Get to the Store 4 Ways:
- Click on The Store icon in the right hand column of this page
- From the “Can Do Street” home page – click on the awning that reads…The Store
- From the “Can Do Street” home page – click on the cloud that reads…Store
- From the URL address…www.candostreet.com/store
Happy Values …Happy Shopping…Happy Holidays!
Categories: The Store at "Can Do' Street
| Tags: "Can Do" Kids, "Can Do' Kids products, book, budget-friendly, Can Santa Find Me on Christmas, Christmas Book Value pack, good choices, iron ons, parents, quality products, The Store, towel, Young Chef Value Pack
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November 12, 2015
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Posted by jean
Take 25 is a preventive child safety campaign created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Take 25 encourages parents, educators and others involved in caring for children to take 25 minutes to speak with their child(ren) about safety. The Take 25 website, www.take25.org is a site you will want to visit. It is filled not only with what to say and share with children, but how to say it so as not frighten children in the process.
Take 25’s focus is on prevention. Their site provides free safety resources including safety tips, conversation starters, and engaging activities. A key feature on the site is the page, “25 ways to make kids safer,” with categories that include:
- Home safety
- Internet safety
- Going to and from school
- Being out of the house on their own
The discussion guidelines page advises adults to be prepared for a safety discussion by knowing the safety materials, considering what to share and how to share it given a child’s age and having visuals that will help the child understand what is being explained to him or her.
Take 25 content suggests making the most of everyday opportunities to speak about personal safety rather than waiting for the “right time,” Such everyday opportunities could be a family meal or a ride in the car or a walk. Take 25 literature stresses that any discussion needs to include encouraging your children to talk openly and ask questions.
Guidelines on Take 25 reinforce talking not lecturing children on safety.
Safe behaviors can be shared in ways that are not frightening to young children. The way that adults share safety information can help children develop the confidence to believe that they will know what to do, or who to turn to in an unsafe situation.
Take 25 gives parents the means to feel more comfortable when their children are out on their own.
Categories: Safety
| Tags: child safety, education, good choices, home safety, Internet safety, keeping children safe, life skills, parents, preventative safety information, protecting children, street safety, take 25
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November 4, 2015
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Posted by jean
As creator of “Can Do” Street, I am pleased and excited to announce a new addition coming to our site in the next few weeks!
The Store at “Can Do” Street will be open in time for holiday season shopping. The Store will offer quality products your children are sure to enjoy; products that are well-made, easy to care for, and budget friendly with free shipping on orders $25+.
This holiday season, we are offering our first of many “Can Do” Kids ’s books. Our first book is “Can Santa Find Me on Christmas? It’s all about how some of the “Can Do” kids are worried that Santa won’t find them if they are away from home on Christmas.
You can purchase value packs that offer products at a considerable savings of 30% compared to buying each product individually. The Christmas Book Value Pack contains our Christmas book, a set of “Can Do” character safety flash cards, two a ping pong game apps scratch off cards and two”Can Do” Street tee shirt iron ons.
Our Young Chefs Value Pack has an apron and chef’s hat, as well as two ping pong app scratch off cards and two Chefs Club tee shirt iron ons.
In addition to the value packs, all items in The Store can be purchased individually.
In 2016 we will be adding to our inventory with 3 new books, which will come out in April, July and October. Other items will include a “Can Do” Kid bubble mitt for the bath and a set of “Can Do” Kids character linens.
We look forward to seeing you at The Store!
Best,
Jean Campbell (Grandma Jean)
Categories: The Store at "Can Do' Street
| Tags: "Can Do" Kids, "Can Do"character linens, bubble mitt, Christmas book, Christmas value pack, good choices, iron ons, ping pong app, safety flash cards, The Store, Young Chefs Value Pack
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