Urgency

I’ve been reading a lot about sensory issues lately, and today I came across something that made me think.

The  Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support Network posted on their page: How many kiddos here are never thirsty? Or always thirsty? Always hungry or never hungry?

My 6 year old son Joel has a sense of urgency about eating and drinking. He doesn’t seem to notice that he’s thirsty or hungry (or that he needs to pee for that matter) until it is the ABSOLUTE last second!   Just like another person who posted on the thread, I’m not sure Joel feels it until he is extremely hungry or thirsty. Today was such a roller coaster ride of ups and downs that all came down to a late breakfast, a later lunch, and not enough snacks or drinks. After I had realized that his explosive meltdown and ensuing laying under the dining room table was related to him being too hungry.  I asked him why he didn’t just ask me for a snack. His response? He wanted me to just know that he was hungry without actually telling me? I need to work on being better prepared with snacks on the weekends.

As for peeing, I think most of the time it’s just that he’s too busy playing to take the time to run to the bathroom. So when he does go, it’s a mad dash and panic to get to the toilet before he explodes!

Do your kids tend to have an urgency around eating, drinking and peeing?

Peekaboo Beans: FUNdamentals sneak peek

Just a few more days until the launch of our newest collection FUNdamentals! Here are a few sneak peeks!

 

January Peekaboo Beans Crib Crasher

Here’s our monthly promotion!

Spend $150 and receive a free item of your choice from 6 pre-selected Peekaboo Beans items.

 

The best job in the world

Our Director of Play and Founder Traci Costa recently shared this message in our monthly Beans Bulletin. It was a message I can so relate to, as I’ve been there – in a job that I was miserable in for far too long. I’m so fortunate to now be doing something that I love! Owning my own business as a Play Stylist brings me so much joy. Read Traci’s message about we can have it all;  a job we love, a family too, and the best working environment in the world :

“How many of you had dreaded going to a job, have cringed when the alarm goes off, felt sad to miss out on an important event in your Beans lives. Or maybe you have a job that you love, but want something to channel your inner entrepreneur, a creative or social outlet, to be part of your community, to make something yours.

At some point, we have all been there. Paid our dues, put in our time for someone else, learned our lessons, worked hard, had a boss that didn’t treat people right. I have been there. It is one of the reasons I am so passionate about creating a working opportunity for women, and particularly for mothers. Why can’t work be fun, why can’t we make a difference, why can’t we embrace the people, create goals, achieve them in business and personally. Why can’t we be a stand for the best work environments for mothers, at the Playground or by creating self employment opportunities for women and mothers everywhere.

So I say it again, find what you do, and it will never feel like a day of work ever……create your own destiny, be your own boss, join a family that cares. Peekaboo Beans cares. I care.

So here I am today, asking you to help make a difference in the world, with me. Together. Let’s be the change. Lets:

• Be a reminder everyday to give children space, time and freedom to find themselves, to find their strengths, weaknesses, and to fall down and get back up. Play is their work. Play is what children do when we stop telling them what to do, where to be, or who to be with.

• Be a stand for a quality product – by choosing a Company that respects our customer’s money and values that they want to spend their hard earned dollars on our product. A Company that thinks about the way children move, jump, bend, run, skip, and play, but also fosters independence.  A Company that believes in children and thinks about what is best for them.  A Company that puts family first.  A product that is quality and not consumable.  Produced with love and care.

• Be a stand for creating the best working environments that fosters people, values, and gives back and is socially responsible.

We can have all this, we can do all this. All we have to do is share our story, share our passion. All we have to do is believe. But we have to do this together. One vine. Standing together through thick and thin. I will continue to spread the joy, to be a stand for our product and be a stand for my Beans and yours.

In love and play,

Traci

Looking for more? Find out how you can be a part of our team!

Get your Beans in time for Christmas!

Let me help you with your holiday shopping! There is still time to place an order and receive your Beans in time for Christmas. Order by December 14th and your Beans will arrive just in time! We have some great Play Promos on right now (email me for a list of the discounted items), as well as our new Playjamas available for boys or girls, which come with a handy little nylon bag (perfect for holiday sleepovers!)

