Christine Knight, Author at Adventure, baby!

Christine Knight

Christine is the editor of Adventure, Baby!

Christmas Gift Guide For Preschool Girls

November 10, 2014 / Family, Kids, Shopping / 10 Comments

How is it possible that Christmas is upon us already? I’m actually really excited for Christmas this year as Missy E is finally the right age to “get” it, so if her excitement over Halloween was anything to go by, she is going to be out of her mind with anticipation for the big event of the year.

It’s only been lately that Missy E has started to ask for things that she wants, too, so I’m excited to be able to get her a few things that her tiny, enthusiastic heart desires. If you have a princess and pink loving little girl at home or in the family to buy for, here are a few things little Miss E would very much like for Christmas this year.

LeapFrog Fridge Phonics
These magnetic letters attached to the fridge and play the sounds of the letters when you put the letters in the bus. It also plays songs like Wheels On The Bus and ABCs. Great for teaching early vocabulary. (RRP $29.95 AUD)

Smiggle Goodies
Every kid who is headed to daycare or school needs an adorable backpack. The Konnichiwa backpack (RRP $44.95) from Smiggle one is great for day trips as well – it’s a fantastic size to throw in everything little kids need, with lots of compartments for putting things like wipes, extra clothes and toys in so they won’t get lost. Bonus: the adorable kitty design is fun and girly without being too “baby” for E. I also love the Smiggle media pouch (RRP $14.95), keyring mirror (RRP $7.95) and double-decker lunchbox (RRP $24.95).

Cabbage Patch Kids Twinkle Toes
I loved my CPKs when I was little so it’s really cool to see Miss E enjoying them too. This particular model is so cute, with replica Skechers shoes that light up. The CPK range is great as they’re not too pricey but are fantastic quality. (RRP $89.99 AUD)

Anna and Elsa Singing Dolls
Missy E’s life is all about princesses, particularly Anna and Elsa. These singing dolls would blow her mind. (RRP $39.95 USD each)

Madeline Tea Set
E loves playing pretend tea parties of late, and this 24-piece set is just adorable. Each piece is illustrated with characters and scenes from the Madeline series. The set includes a tray, teapot, four cups, saucers, plates, spoons and napkins, plus a tablecloth, in a cute little carry box. We will be taking our tea party on the road with this one. (RRP $35 USD)

Kinetic Sand
Sand play without the mess. Kinetic Sand is 98% sand and 2% magic, where the ‘magic’ a bonding agent that causes the sand to stick only to itself in a soft clump. (RRP $29.95 AUD)

Disney Princess Magiclip
E is obsessed with the magiclip toys. She already has an Anna and Elsa magiclip and she plays with them obsessively. When she saw this princess set with Rapunzel, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Tiana, she flipped out. The dresses clip on and off and can be switched between the dolls. Literally hours of entertainment here. (RRP $39.95 USD)

Rapunzel Tower Play Set – Tangled
Like most three-year-olds, Missy E is really into doll sets and doll houses. She’s been begging for this one for a while now and even I have to admit it’s pretty cute and looks like it wouldn’t take up too much space. (RRP $49.95)

Farm Duplo
A huge set of lego with plenty of bricks for building (unlike a lot of small sets which are limited in terms of the general bricks included). Included are cute characters like cows and farmers. ($89.95 AUD)

Olaf Pillow Pet
This is a double-whammy toy favourite – it’s Olaf, so, duh, and it’s a pillow that folds into a toy. An instant hit with the preschool set. (RRP $34.99)

What do your kid want for Christmas this year?

Collette Dinnigan & The Australian Ballet For Target Collection

November 4, 2014 / Shopping / 0 comment

I don’t usually do fashion posts, but I am in LOVE with this new ballet collection for little girls from Target. Collette Dinnigan has once again created a gorgeous line of tutu-inspired dresses (and a skirt!) with The Australian Ballet, selling exclusively through Target.

Little E is obsessed with wearing ballet outfits, and she is going to loose her mind with these gorgeous dresses. I just wish they came in my size too!

What do you think of the collection? Does your daughter love to dress up in ballet oufits, too?

Images from here.

Photography Tip: Get Better Photos By Taking More

November 4, 2014 / Family, Kids, Photography / 4 Comments

Today’s photography tip is something that is super simple and yet is often how I get my best photographs.

