Treehouse TV

Christmas Eve Magic

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:02:00 GMT

Written by Lucie Papineau Illustrated by Stéphane Poulin

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most enduring holiday stories ever written. Inspired by this masterpiece, Lucie Papineau’s text and Stéphane Poulin’s art make for a striking new interpretation.

Barton, a very spoiled and snobbish young pig, hates Christmas. The smell of freshly baked gingerbread, the sound of the homeless orphans’ joyful caroling outside his door, the stars shining atop Christmas trees — Barton hates it all. Sulking in his mansion on the hill, Barton hoards his many toys and counts the hours until Christmas is over. But as he lies awake on Christmas eve, Barton receives an unexpected visitor who shows him his life — past, present and future — in a magical new light. For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Kids Can Press.

Holiday Video Game Gift Guide

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:51:00 GMT

The holiday season is in full swing, and if you’re looking for something that will provide hours of fun for your kids, your grandkids, or your whole family, a video game may be the answer. There are so many different types of video game systems out there, which game should you get? You can find handheld educational games like Leapfrog’s Leapster, handheld gaming systems like Nintendo DS, interactive games like Playskool’s Dance Cam, and interactive home entertainment consoles like the Nintendo Wii. There are plenty of games out there suitable for kids of all ages, from preschoolers to teens that don’t contain violence.

When picking out a game for your child, it’s important to look at the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating usually located on the bottom right of the front. The ESRB independently applies and enforces ratings for the interactive entertainment software industry. You can visit www.esrb.org to find out more, and search games by age ranges. A common misconception is that video games are violent and not suitable for young children, however “85% of games sold in Canada were rated E, E10+, and Teen.” A quick guide to the ESRB rating system:

+EC= early childhood 3+ content suitable
E=ages 6+
E10+=ages 10+
Teen=13+
Mature=17+

Today, it’s no longer board games, but video games that are being played on family game night. “50% of parents want to play video games with their kids” and many games have a multiplayer mode to let kids and parents interact in music, dance, and trivia based games. Disney’s Think Fast is a visually based trivia game, hosted by the Genie from Aladdin. With 5000 different questions, all the multiple choice answers are in picture form so kids of all ages can easily play along. It’s also good to make sure whether or not you need to purchase additional accessories to play. Disney’s Ultimate Band doesn’t require any extras, this can make it easier for younger children to play. Sometimes the accessories are too large for small children, and harder to learn, whereas they’re used to the standard buttons on a Nintendo Wiimote and nunchuck.

If sometimes you just have to get chores done while your little one plays, then this game might be for you. Disney’s Princess: Enchanted Journey for the Wii are very intuitive and don’t require parental assistance. You can’t go wrong when you pick out a game with child’s favourite movie or TV show character, they’ll get to play as or along with their favourite characters. You can find some of your favourite Treehouse characters, like Dora, Diego, and the Backyardigans on Leapfrog’s Leapster. If you’ve got a road trip planned for the holidays, you can take them with you in the car or on trips to keep the kids occupied, and get separate gaming cartridges to add some variety. There’s a large variety of lessons available including the alphabet, colours, shapes, animal facts, consonants, phonics skills, and numbers.

Whichever game you choose for the holiday season, be sure to set aside some time to play along and have fun with your child!

Monkey Business

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:08:00 GMT

Written and Illustrated by Wallace Edwards

Wallace Edwards, the award-winning author of Alphabeasts, has returned with a brilliant collection of illustrated idioms. From a fish opening a “can of worms” to a tap-dancing octopus putting his “best foot forward,” these familiar sayings are reimagined in hilarious and unexpected ways.

To help readers “stay on the ball,” the idioms are used in a sentence that accompanies each illustration, and the meaning of each idiom is explained at the end of the book. Every page is so richly illustrated that it is sometimes a challenge to find the hidden monkeys — some are more easily spotted than others!

A playful introduction to idioms, a clever eye-spy book and a gallery of stunning animal portraits, this collection is more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

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

Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:03:00 GMT

Written by Tera Johnson illustrated by Tania Howells

This is a lyrical and reassuring story about growing up and leaving the barn to dance on one’s own.

At the biggest barn owl dance of the year, the Leave the Nest Fall Fest, keen dancer Berkeley shines as usual. Next moonrise, however, she and her fellow fledglings Bo and Bree must leave home. Though Berkeley is frightened, the winking, smiling, laughing moon lights her way. After thousands of silent wingbeats, she finds a new audience, and Flippity, Tappity, Clap Clap Clap, Berkeley’s new barn dance begins.

Berkeley’s Barn Owl Dance ushers children into an unseen animal world, while the young owl’s journey will help them prepare to spread their wings and fly on their own.

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

Stay Safe in the Summer

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:06:00 GMT

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.