Train Themed Preschool Activity: Numbers or Ten Commandment Train

We're having a lot of fun with our train themed preschool activities this month. Trains are a great tool to help teach young boys about sequencing things correctly. We also did fun alphabet train activities that used these same methods. You could apply this idea to other things you want them to learn in a sequential order as well.

Ten Commandments or Numbers Train

• Ten commandments train printed out and cut apart (or numbers written on flashcards and an picture of an engine)

Have the child arrange the numbers in the correct order; offer help as needed. Once they get all of the numbers in the correct order, they can put the engine at the end to pull the train!

Numbers Train Writing Practice

• Numbers train writing practice sheets printed or drawn out

I thought these cute worksheets were a nice addition to our train themed reusable preschool book. Aaron and Andrew can write on them over and over again.

Easy One-Dish Dinner: Pancit

This is a easy Asian style dish that is really popular in the Philippines. It is similar to the fried noodles (chǎo miàn  炒面) that are popular in China as well, but there is less oil and more meat and vegetables in this version. When I was working in a hospital, I worked with Filipino nurses and love it when they brought this dish to share. We had a Filipino friend over recently, and I wanted to try making pancit for her. She thought this recipe was pretty similar to what they make back at her home.

Easy Pancit Recipe

• 1 (12 ounce) package dried rice noodles
• 2–3 Tbsp oil
• 1 onion (diced)
• 1–3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 chicken breasts (diced)
• 1 small head cabbage, (thinly sliced)
• 3 carrots (thinly sliced)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 lemons cut into wedges (if desired for garnish)

1. Soak your rice noodles in water, or boil briefly to soften. The noodles should still be a little al dente.
2. In a large frying pan or wok, heat the oil, and begin to cook the onion and garlic.
3. Add in the chicken, and cook meat thoroughly.
4. Then add the vegetables, frying just until they begin to soften.
5. Last add the noodles, frying to mingle the flavors and finish cooking the noodles.
6. Season with soy sauce and lemon wedges if desired.

Family Friday: This Week in Snapshots

Aaron's new trick: Funny glasses

Three boys climbing trees

The boys wanted to "swim" in the bathtub

Bathtub crayons

Andrew's new trick: Stuffing toys in his shirt

Train Themed Preschool Activity: Alphabet Trains

This is another fun activity that we have been doing as a part of our train unit study. I saw an idea for an Alphabet Train game a little while ago and thought it would be fun for Aaron. I modified the activity a little because just matching letters is not challenging for Aaron. Instead I just had him line up all of the letters in alphabetical order for the cars and then put an engine at the end to pull the alphabet train. In a preschool workbook that I got for a dime at a thrift store, I found premade alphabet flashcards that I cut apart and used a Thomas leftover from the boys birthday party for the engine, but you could just as easily draw your own on flashcards on small pieces of paper.

Alphabetical Train

• Alphabet flashcards
• Picture of a train engine

1. Give the child the alphabet flashcards and have them arrange them in the correct order.
2. Once they get all of the cards in the right order, reward them by letting them put the engine at the end to pull the train.

Help your child as needed. The first time we tried this Aaron (3 years old) got stuck a couple of times, so I would just start singing the ABC's up to the letter he had already placed, and he was always able to continue on his own from there. Aaron just did the alphabet train activity again today, while his brother was sleeping, and was able to do the whole thing by himself without any help. His train overlapped, curved around, and some of the letters were upside down, but he did correctly alphabetize them all on his own. A child who was just starting to learn the alphabet would obviously need quite a bit more help. Andrew (20 months) could find a couple of the letters he knew and hand them to Aaron but wasn't able to participate much beyond that.

Alphabet Train Writing Practice

• Alphabet train handwriting worksheets printed or drawn

I also liked the alphabet train writing practice worksheets I found and added these to the boys reusable train themed clearbook. Aaron can practice tracing over the letters again and again, and Andrew can too, without needing to print new pages for them each day.

Reading and comprehension are definitely some areas that Aaron excels in and writing and fine motor skills are much more work for him to do well. He is just getting good at trying to draw or write carefully and intentionally, whereas his little brother is already doing that and holding his pencil correctly (without any instruction). Aaron will probably need more time and practice at writing, and Andrew is taking more time and needing more practice to learn to read.

Truly, kids learn so very differently, and it is neat to see how our boys learn in different ways. I think that providing multiple ways to learn the same concepts is very helpful to all children, and it can show you how each individual child learns best.

Easy One-Dish Dinner: Fried Eggs and Tomatoes

I am going to share a Chinese recipe with you today. This dish is always a favorite among foreigners living in China because it doesn't have any ingredients that you can't tell (and don't want to know) what they are. Simple and fast, this is one Chinese style dish we eat a lot in our house. I am going to share both how the Chinese people prefer to eat this dish and how I adapt it for when I make it for just our family.