Just take more photos. That’s it. And I don’t mean take more photos every day in general, I mean when you’re trying to capture a memory in a single moment in time, just keep your finger on the shutter and keep taking photos.

The photographs that you’ll end up loving the most of your family in particular, are those that are candid and show you all just having a blast. These photographs can’t be posed, and, when you’re working with small children (or unwilling participants, not naming any names, Husband), the only way to get natural photos that show everyone basically having a good time is to set up the shot, and keep on shooting.

Shoot 50 frames, or 100, if you need to. You’ll end up discarding about 90-95% of the photos, which is fine (hooray digital photography!) but all you’re after is just one, single, great photo that reflects how wonderful that moment in time was.

I pulled together some outtakes below to show you a typical photo sequence of little Missy E. She loathes photographs in general, so I try and make her laugh at me, tell her silly things so she finds it all entertaining instead of a chore. If you watch her face as the photos progress, there’s a great mix of wacky faces, and then, at the end, a single great frame with a huge, natural smile on her face.

Technical tip: You want the camera to be shooting quite fast to capture crisp images with no motion blur (particularly with facial expressions). The easiest way to get this is by shooting in bright, natural light. If you’re using an SLR, set the ISO a bit higher to make the camera more sensitive to the light (I usually set mine around 400-500). This helps the camera capture the images faster.

Are you trying to take better photos? What would you like more tips on?

Sculpture By The Sea, Bondi

November 3, 2014 / Sydney, Sydney Life / 8 Comments

Sculpture By The Sea is always a highlight on the Sydney calendar. Not only is it a fantastic day out at the beach, checking out gorgeous sculptures, it also signifies that summer is just around the corner.

Every year, over 100 sculptures are put on display along the iconic coastal walkway between Bondi and Tamarama beaches. The exhibition is free and the sculptures are marked with either “do not touch” or “be gentle”, or encourage the public to experience them interactively. While the exhibition is very kid-friendly, the crowds on weekends and big stairs make it a bit stroller-prohibitive, so bring a carrier and be prepared to carry toddlers to keep them safe if you go on a busy day.

This was the first year that I’d taken Missy E, however, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. While I’ve taken her to a lot of art galleries and exhibitions in the past, we haven’t gone to see anything not specifically kid-focussed in a while. Miss E actually blew us away with how into the sculptures she was. She loved that we had to hunt for each art work, and took a lot of joy in being the first to spot each new piece. She ran up to each one and touched it (when possible), taking her time looking at the details in each piece, before declaring she was done and ready to look for the next sculpture. She also enjoyed running in front of the big groups of people trying to take photos of the sculptures and posing for them like she was a star in front of the paparazzi. Lucky she’s so cute.

The exhibition this year was beautiful, inspiring, unexpected and entertaining. Take a look at the photos below for our Sculpture By The Sea highlights.

Does your child like art? I’d love to hear about how you share a love of art with your family.

Sculpture By The Sea runs until November 9, 2014.

Halloween in Sydney

November 1, 2014 / Family, Kids, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 4 Comments

The past three Halloweens we’ve been in New York, so this was our first Halloween experience in Sydney with little missy E. While we’d been away, the Halloween tradition really spread with a vengeance. A dear friend invited us to spend Halloween with her family, so we eagerly drove up to the leafy North Shore area to trick or treat with friends.

The big question is always who or what to dress up as. E is hugely into Disney princesses and changed into Cinderella and Anna outfits before settling on Tinkerbell.

The day before Halloween, a flyer was placed in mailboxes with a black balloon, letting residents know that trick or treating would be happening the following afternoon. Anyone who wanted to participate was asked to tie the blown up balloon to their mailbox. The kids very excitedly ran up and down the streets on the look out for the next balloon.

On Halloween day in Sydney, the weather was a sweaty 30 plus degrees, making for some hot and thirsty work. With daylight savings already having started, the afternoon was super bright even after 6pm, when we decided to call it quits and take our sugar-high kids on home.

How was your Halloween? Did you go trick or treating?

Top Books For Tots

October 28, 2014 / Family, Kids / 10 Comments

I love books, and I love sharing my love of books with Missy E. Since she’d sit long enough to pay attention, I’ve read her books. Short board ones to begin with, and now that she’s three, longer ones.

