Warm summer day + grassy area + bubble machine = tons of outdoor fun! Heard about bubble parties and wish you could host one but don’t want to pay the hundreds that it could cost? Make your own! My colleague heard about this idea & recipe from a local family childcare provider and shared it with me… so I could share it with you!Items needed: plastic garbage can, PVC pipe, shop-vac that blows air out, water (better if hot), dawn dish soap, towel, duct tape, rope or bungee cord, and an open area.

Step 1: Make sure shop-vac is blowing
Step 2: Duct tape PVC pipe to hose on shop-vac
Step 3: Fill bottom of garbage can with dawn dish soap. (Half a bottle? More or less depending on consistency of foam)
Step 4: Fill garbage can with water. Hot water works best, but using a garden hose works fine too.
Step 5: Place PVC pipe into garbage can- have it rest on bottom.
Step 6: Secure towel over top of garbage can using bungee cords. Have PVC pipe to the side or cut hole in middle of towel for it. You want it to be tight so it doesn’t blow all over the place.
Step 7: Turn on shop-vac and have fun.

This video tutorial is similar to the project above if you’d like more of a visual. Please note that the music is innapproriate. (Perhaps someone would like to try this project and create their own video -more professional & child-friendly. I could post that video instead!)

There are also many other videos on YouTube regarding this topic, including the two below. Because of their intensity, I would not recommend using those with young children. The slower, bubbling over kind is safer but still effective and fun.
Real foam machine video
DIY Pro foam machine video

*Disclaimer- Because soap is used, there could be sensitivity to eyes.

Little Beginnings Learning Center, a Christian childcare in Hastings MN, is looking to hire a full time infant teacher immediately! If interested, please call Jen at 651-480-1416 or email at littlebeginnings@mac.com.

A small Saint Paul/Highland park childcare is looking for a 35-40 hour a week asst. teacher. You will be working with toddlers and preschoolers. They will work around a school schedule for the right person. They hope to be training someone in by August. The website is www.thelittleschoolsaintpaul.com They believe in small group sizes, a clean environment, and wonderful staff.

Applicants must have at least 8 credits of child development and some experience. The salary is $10 an hour with health contribution and vacation pay. Applicants must be able to lift 35-50 pounds.

Interested? Please contact Ann Hughes, Owner at: 651-690-5110 or annlittleschool@yahoo.com

A new feature on this blog is the Early Childhood Job Board. It’s a direct link to the MN Center for Professional Development website. You will find this link over in the right column, under DAILY LINKS or click HERE. As always, past job posts are located under Categories, Career & Volunteer Opportunities.

The latest cover of Time magazine has folks, especially moms, buzzing. It shows a woman breastfeeding a toddler and asks “Are you mom enough?” The cover story explores the “attachment parenting” trend. Local mother Kristine Dorrain practices attachment parenting. She and Marti (from Mom Enough) shared their views of the parenting method on KARE 11 Today. Click HERE to view video.

When the Time issue came out, Mom Enough felt compelled to speak out. Read more about their point of view HERE.

On Saturday, June 23, 2012, the Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) is holding the 8th annual Inclusion Institute: Together We Can and you are invited! The Inclusion Institute is designed for professionals working in inclusive settings such as child care, early childhood special education, and Head Start, as well as for parents of young children with special needs.

Listen here to CINDY CROFT for more details about this event.  You may also visit THE WEBSITE.

Family child care is a profession. Babysitting is a job. What happens when you do both? Click HERE to read more about this topic on Tom Copeland’s blog. (He’s our guest speaker for August)

The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Inc. has a Teacher position open, as well as Assistant Teacher and Substitute Teacher. Hallie Q. Brown is a place to work if you care about helping others and giving back to the community. See position info below:

POSITION TITLE: Teacher
DEPT: Early Learning Center
SALARY GRADE: $10-12/hour
POSITION SUMMARY: Plans both long and short range activities for a particular classroom (age specific) in accordance with curriculum objectives, developmentally appropriate practice and program philosophy designed to meet the emotional, social, physical and cognitive needs of each child. Ensures that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child. Read more »

Do you have a stash of plastic lids but don’t know what to do with them all? Here’s a link to many CREATIVE IDEAS for USING PLASTIC LIDS. Maybe you have a creative idea that’s not listed…share it with us! Comment below or upload a picture.

A winner was selected at random for the Pocket Coach Book Giveaway. The lucky WINNER is …Entry #24- click HERE to find out who. CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you to all who entered and to Tina Feigal for the wonderful donation!

What do you know – and what do your children know – about alcohol and drug abuse? At what age in your child’s life is this relevant? You may be surprised by what this Mom Enough guest has to say!

From the earliest years of life, our children are learning about alcohol and other mood-altering substances from what they see and hear among adults in their lives. At earlier ages than ever before, children encounter opportunities and temptations to experiment with alcohol, prescription drugs, illegal substances and dangerous new synthetics. LISTEN HERE to a youth addiction expert.