This post is sponsored by Nuffnang.

Our littlest one is off to three year old preschool this year. Super exciting for him and me, but also a little sad for me too!

Receiving a $100 voucher from Big W to check out their ‘rough & tumble/every day wear’ range of clothing for 0-4 year olds, could not have come at a better time. When he heads off to preschool, I want him to look smartly dressed, but want him to be wearing clothes that he can play, explore and be creative in.

To be honest, our little one would do all those things in anything he wore. I on the other hand would not be so happy to see paint go over expensive jeans, nor grass stains on delicate tops!

The every day wear range for preschoolers at Big W, gives you a broad selection of good looking clothes to choose from and at super prices. These are the perfect type of clothes for preschool/kinder.

We picked up a couple of pairs of these very cute jeans for only $9. He is a light weight, so the elasticized waist in the jeans will be needed. Thankfully they are the type where the elastic is sewn into the jeans, so we can’t lose it in the waistline of the jeans, like we have done on so many other pairs.

As the mornings are starting off cool here in Melbourne already, I wanted to get him a couple of long sleeve t-shrits, for the walks to school and preschool. I let him choose the designs he wanted. I knew very well he would choose the dinosaur one! They were only $4.48 so we picked up one with a dog on it too.

I have always found Big W to have the best range of Bonds clothing. I have a soft spot for babies in Bonds stripes, so would head to Big W first off to purchase the Bonds suits I needed for our babes.

The Bonds range now extends up to size two for many items. Even though our littlest is three, the Bonds size 2 fits him perfectly, so we picked up this 3/4 sleeve ribbed t-shirt for him for only $13.92.

We are currently still mastering one element of toilet training (it is driving me crazy!), so we picked up some more underwear as well. The underwear and sock sections for kids in large stores can often be quite a mess, making it hard to find the sizes you are after. Not the case when we visited our local Big W. It was neat, well organised and it was easy for the little one to choose his “Thomas jocks”.

By the end we had purchased six tops, three pairs of jeans and new underwear, all for just under $100 – such amazing value. Being the youngest in a family of five and seeing all his siblings wear school uniforms, he is now referring these to as his kinder clothes.

These clothes will be his pseudo uniform for kinder. Clothes that look great, were value for money and will cope with the heavy duty action our three year old will give them at kinder this year.

Most of the clothes we purchased are featured in the current Big W catalogue (ends 15/2), which can be found online here.

Next week, I will be able to show you just how cute our littlest one looks in all his new preschool clothes (and of course I am not biased!). You will also be able to have the chance to win a $100 Big W voucher as well!

Do you have certain clothes for preschool for your kids?

Current Sponsors:

• Bright Star Kids' Name Labels - Super Cute & Durable Name Labels
• Byk KIds Bikes - The first ergonomically designed Kids Bikes

The Perfect Clothes For Preschoolers is a post from: Planning With Kids

Month two of 2012 already! Here are some ideas of fun activities to do with the kids during the last month of summer here in Melbourne.

The Picnic Room

Now with school back, those of us with younger ones at home, maybe looking for new activities to do with the littlest ones. The Picnic Room is part of Kids Style Hub located at 436 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn. Kids Style Hub is a recent initiative which brings together the work of 100+ Australian and New Zealand children’s and maternity product designers, it also has an online shop where you can purchase these gorgeous products as well.

But Kids Style Hub is more that just a shop. It also has:

• crafting workshops and other events for both kids and adults
• a party room which can be hired out self catered or fully catered with entertainers
• a multi use room which can be booked out to run classes, events, seminars etc
• a photographers gallery featuring emerging and established artists & a photo studio which can be hired out

And of course this gorgeous Picnic Room:

The Picnic Room is a community space where mothers groups, play groups or any parents and their kids can meet up, relax and enjoy. Our guests are encouraged to bring along their own food if they like and make use of the deck chairs or set up some play mats on the grass floor for some tummy time. There is a tea and coffee station with lots of refreshing flavours available including camomile tea and caramel latte.

There are also some simple activities for children to amuse themselves with including drawing and imagination farm animals. We have tried to keep it simple so that there is no fighting over toys. It does not cost anything for mothers groups or plagroups etc to use this space and we are open 7 days a week. 9am til 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.