Here are some of our favourites to read together – maybe you’ll find a new book to try in our list!.

Not A Box by Antoinette Portis
A book encouraging imagination, where a simple box is a key to a fantastical world.

Meet Snugglepot And Cuddlepie by May Gibbs
This book is a sweet introduction to May Gibbs’ endlessly endearing gumnut babies. Join Snugglepot and Cuddlepie as they go on an adventure into the Australian bush and encounter a human.

The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss
The troublesome Cat shows up of at the house of Sally and her brother one rainy day when their mother is away.

Pouch! by David Ezra Stein
A baby kangaroo seeks independence one hop at a time, just like a toddler slowly gaining confidence and exploring their new world.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This little caterpillar literally eats his way through the book, and then turns into a glorious butterfly. My daughter’s current absolute favourite book.

Who Sank The Boat? by Pamela Allen
A cow, a pig, a donkey, a sheep and a tiny mouse go for a row. One of them sinks the boat – who was it?

The Story Of Growl by Judy Horacek
Growl is a little monster who loves to growl. When her growling causes trouble for her neighbours, she’s banned from growling. How will she get her growl back? This adorable story teaches accepting others for who they are, the importance of community and of considering others as well as yourself.

Where Is The Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
There are red sheep, blue sheep, scared sheep and brave sheep. But where is that green sheep?

Maple by Lori Nichols
A little girl and her tree grow up together, in this story of a free spirited and nature-loving child and her new sibling.

Hi, Koo! A Year Of Seasons by Jon J Muth
26 haiku poems about the four seasons, with Muth’s famous panda, Koo. A great way to introduce youngsters to simple poetry and beautiful illustrations.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Williams
Set in our old Brooklyn neighbourhood, Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat and leave somebunny special behind. Told through a combination of black-and-white photos and bold illustrations, this funny book tells a tale about what happens when Daddy’s in charge and things go very wrong.

Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Scott Magoon
Poor Spoon. He thinks Fork, Knife and Chopsticks all have it so much better than him. This enchanting book is about embracing what it is that makes you special.

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
For all the mischief makers out there, join Max and the wild things in their rumpus. A classic book for a very good reason.

The Colour Thief by Gabriel Alborozo
Zot lives in a world without colour. He sees Earth, sparkling with brilliant colour, and sets off to steal some of that colour for himself.

Who Are You, Baby Kangaroo? by Stella Blackstone and Clare Beaton
A curious puppy goes on a journey to discover what a baby kangaroo is called, and learns what all kinds of baby animals are called along the way.

Llama Llama Time To Share by Anna Dewdney
Sharing is hard, but Llama learns that it can also be fun.

What are your favourite books to read with your kids?

7 Ways To Get Mums In The Picture

October 23, 2014 / Family, Kids, Photography / 18 Comments

I’m the picture taker in the family. Are you? Between my iPhone, DSLR and snappy camera, I always have some device in hand recording precious moments. While this results in gorgeous photographic memories for my husband, daughter and rest of family, it means I’m usually not in the shot unless I beg my husband to take one.

A photo posted by Christine Knight (@christine.knight) on Sep 9, 2014 at 7:34pm PDT

The resulting images are predictable. One toddler who hates being photographed, combined with one husband who hates taking photos, and the photos are usually blurry, forced, or feature one very angry toddler.

I absolutely love photography. One of my biggest joys is in capturing moments for those whom I love. I also would like to be captured in moments too, however. When my daughter is older, I want to be able to hand down images of her childhood with us all enjoying life together, not just pictures of her with everyone else.

I want her to see herself and her mum, smiling, having fun, playing games and goofing around. Just the simple daily lives we lead that are precious to me, but that she won’t remember. So, what’s a mum to do? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and have been working on ways to include myself in the picture in ways that are natural but still telling our story.

A photo posted by Christine Knight (@christine.knight) on Oct 10, 2014 at 4:50am PDT

1. The selfie
My daughter is 3 and now enjoys a good selfie. While she dislikes having her photo taken as a general rule, she adores when we take selfies together.

