Castle Carols Christmastime at Liseberg Gothenburg - Traveling in Sweden

It has almost become a tradition at visit the Liseberg Amusement Park at christmastime for its festive atmosphere, the glögg, the attractions and, of course, the fun we have!

Liseberg opened first in 1923 and it is actually the most visited amusement park in Sweden and one of the most visited amusement parks in Scandinavia attracting about three million visitors annually.

The Castle with knights showing some cool fighting skills
 

Christmas at Liseberg - Jul på Liseberg
 

The Christmas Market

The entrance to Santa's Factory

On our way to the Port - Liseberg
 

Inside Santa's Factory
 

Christmas at Liseberg - Jul på Liseberg

Christmas at Liseberg - Jul på Liseberg
 

The Christmas Market
 

Christmas at Liseberg - Jul på Liseberg

The Christmas Market - Pepparkakor

Enjoyed this ride? Check out the Top 7 destinations for kids in Northern Europe

Three basic categories of toys for preschoolers

Choosing toys for preschoolers - The 3 basic rules

Parents often ask me which toys can best stimulate their childrens' cognitive, emotional and motor skills. I answer: Choose passionately, choose wisely (based on the child's unique interests and abilities) and choose differently (try to expand the child's play spectrum)

Here are three basic categories of toys to choose for children of preschool age 2-6 year old.

1. Building and construction toys: Stimulate the child's imagination, creative thinking and problem solving skills. At the same time, the child improves its tactile perception and fine motor skills.
Building blocks, lego etc are some examples.

2. Art and craft kits: Drawing, coloring, creating from simple materials is a great challenge for the child's mind. Not only does this activity stimulates child's imagination and memory skills, it's one of the best ways for the child to express emotions. It also trains hand-eye coordination skills.

3. Material/toys for imaginative and pretend play: dolls, dollhouses and castles, dress-up accessories, cooking sets etc . Playing a character, a role is an amazing way for the child to express thoughts and emotions, to develop language and memory skills, and the best way to improve social interaction skills.

Have fun!
You may also like: 'Three basic rules when choosing books for preschoolers' 

DIY wool felt projects

What can I say? These cute red wool felt envelopes were a huge success! 

And not just for the letter to Santa.. We made them christmas tree ornaments, we made them handbags, we made them blankets for our dolls, we staffed them with cotton and made them christmas pillows for our bigger dolls, and up to the tree again.. Endless play time, invaluable..

 

 

Make your own envelope, find the tutorial here

Ideas for wool and wool felt projects can you find here

Need more inspiration? Check out this felt and craft blog

I fell in love with these DIY felt acorns ornaments

Felt crafts for kids beautiful!

And my absolute favorite: Inhabitors

 

Christmas in Sweden- The Elves' House

Christmas time and festivities are all over Gothenburg!

The House of Santa's Elves

Here we met Santa's Elves and sent our wish list (Önskelista) to Santa's Post!

 

The wish list to Santa - Önskelista to Tomten

Lovely time to dress up and have fun..

Christmas festivities and mini Santas

 Drawing a Santa for Santa..
 

 

 More Christmas in Sweden here

 

 Wish to find nice Christmas printables? Check out here and here!

 

Christmas in Sweden and Swedish Pepparkakor

If I was to choose a season that Sweden is in its best, than it would definitely be during Christmas. This time of the year, we enjoy the most beautiful house decorations, the most delicious breakfasts and the most amazing outdoor activities. Christmas time requires a lot of cooking as well. There is no Swedish Christmas without Swedish Pepparkakor, of course!

Here, you may find one of my favorite recipes for Swedish Pepparkakor and other Swedish Christmas delights!  

It's all about Pepparkakor this time of year in Sweden! Toddlers dressing up as pepparkakor for the christmas parties at day care.. A swedish stamp featuring Pippi baking pepparkakor..

 

 

 

Making jewelry for the 65th birthday of a dear friend

Today I stayed home because my daughter was sick and we played with pearls, which we both love! I wanted to make a present for a dear friend of mine who turned 65 and will soon stop working.

She plans to travel the world starting with Spain. We have worked together at the hospital many years and I always considered her as part of my family. So I decided not to buy her a present, but to give her a present that I've made myself, that is unique.I thought about making something colorful, playful but with a touch of luxury too.