Plus, we have FREE SHIPPING for the entire month. As a special gift to you, all local Ottawa shipments will come beautifully gift wrapped, free of charge (and stress  free for you!) Send me your orders today: vickyb.stylist@peekaboobeans.com

Yoga for Kids … It’s Child’s Play!

Introducing Christine Bohonos, certified Yoga for Kids teacher.  Christine has been teaching yoga to both adults and children for over 4 years now and lives in Stoney Creek, Ontario where she is the owner of Cobra Yoga,  www.cobrayoga.com      Christine shares with us the benefits of yoga and play for children. So grab a cup of tea, sit back and have a read…

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been doing yoga … rolling my spine down the hill at the side of my childhood house, or doing the splitz on the kitchen floor while my mother baked chocolate chip cookies from scratch.

But why yoga, and why am I so thrilled about sharing this ancient practice with others?  The many benefits of course, and I see them happening both on and off the mat.

On the mat, children experience improved circulation and flexibility in their bodies adding to a healthier lifestyle.  They also experience a calmness of mind which relieves stress, anxiety and a host of other health issues, but where I really see the affects of yoga come into play is off the mat, when the spirit soars in amazing ways.  Take for instance the child who has been practicing yoga and while in class, he or she learns a meditation to help deal with inner anger.  Then at home they hear their parents or older siblings fighting and they’re able to go to a quiet place, close their eyes and meditate on those feelings of anger.  Or the child who learns how to breathe long and deep and then practices this for a few minutes each night before bed to help them sleep.

Another benefit of yoga is that it inspires creativity just like play does, and when I’m teaching a kid’s yoga class, play is my top priority.

Children need opportunities both to play with other children and to play on their own. When two or more children are together many different games are possible.  In a child’s yoga class, games are often a part of the structure allowing the child to practice partner poses and explore their own creativity and imagination.

Play and physical activity within a kids’ yoga class fosters …

•  Self esteem and confidence:  Think warrior or the archer pose.  In these poses the child stands tall.  Energy grounds their feet down strongly into the mat, while the opposing energy from their torso and arms extends up and out  — just like a Warrior ready for battle.
• Team work:   Think partner poses like kissing tree and row your boat.  Take some time out at the end of your busy day and do these poses with your child.  For Kissing tree you both get into tree pose and then join your hands up above.  As soon as you have your balance you kiss each other on the cheek.  Working on balance together calls for teamwork.  Or sit down in a wide legged stretch and join hands across the middle.  Take turns bending forward and then bending back and don’t let go.  Row that boat to the shoreline!  Rowing a boat together takes teamwork.

• Body awareness:   Think poses like seated forward bend and eye circles.  A child starts to become body aware around the age of 6-years-old and yoga helps to make this awareness positive rather than negative.  Before getting into a seated forward bend, many yoga teachers will ask the kids to grab hold of the fleshy parts of their behinds and pull them out to the sides.  This is so that we can feel our ischial tuberosity’s, or our sitz bones.  Kids love to learn about body parts and how they work.  They also love the funny feeling of rolling their eyes around in circles with their eyelids closed.  Normally we don’t take the time to think about our eyes and the important function of sight and navigation that they give to us.  Tip for parents:  This is good for you too, especially if you stare at a computer screen all day long J

So what’s it going to be?  Will you be suiting up with the kids this fall for a family yoga class?  Perhaps a power yoga class for yourself while your child experiences a Storytelling Yoga class down the hall (most yoga studios offer kid’s classes at the same time as adult ones so check your local yoga studio’s schedule)

Until next time … Namaste (the light in me salutes the light in you). 

Learning through dress up play

One of my favourite shows as a kid was Mr. Dressup. This Canadian classic was such a big part of so many kids’ childhoods. I loved when Mr. Dressup opened up the Tickle Trunk and pulled out a different costume. I don’t remember having many costumes as a child, but I do remember loving to play make believe!

Yesterday our family took a trip to the Museum of Civilization where there is the most amazing Children’s Museum. If you are ever in the Ottawa area, let me know and I will take you there! It’s a must see.