A photo posted by Christine Knight (@christine.knight) on Sep 9, 2014 at 3:11pm PDT

2. Little rituals
Our daily family rituals include babyccinos made by Daddy, and ice tea drunk by Mummy.

A photo posted by Christine Knight (@christine.knight) on Jan 1, 2014 at 6:35pm PST

3. Activity shots
Ask someone to take a photo during a “Mummy & Me” class. Cute shots guaranteed when a certain someone doesn’t notice the camera is on them.

A photo posted by Christine Knight (@christine.knight) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:14pm PDT

4. My shadow and me
My tiny sidekick loves shadows and is delighted when the sun is in the right spot to throw her shadow long and forward.

A photo posted by Christine Knight (@christine.knight) on May 5, 2014 at 12:50pm PDT

5. While you were sleeping
I spend a lot of time strolling my child to sleep when it was the only place she would nap. When she was finally down I would reward myself with a treat, like this delicious ice cream.

A photo posted by Christine Knight (@christine.knight) on May 5, 2014 at 2:01pm PDT

6. Toddler portraits
My budding photographer enjoys pointing the camera back at me now. While she is slowly learning technique, the results are so entertaining, and I adore seeing how I look through her eyes.

A photo posted by Christine Knight (@christine.knight) on Aug 8, 2014 at 1:30am PDT

7. Make them laugh
When I ask my husband to take a photo with me in it now, I try and make a game of it for my toddler to get her over the hating to pose mood. In this one, we were dancing around the room and I pulled her down into a backbend just as my husband snapped the button.

What about you? How do you like to sneak into the picture?

Brooklyn Neighborhood Guide: Boerum Hill

October 21, 2014 / Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

Residents of south Brooklyn love to talk about the “BoCoCa” neighborhood. Like all acronyms in in NYC, “BoCoCa” is made up of three ‘hoods that border on each other. You might have heard of the “Co” (Cobble Hill) and “Ca” (Carroll Gardens), but you might not have heard of the “Bo”, which stands for Boerum Hill. That will change today with our handy neighborhood guide.

Upper 90
This soccer store is loved by locals for more than just their large range of soccer shoes, apparel and other soccer-type items. Upper 90 has an indoor soccer field where they host lessons for kids, as well as open play for toddlers every weekday morning from 10-12 ($10).
359 Atlantic Ave

Betty Bakery
This is your sweet spot to pick up cupcakes, cookies and, in summer, strawberry lemonade. You can also try a slice of cake – we recommend the strawberry shortcake, with layers of vanilla cake, fresh whipped cream, and huge strawberries.
448 Atlantic Avenue

Nunu Chocolates
Handmade truffles and caramels await you at Nunu Chocolates. All chocolate is made in the store, so you know what you’re about to eat is literally freshly made. Grab a coffee, hot chocolate, croissant (and of course, a few truffles), and watch the chocolates being made in the back. Our faves: the salted caramels.
529 Atlantic Ave

Building on Bond
This hot eating spot is so hip it hurts. Locals stop by for coffee every morning, and brunch on weekends. As well as having delicious food, it’s reasonably priced (the brunch menu ranges from $6 to $12).
112 Bond St

Acorn
Stop by this toy store for a special gift. Acorn carries beautifully designed, handcrafted toys from around the world. You’ll find lots of wooden toys at Acorn, plus flying bird mobiles and nursery prints, including the Red Knit Cap Girl.
323 Atlantic Avenue

This article was first published on MommyNearest.

30 Problems Only a Three-Year-Old Would Understand

October 12, 2014 / Family, Kids / 0 comment

Being three is tough. You’re not a baby any more, but you’re not a big kid yet, either. You’re expected to do what you’re told, but now you have mind of your own. Uh-oh! Here are 30 times when, for a 3-year-old, the struggle is real. #firstworldtoddlerproblems

