Suddenly 30 - Learning from Film

"If you could have just one do-over, what would it be?"

This line from one of my favourite films, Suddenly 30, resonated loud and clear as I sat to watch it (again) with my "little sister" who I mentor. 

In recent weeks we'd been talking about the "popular" girls at school, being a teenager, growing up, goals, future dreams and all those things, so this film seemed a perfect fit.

So sure, while we sat and watched it, I noticed so many lessons for her, about bullying, standing up for yourself, being true to yourself, being nice to your friends, caring for your family, being careful what you wish for, having confidence and just having fun. 

But I got some lessons out of it for myself! I don't know what it is about turning 30, but in the past couple of years I've noticed some big changes in myself. I know who I am. I am confident with myself. I've stopped comparing myself with others all the time....well maybe not so much, but at least I try not to lose sleep over it or go do crazy things to change who I am. I follow my heart, not my friends. I do what I enjoy, not because it's cool. 

So watching the film again just reinforced some valuable lessons for myself as a woman too. Feeling confident in what I do and staying true to why I do it. Living happily ever after if you treat others with respect and integrity and follow your heart. Following YOUR dreams, not the dreams of others around you. And to really treasure those who are closest to you. 

I know it's just a light hearted, teenage chick flick. But it's one of my favourite movies and I think there's so much in there to learn for the young and the young at heart. 

Do you have any film suggestions for teenage girls? List them here and we'll add them to our growing list to watch! 

STOP READING NOW!

How many times have you been told to READ MORE with your kids?

How often do you see these quotes floating around Pinterest, Instagram & Facebook?

"Readers are Thinkers"

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader"

"A home without books is like a house without windows"

And so on....

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE reading. I got so hooked on a novel recently that I literally read it while I was walking from kitchen to car. 

BUT, here's a thought. 

How about those kids that aren't good at reading? They don't enjoy it? They can't sit still long enough? They have run out of books? They cry and argue? Get distracted easily? Reading time ends up in tears and everyone is miserable?

I'm going to suggest something radical! 

STOP FORCING THEM TO READ!

I know...you have to do your reading diary, so go ahead and do that. 

But at another time, try this:

Put the books back in the shelf. Turn off the television. And make up your own stories! Use your child's latest interests. Dinosaurs perhaps? Re-tell interesting events from your past. Act out scenes from your favourite films. Reminisce about when your kids were little and did funny things.

Set aside Time

Find a special time when everyone is home. On the weekend, a weeknight, every day, whatever suits your family. Set aside as much as you can spare, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour? 

Involve Everyone

This is an activity for the whole family! Mum, Dad, Gran if she lives in your spare room, and all the kids. If you've got visitors, get them in on it too. Take it in turns to tell a short story? Make a whole story with everyone acting a part. Sit around the fire place and take it in turns to add the next twist to the tale. 

Voices

Use funny voices, put on accents belonging to your characters or impersonate the people in the story. Does old Uncle Johnny have a funny walk? Does Grandma have a funny accent, or pet names for the kids? 

Use Props

Who doesn't love to dress up for play with props? Use a remote control for a phone. Pretend the couch is Jack & Rose's Titanic. A hula hoop is a portal to another world! 

Film

If you have a mobile phone, a tablet, a video camera, a bloggie, an iPod, a web cam, virtually anything electronic can be used to film your story telling time. Keep these treasures for the most amazing memories. You never know, you could end up with a $500 prize on Funniest Home Videos, or a You Tube Sensation!

If you get really stuck, go back to the books, but find books with "things to do". This Dinosaur is So Big, is one of the favourites in my house! It has huge sturdy pages with bold colours and simple images. But best of all, it has MAGNETS! The kids can place the magnets on the pages to create their own version of the story. "This dinosaur is SO Big it can eat a <car><plane><couch><bus><house> for breakfast!" 

Take a book like this and act it out in the lounge room!

Just like reading, family story telling will encourage your kids to get in touch with their creativity, thinking outside the box and increasing their vocabulary. Using real life to influence fiction can help to learn about history, family upbringing and facts about life. And it just be some amazing time to spend together as a family, recounting precious memories and having fun without the pressure of parent-teacher diaries or homework chores. 

Do it this weekend and let me know how it goes! 
If you photograph or film it, share a link so we can see :) 

Happy Learning! 

Junk Drawer Makeover - Sensory Fun

Do you have a drawer that looks like this? 

If you're anything like me EVERY drawer looks like this, and I've seriously been contemplating PAYING for someone to come and sort out my cupboards! Don't get me started on the plastic containers! 

So anyway, think back to when you were a kid yourself, visiting the grandparents. Didn't they ALWAYS have a junk drawer? The perfect place for you to get into and find all sorts of odds and ends to play with? A comb, a notepad, a compass, even the rollerdex? Now that's stretching the memory a little! 

So while trying to sort out some drawers and reminiscing I realised, I don't have one of these drawers for the kids. So I made one! 

Just odds and ends around the kitchen that really had no home anyway. Now they are all together, living happily, waiting for a moment to play. 

Contents:

* The souvenir cup from the theme park

* A bunch of swirly straws that I bought for a party once

* The pile of cardboard coasters hubby has for "when he gets his bar one day"

* A random drink cooler

* Some plastic spoons and serviettes from the take away restaurant

* All those little knick knacks you get from party plans

* Some plastic bowls that were cute and on special one day that I've never used

* A few disposable medicine cups - I mean you get a new one every time you buy cough medicine

* That maraca that I have no idea where to keep

YOUR TURN:

Could you find enough bits and pieces to make your own sensory drawer for the kids to play in? Put it at the bottom so the toddlers can get into it without any trouble. You could even use a basket? A box? A giant mixing bowl? Doesn't have to be a drawer.

Leave your comments below. 

Or send us a picture! 

Email, post it on Facebook or tag it on Instagram or Twitter with #learningthatsfun

Happy Learning!

Snazzy Baby i-Mat Giveaway Winner

It's with much excitement that I announce the winner of the i-Mat Giveaway! 

Melissa has been a long time follower and supporter of Learning that's Fun, so although the winners are drawn randomly by the Rafflecopter App I'm so glad that a loyal friend has been selected to win.

Melissa also happens to be a blogger, who writes about the adventures she has as a Mum and Wife with her two little people. You might like to check out her website at http://www.twolittlehumansandme.com/ or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TwoLittleHumansAndMe.

Also an opportunity for me to thank Cyndy from Snazzy Baby who provided Learning that's Fun with this fantastic opportunity to grow our community and offer such a wonderful gift to our audience. The i-Mat really is a wonderful educational and fun learning toy to have in your home. I remember as a kid we had a set of books with a similar pen, and it would buzz if you selected the right answer to the questions. Those books were some of our most treasured toys and got LOADS of use years.

I can't wait to see what new mat sets they bring out. And will definitely be adding more to my collection.

To purchase your own i-Mat head to the Snazzy Baby website at http://www.snazzybaby.com.au. You'll also find a great range of other baby products.

Runners Amanda G and Chelsea T, please get in contact with us to claim your Learning that's Fun book pack.

Happy Learning! 

Buy Learning that's Fun here.