So here it is!

Making jewelry for a dear friend who turns 65

Working with details

And the result!

Top activities for kids in preschool age

Today I've gathered and present to you all our favorite activities for preschoolers, activities that you'll also enjoy and have fun with your kids!

 

Drawing and coloring develop the brain, train motor, emotional and social skills

 

• Cooking and play: An activity that combines playing skills, with team work, fine motor skills and working memory, all of which you may find here and here. 
• Recycling: Recycling is one of our favorite activity for many reasons, mostly because of our love and respect to nature. Some of our recycling projects are presented here. You can read more and be insired from our posts here.
• It's all about water! I don't know about you, but my kids are crazy about water and so are many of my patients! So, we have been playing and experimenting with water, both outdoor and indoor, as you may see here and here.
• Colours and drawing: An amazing way to help your child develop his/her imagination, creativity, visual perception, hand-eye coordination, emotional and social skills. You may read more here. For the little ones, I strongly recommend sponge painting. 
• Sensory activities are another favorite. Playing with sensory bottles, curtains and other surfaces, discovering the colours, the sounds and different kinds of material through a combined work from the senses, this is a great stimuli to our kid's brain development, all of which you may read here.

 

 

Kids go doodle

As my daughters are going through the iPad phase, I decided not to be totally negative, but to let them live this. Eventhough I have this feeling that this is not just a phase that will go away..
Anyhow, I felt like setting a few 'rules' to be followed, kind of 'we'll rule over iPad'


Our family in doodle



Our doodle car

So despite the '30 min' time rule, which is the maximum time they can play with their iPad per day -and only after 19-, I have applied the 'only what mom/dad allows' rule, which is exactly as the name states. So we have basically downloaded games that stimulate the kids' mind, creativity and imagination.
Our latest iPad 'toy' and the absolute favorite is Kids doodle and I must admit that it is quite good!

Here you see some doodle paintings from my 4-year old xx

 

 

 

 

Museums of picture book, cartoon and animation art

  

  

Some inspiring museums with illustration art worth visiting with your kids!

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art - Founded in 2002, this museum's goal is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. It is located in Amherst, Massachusetts,United States. The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world.

The Mazza Museum - this is considered to be the largest museum of original artwork by children’s book illustrators in the world. The museum is located in Findlay, Ohio, United States. The museum’s goal is to promote literacy and enrich the lives of all people through the art of children’s literature.

Children's Book Museum - In the Children’s Book Museum (Kinderboekenmuseum) in the Hague, Netherlands, children can have loads of fun while learning about Dutch children’s literature. They will discover how stories can be both enriching and inspirational.
     
The Cartoon Art Museum - From editorial cartoons to comic books, graphic novels to anime, the Cartoon Art Museum has over 6,000 pieces of original and cartoon and animation art, a comprehensive research library, and five galleries of exhibition space. It is located downtown in San Francisco, United States.

The Cartoon Museum - Located in Central London, close to the British Museum, this museum has three main galleries displaying original artwork from British cartoons and comics, past and present.

The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature - This museum, located in Texas, aims to enhance visual and verbal literacy by celebrating the best original art published in children’s literature.

The Children's Illustrated Art Museum - This museum, located in Crestwood, United States, has apart from the exhibitions of illustrated art, all kinds of activities for children, from book readings and build-a-book to coloring contests and performing paintig of book art.

The Chihiro Art Museum - The Chihiro Art Museum in Tokyo and Azaro hosts not only illustrations from the famous japanese illustrator Chihiro Iwasaki, but exhibitions from international picture book illustrators as well.

Make every day count

Most people make New Year's Resolutions. Myself, I am more of a spring type person, I feel the best in spring. It may have to do with the fact that I was born in April. Anyway, this year I found myself making Easter Resolutions instead. And I thought what a better way to keep these by sharing them with you, my dear blog friends and readers! So here they come:

 

'Read more books' - there is no limit in this one

 

'Loose those extra three kilos' - this one is a classical, I know but still, I have to seriously consider this before hitting the beach

 

'Make every day count!' - as a mother of two, I can't help spending every free second of the day with these two angels. Finding new adventures, discovering the world, feeling the happiness in every small thing, finding the beauty in life, this is the ultimate purpose of my existence..