When there’s no whole milk left, only skim.
When Netflix is down and there’s no more Barney.
When you want a banana and there are no bananas left. And no, you don’t want a pear/grapes/apple. Yuck!
When you drop the last goldfish on the ground and your parents won’t let you eat it.
When you take your shoes off but can’t put them back on.
When your head gets stuck in the t-shirt hole.
When the iPad runs out of batteries.
When you want to keep playing but mom says it’s dinner time.
When you glue your art project to your pants.
When your latest artwork (with pens and furniture) gets you in trouble.
When you wanted an Elsa doll and got Anna instead.
When your pants tag itch your skin so much that you need to take your pants off.
When you’re strapped in the stroller and drop your lovie.
When you peed in your pants because you didn’t want to stop playing to go to the potty.
When you drank full strength juice and bounced off the walls.
When you fell asleep in the car seat and woke up epically grumpy.
When you didn’t nap at all and were even grumper.
When you have hanger all. day. long.
When your lovie gets so worn it falls apart.
When you wanted to press the elevator button and someone beat you to it.
When Mom turned the TV on when you wanted to do it.
When you want to wear a blue tutu to school and you don’t even own a blue tutu.
When your night light goes off in the middle of the night.
When you get your hair brushed.
When you have to share your toys.
When someone else sings your song, “Let It Go”.
When you only want to eat rice crackers and your parents feed you vegetables instead.
When you get served peas for dinner.
When it’s too hard to decide between a ponytail and a braid.
When no one can understand what you’re saying but you’re speaking loud and clear.

This article was first published on MommyNearest.

10 Things I Want My Child To Learn By Age 10

October 7, 2014 / Family, Kids / 0 comment

My tiny girl is growing up so fast. She’s just three, and while some days she still seems like a baby, others she is already showing signs of the big kid she’s quickly becoming. Raising a girl is taking me back to my own childhood and bringing up memories—both good and bad—of how fun, wonderful and also difficult it can be navigating the move from child to tween. There are so many things I want to teach my daughter and show her as she grows into a young lady, ready to take on the world on her own. Here are ten things I hope she learns by the time she turns double digits.

To be a good friend
Right now I’m trying to teach the concept of sharing. She has no trouble attracting little friends at this stage, and I hope that as she gets older she will keep friends close to her heart. Friends will support her throughout life when family can’t be there, and fill in the place of the siblings she doesn’t have.

To stand up for herself
Growing up in Brooklyn playgrounds, this kid has no trouble standing up for herself if another kid tries to grab a toy out of her hands. But it’s a world of difference in the grade school and tween years, when kids can get mean and catty and form cliques. I hope that by helping our daughter realize her self worth, she will be able able to keep her confidence high and stand up to bullies.

To stand up for others
I also want my daughter to use her strength to help others in need, to speak up for people who can’t speak up for themselves. Sometimes we need to be a voice for those who aren’t able to use their own. A little empathy and kindness make the world a better place for everyone to live in.

To develop her own voice
It’s so easy to follow others and ignore what makes you special so you blend in. It takes a great deal of personal character and strength to really be yourself and follow your own heart. I hope my fearless girl will continue to stand confident in her own values and embrace being unique.

To be bold
When we’re little it’s easy to be brave. As we get older, though, fear starts to get in the way of us fulfilling our potential. I want my girl to keep her sassiness and fearlessness, and continue to be the brave girl who has forged her own way since birth.

To be her own style icon
There’s no need to copy other people’s styles and trends when you can create a unique look that’s perfect for just you. I hope to see many adventurous outfits and hairstyles on my daughter as she becomes a tween. Crazy hair? Sure, bring it on!

To be kind to animals
Animals need us to watch out for them—to champion their causes and to pick them up when they’re hurt. My daughter already loves animals. The next step is teaching her to show all creatures empathy and give them help when they need it—whether it’s bringing home a stray kitten or telling us she’s found a bird with a broken wing that needs aid.

To keep trying
We’ve all been there—sometimes it feels like it’s easier to just give up. Take riding a bike, for example. It may seem hard at first and not worth to trying (especially when you can just scoot or walk instead), but it is. What’s important, though, isn’t the bike riding (although having your own transportation is awesome), it’s the trying and persisting that builds character. I know this will ultimately help my daughter succeed later in life.

To dream big and work hard
We all start with big dreams. Huge, lofty, crazy dreams about the way we want our lives to go. But how often do we follow through on these dreams? They don’t magically come true—dreams require a lot of hard work and persistence. So keep on dreaming big, little one, and get ready to work your butt off to make them a reality.

To find the joy in each day
Some days are not joyful. They’re downright hard and sometimes sad. It’s not realistic to ask anyone to be happy every day of their lives, but I hope that my daughter is able to find at least a small moment of joy in every day, to help her keep loving life even through the tough times.

This article first appeared on MommyNearest.