For more information you can contact Nicole Herrick on nicoleh@kidsstylehub.com.au or 0410 525 051.

Natured Kids

Natured Kids runs fun activities for children 0-5 yrs & their families in nature throughout the school terms.

Visiting a different location each week including Flora and Fauna reserves, local beaches, Community Parks and Gardens, Wetlands, and Bird Hides, Galleries and Sculpture Parks & Agricultural farms.

They are held at locations over Melbourne’s outer south east (around Frankston) and you can see what is planned for term 1 2012 here.

Cost:

• 1st child, 10 sessions = $130 ($13 per session)
• 2nd & 3rd child $80 each ($8 session)
• Plus – $10 family 2011 registration *To participate in craft, all children must register.
• Adults/babies free (with paying sibling)

For more information contact Narelle on 0431 791 379 or via the contact form on the website.

Riverslide Skate Park

Riverslide has 1800m² of skating surfaces and is the biggest skate park in the inner city. The park was designed in consultation with skaters, and has a street-skating focus so you can test your skills on ramps and fun-boxes.

The park is managed from 10am until dark. Night Sessions are run every Wednesday and Friday night – floodlit until 10:30pm (except winter months and weather permitting). It is open until 8pm Day Light Saving Time Wed & Fri nights open until 10:30pm.

Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 6pm
Location: Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne.
Cost: Free
More info: Riverslide Skate Park

Zoo Twilight Sessions

We have attended a number of Zoo twilight sessions over the years and have always had a great time. This year this is a great line up. If you were looking for something to do tonight you could head to the zoo at 5.30pm to see Kasey Chambers!

Details: For the full line up list and to book tickets on line click here.
Cost: Prices vary depending on the artist, but the most expensive family package is 2 Adults + 2 Children (4-15 years) $165.00

And if you are at the zoo for a twilight session or just a regular visit, be sure to check out at the Zoo shop the Beads For Wildlife products like my beautiful bracelet. It is part of the hand-crafted beaded jewellery range, made by the women of Melako in Northern Kenya.

The sale of these products, part of our Beads for Wildlife program directly support over 600 families in Melako; providing an alternative income, taking the pressure off precious resources and helping preserve species such as the Endangered Grevy’s Zebra.

You can also purchase the beads online here.

Tunes In The Trees

Sing some songs, shake out some rhythms and come and enjoy music inspired by plants and animals of the garden. Created especially for younger children, this program provides fun with song and movement in The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden.

Ages: Suitable for children aged three to four years; adult participation is required.
Event date: Thursday 16 February and Thursday 23 February
Time: 10am to 10:45am and 11am to 11:45am
Location: Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens, Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne (Meet at the Visitor Centre at Observatory Gate, directly opposite the Shrine of Remembrance)
Cost: $10 per child
Bookings: Required – Tel: (03) 9252 2429
More information: Royal Botanical Gardens Website.

Have fun and take the time to get outside and enjoy the last of our summer in February!

Current Sponsors:

• Bright Star Kids' Name Labels - Super Cute & Durable Name Labels
• Byk KIds Bikes - The first ergonomically designed Kids Bikes

Kids Activities Melbourne – February 2012 is a post from: Planning With Kids

We have a few simple balloon games that the kids love to play. They are great games to have up your sleeve if the weather is not conducive to outside play.

Balloon Tennis

We use the humble fly swat (you can buy them cheaply from $2 stores), balloon and string across the room to set up a game of balloon tennis.

Balloon Volleyball

Similar to Balloon Tennis, but without the fly swats and the net goes up higher. Balloon Volleyball works better if you have more than two kids who want to play.

Balloon Tap

Our preschooler loves the challenge of using only the fly swat and tapping the balloon the entire way around the house. (You can do a circuit of the main rooms in our house).

Keep It Up

I think most kids play this game. You have to tap the balloon up in the air and it isn’t allowed to touch the ground.

I always have a couple of balloons stashed in my everyday bag. They come in handy if you are delayed somewhere with not much for the kids to do. Balloons are one of those toys that even older kids like to have a play with every now and again.

What other balloon games can you add?

Current Sponsors:

• Bright Star Kids' Name Labels - Super Cute & Durable Name Labels
• Byk KIds Bikes - The first ergonomically designed Kids Bikes

Balloon Games is a post from: Planning With Kids