Fried Eggs and Tomatoes

• oil
• 10-12 eggs
• 4-6 tomatoes (washed and diced)
• salt to taste
• cooked rice

1. Put some oil in a wok or a large frying pan. If you really want it to taste authentic, add what you think is a ton of oil to fry eggs in and then double or triple that amount. I usually just add about 1-2 Tbsp when cooking this for our own family. 
2. Turn on the heat. Again, if you want it to be authentic, you have to turn it up until it is smoking and you need to turn the hood vent on. But I usually fry over medium heat for just our family.
3. Crack eggs into the pan and stir, cooking as you would regular scrambled eggs.
4. When the eggs are almost finished cooking, add in the tomatoes and continue cooking until all the tomatoes are hot.
5. Salt to taste (and msg if you want to be authentic).
6. Serve over rice (only white rice to be authentic).

We also prefer to eat fried eggs and tomatoes in a completely unauthentic way—we put them in tortilla shells for breakfast burritos. But we like them so much that we eat them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (though not in the same day), with plenty of ranch, please.

DIY Mei Tai Baby Carrier

Finished carrier hanging
in our entry way

I mentioned how we like the baby carriers here, and that I made two to carry our two boys. This is a pretty easy sewing project in general. However, positioning the straps so you don't sew them into a side seam can be a little tricky. I consulted this pretty comprehensive pattern and a few others and then worked out what worked well for us. I think these could also make a nice unique gift for new parents, if you knew the parents would like this type of carrier. Here are some general instructions about how I made these carriers and how you can make your own.*

Mei Tai or Bēi Dài (背带) Baby Carrier

• 1 1/2 yards sturdy woven fabric (60" width)
• 12" square decorative fabric for pocket or applique (optional)
• thread

I cut 3 straps (11" by 60"
and body (18" by 48")

1. Lay out you fabric on a clean flat surface folded width wise. I wanted a finished body size of about 17" wide by 23" and 5" wide straps and used a 1/2" seam allowance.  I cut 3 strips 11" wide by 60" long (the whole length of my fabric). This is a good length of strap for me, and I am almost six feet tall. You may want shorter straps if you are shorter. I cut one of these strips in half (to make 2 strips 30" long) to use for the short waist straps. Then I cut a rectangle 18" by 24" doubled over, making it 18" wide by 48" long. I cut this with the 18" width on a fold so that I didn't have to sew the top of the carrier shut or worry about sewing the straps into the top seam. But if you don't want to cut on a fold, then just make sure to cut two pieces (18" by 24").
2. Cut a 12" square of decorative fabric to use for an applique or pocket if you wish.
3. If you wish to make a pocket, sew a double folded hem along the top of the fabric. Sew a single folded hem around the other three sides.  Center the decorative fabric on the right side of the front piece of body of the carrier. Pin in place and top stitch around the applique/pocket.
4. For the straps, I folded the 11" strips in half right sides together and sewed lengthwise. I finished one end of each at a 45 degree angle to make a point. Turn straps right side out. I did not choose to top stitch the straps, but you could at this time to give them a more finished look.
5. Now for the one tricky part: positioning the straps. Lay the front piece of your body fabric right side up. If using one piece for the body like I did, mark the fold line with pin and the whole piece flat. Position the straps at each corner—long finished side in towards the right side of the body, short unfinished end out (at least 3" to use for reinforcing the straps) at each corner. You may want to angle the straps like she shows, but I did this on one and sewed the other straight out perpendicular, and, personally, I didn't notice a huge difference either way.

   

   All straps pinned securely

6. Fold and pin the long straps securely to the front of the carrier so that you don't sew them into the side seams. Place the back piece of the body right sides together with the front and pin around all side, leaving a gap for turning at the bottom. Sew around all sides (unless the top is a folded edge), leaving a gap for turning at the bottom. Make sure to stitch all the straps securely; back stitch over them, or sew additional seams to make sure they are secure.
   
7. Turn right side out, and unfold the straps.
8. Pin the bottom seams closed, and top stitch around the whole body. Sew reinforcing rectangles at each corner, over each end of the strap, and then stitch through the middle of the rectangle or make an X through each rectangle. You really want to make sure that the straps are really well reinforced and stitched securely to the body of the carrier!

   

   Body sides sewn securely

9. Look over the whole project for any mistakes or weak areas that need attention. Trim any hanging threads, and you're done with the sewing!
10. Learn how to tie your baby securely to yourself. I found the these instructions helpful. Now you're ready to go hiking with baby.

