It's Playtime: Keeping Cool & Having Fun

I know some of you are in the midst of winter, but here in Southern California, it's summer at it's finest.  Not it's hottest yet, that's sometime between August and October (yes, October, usually around Halloween!), but still hot enough to avoid the outdoors after 10 a.m.  Knowing I am not that only one attempting to beat the heat and keep my kids away from the T.V. I am dedicating this weeks It's Playtime to activities that will keep us cool while having fun.

My kids are always asking for Slurpees and slushies in the summer to keep them cool.  Well now we can make our own Healthy Slushy thanks to We-Made-That.com.  She includes the recipe for a yummy strawberry or blueberry slushy.    

Happy Little Messes made Frozen Tempera for a creative, outdoor, art experience.  

Do you have any of those cool floor puzzle alphabet pieces?  Take them outside and add water for some Alphabet Water Tracing fun!  Thanks to Crafts-N-Things for children for sharing this repurposing idea with us.

Playdough to Plato shows us how to recycle and have a bit of water fun with their Junk Boats.  

OK, one more!  There were so many good posts this week it's hard to stop.  Check out the Ice Balloons over on Sugarsnips for some cooling sensory fun.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."

  

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.

* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.

* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)

* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

It's Playtime: Creative Outdoor Play

With TV's, video games, and computers, getting our kids outdoors sometimes takes a little persuasion.  It's not enough to kick them out of the house and tell them not to come back until it's dark.  Often, kids need an activity to get their creative outdoor juices started.  This week on It's Playtime I'm featuring some fun and creative ways to inspire imaginative play outdoors.

A little yarn can go a long way!  Sense of Wonder shared their Yarn Day and how providing a bit of string opened the door for hours of creative outdoor fun.

Love, Play, Learn got their school age kids outside with a simple Water Balloon Towel Toss.  Perfect for a hot summer day; sometimes the most difficult days to get kids outside!

If you're like me, your kids have several miscellaneous socks with no partner laying around.  Inspire Imagination Through Creation shared how to, not only turn those Odd Socks into simple bean bags, but some of the creative ways their kids played with them outdoors.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.

* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.

* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)

* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

It's Playtime: A Bit of Science

Halloween may be over but these It's Playtime science activities are good all year around...

Science Sparks shared their post about Making an Eerie Sound Device.  This simple activity can be spooky or just plain silly.  I love the video she posted demonstrating the device!

 Whole Child Creative Curriculum posted this Science Experiment for Preschoolers.  Don't have a rubber glove laying around the house (or school)?  Try using a balloon for a similar effect.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.

* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.

* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)

* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

It's Playtime: Party Time!

It can be difficult planning a birthday party.  From the type of cake to make (or purchase) to ways to entertain the children.  Instead of fretting about your child's next party, check out these fabuloso ideas discovered on last weeks It's Playtime!

Rather then a tired ol' sheet cake for your next party, try baking this yummy Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Box Cake created by Sun Scholars instead.  

 Don't forget the ice cream!  TinkerLab shared with us how Painting on Ice Cream can create edible works of art.  Why not turn this into a fun and creative party activity?  The kids will thank you!  

And what child can resist party games?  Especially when they involve water balloons!  Local Fun for Kids shared 5 Ideas for Water Balloon Games.  

 Themed parties don't always need to involve character plates and cups.  It can be about the dress and activities instead.  My Oatmeal Kisses shared some great ideas for a Princess Party.  

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."     

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

It's Playtime: Fabulous Favorites #2

Once again, I'm proud to host our readers' favorite posts from last weeks It's Playtime.  This includes the blogs which were viewed or "liked" the most on the linky.    

Play Create Explore topped our views last week with these lovely, rainbow, Playdough Filled Balloons. Fun for the kids and good stress relief for mom.  I love the rainbow colors!

Our own co-hostess, Quirky momma, was popular this week with her Hairy Hotdogs!  This yummy meal combines two child favorites: pasta and hotdogs!  What's not to love???  A great meal for when mommy and daddy need a night out and the 16 year old babysitter is cooking.  

Another top viewed post is this Salt Painting from Lightning Bug Literacy.  The colored rock salt reminds my of little gems; like something you would see in pirate treasure.  A great sensory/art project for little hands!

Seems many of you clicked over to Praises of a Wife and Mommy to learn how to make your own Puffy Paint.  This is a great recipe because I guarantee that most of you have these items laying around the house!   I usually find the best art supplies are those you don't have to buy.  

Those of us who have been working with kids along time have made sensory bottles at one time or another.  Well Come Together Kids stepped up the oil and water bottle idea by adding Alka Seltzer tablets, creating a DIY Lava Lamp.  

So now your done with those Playdough Filled Balloons, right?  Wrong!  Share & Remember showed us how to reuse sensory balloons to create beautiful Sensory Balloon Paintings.  Easy to hold, fun to squish, and perfect for creating unique process art!  

And just when we thought cardboard boxes couldn't be any more fun, An Amazing Child gave us one more thing to do with them...A Messy Painting Box! A contained space for art exploration; what a wonderful idea!  Now where can I get a new box?????

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.