This photo of Canadian Children’s Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor

As you walk into the Museum, your first destination is to the Theatre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is truly a miniature version of the real thing, with a ticket booth and play money (Joel’s first stop, he sold me a ticket for $40 and assigned me a seat), a back stage and dressing area, make up chairs and costumes gallore.

This is where all the fun happens… choosing the right costume, getting into the role and making an appearance on the stage! It was hard to leave this first area, my kids could have easily lost themselves for an hour. Here are some of their choice roles:

 

 

 

 

 

 First we have the lovely Queen Mieka, full of grace and beauty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Joel the stoic tree… .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then Mieka the Ram.. taking life by the horns. I think this one suited her well. If we’d had a few more kid with us we could have put on the most grand performance with a tree, a ram, the wind, the moon, a jester and of course the Queen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the fun didn’t stop here, the kids got to pretend to be construction works, rickshaw taxi drivers, fruit stand vendors, postal workers, shop keepers, and ship crew. By the time we finished our tour, they were wiped! What was so amazing to see was just how quickly they fell into role play; while they were building a wall as a construction worker, they talked about making sure the bricks were balanced and didn’t fall over, needing a hard hat and a vest to be safe, and when it was time to pack up the tools. When they were shop keepers, they quickly fell into roles of asking for my order and making change. When they were postal workers, they sold me some stamps and put my imaginary letters in the slot. It was so interesting to see the gravitate to parts of the museum they were most interested in.

I know my kids had a great time at the Children’s Museum, and although they may not have known it, I had just as much fun watching them learn while they played. My eyes were opened to it, and sat back and watched as they developed their ideas of the world.

Peekaboo Beans introduces the Kick Start Kit!

Peekaboo Beans announces the Kick Start Kit! For a limited time, you can kick start your own business as a Peekaboo Beans Play Stylist, right into profitability! This kit includes 10 pieces and business tools needed to get you started for only $155!

If you have a passion for PLAY, and have a dynamic personality, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss!  

There is another opportunity to talk to our very own Director of Play Traci Costa on an upcoming call. This is an incredible opportunity to hear all about the Peekaboo Beans vision, feel the passion and get a clear direction for the future.

If you want to know more about the company and what’s involved with becoming a Stylist, call in on Thursday May 31st at 1pm PST (Vancouver time) or 4pm EST. Email me for call in details, vickyb.stylist@peekaboobeans.com.

Peekaboo Beans: 5 ways they are different

When I first got my hands on some Peekaboo Beans five years ago, I used to save Joel’s outfits for special occasions, not wanting them to get dirty or wrecked. Then I gave my head a shake. Why was I saving it? His Peekaboo Beans were meant for PLAYING IN!

So I took them out of the closet, and let him wear them! They were durable to withstand all his crawling around on all fours, dashing over tall buildings and slaying dragons. His Peekaboo Beans were the first thing pulled out of the dryer, and always requested! I loved how comfortable he was in the stretchy fabrics.

Joel’s clothing was washed and rewashed dozens of times before he out grew it. If he had a brother, they would have been passed along to him too. I still have nearly all of his outfits saved in a box in his closet. I just cannot bear to part with them. Every once in a while I take them out of the box and refold them, checking to see if there is anything I might be able to squeeze on to him one last time.

Here are 5 reasons why Peekaboo Beans are different!

1. CHILDREN pick their own clothing – Peekaboo Beans encourages independent dressing! 
2. CHILDREN wear them without help – wide elastic waists are easy to pull up, zipper pulls are childsized, and there are no buttons or fastners to fumble with.
3. PLAY and MOVEMENT is unrestricted – fabrics are soft and stretchy for maximum comfort.
4. MOMS  love them because they wash, dry, and wear so easily!
5. YOU can resell your loved Peekaboo Beans on our Vintage Beans Facebook group -  NOTHING lasts longer than a day on the page, and the average piece is sold in approximately 5 minutes!

 
 

 

 

 

Where else can you get such durability, longevity, and return on your children’s clothing? Try it, I know you’ll love it! Contact me to order today: vickyb.stylist@peekaboobeans.com or find out how you too can be a Stylist!

Going bananas over stripes and polka dots!