*This is what worked well for me and my husband (who is the same height but with wider shoulders) and our two toddler boys. This doesn't mean this is the best design for every adult and baby combo out there. Personally, while I see these used all the time here for even really little babies, I don't think they are the best type of carrier for infants. I am sharing these instructions with the hope that it may be useful to someone wanting to make their own carrier, but use your own judgment as to what would be best for you and your baby. I am no baby wearing or baby carrier expert and take no responsibility for how you choose to make your carrier. Our children are obviously the most precious cargo there is, and we should take great care when transporting them.

Mandarin Mondays: 背带

Here it is very common to see people wear a traditional Asian type of baby carrier to carry their babies around with them. Some women (particularly the poorer women like recyclers, street sellers, or small shop keepers) carry their babies all day. In some ways, I think these kids are the lucky ones, because while they may lack some physical niceties, they get to be with their mom far more than most of the rich kids who are often sent to live with relatives, even in other towns, while their parents spend all their time working to provide for their certain lifestyle.

However, most people just use these types of carriers to go shopping or run other errands around town. Even though the roads and sidewalks here are much better than most of the smaller cities and villages, there are definitely still times when it is easier to carry little ones on your back instead of trying to maneuver the stroller. This becomes especially true if you want to ride bused or do any hiking off of paved roads.

 This types of carrier is most commonly known as mei tai in the west. This is a version of its Cantonese name miē dài (孭带). In Mandarin they call them bēi dài (背带). Here, they usually just have two really long straps at the top corners of a very large square of fabric.

We'd been thinking about purchasing some for a while, but they are only sold in small markets, and the price they told me was more than we wanted to pay. Also, a baby carrier isn't something you want to buy the absolute cheapest version of either. So recently, we found the fabric market (they like to group almost all of a type of seller into one section of town here), and I made two myself. I made ours with two long and two short straps because I think it is more secure and spreads out the weight more. I also made sure to stitch the strap reinforcements a lot, a lot, to make sure that they would hold up with our big, sturdy boys.

We went for a hike two weekends ago and the carriers worked great. We were able to take a really small bus to the edge of town and then hike up a path in the woods. Both of those things are next to impossible if you have to drag the stroller around. We're pretty happy with these carriers. Andrew was even so tired and comfortable on the way back that he fell asleep on the way back in the carrier.

Easy One-Dish Dinner: Potato Soup

This is a favorite around here, especially if I make it with purple potatoes. I hadn't heard of purple potatoes until recently, but they taste the same and the boys love the fun color. This tastes just as good with any other kind of potatoes though, so you can use whatever you have on hand. It just won't be as colorful.

Potato Soup Recipe

• 4-6 medium/large baking potatoes
• water
• 2 cups milk or yogurt
• 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder (or one clove fresh chopped garlic)
• salt to taste

1. Wash, and chop potatoes into small pieces.
2. Boil until soft.
3. In the blender, first add some milk or yogurt and the seasonings. Then add about 1/2 of the potatoes and some of the water, and blend until smooth. if you didn't bother to peel your potatoes like me, don't worry. You can't even taste them at all once they are blended.
4. Repeat until all of the potatoes are blended, and then stir together to distribute seasoning evenly.
5. Top with cheese, crumbled bacon, peas, sour cream, or ranch if desired, but it is great plain too.

Strange Sights: Purple Potatoes

One of the things that keeps life interesting around here is that you never quite know what you are going to get. Sometimes this is because we can't read all of the characters yet, but sometimes you just get a surprise.

Yesterday, I discovered that I had brought several purple potatoes, mixed in with the regular white potatoes. Now, I actually do know the character for potatoes, and it is even one I always check because I want to be sure I am paying the right price for the right thing. But I didn't even know there were such a thing as purple potatoes, let alone that they would just mix them all together and call them by the same name. However, that is what they do here, and I happened to pick some. From the outside I just thought they just had more dirt on them, but when I scratched through the skin I discovered that they are bright purple inside.

Oh well, they taste the same as white potatoes and are supposed to have extra antioxidants (similar to blue and purple berries). The best part was that the boys liked the potato soup I made even better because it was purple. Aaron has never eaten so much potato soup before at one time.

This was much better than the purple corn I tried on purpose, which turned out to be like really chewy field corn. I think I'll be buying purple potatoes again if I see them.

Train Themed Preschool Activity: Thomas the Tank Engine Game

The boys have been having a great time with our train unit study. This past week we got out the Thomas Board Game that I made for Aaron's birthday. The boys had a great time playing with all of the engines together and driving them around the Island of Sodor. The free printable game cards also emphasize the positive morals taught by these cute stories. Right now, they mostly just play with all of the pieces, although Aaron also likes to read the cards, but they are still having lots of fun with it.