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Showing posts with label child. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

It's Playtime: Old Concepts, New Tricks


I love when I find a new way to use an old concept don't you?  So often we come across the same old thing all over the interent and while it may be a good idea (thus everybody doing it), sometimes it's nice to go, "Oh wow!  Why didn't I think of that?  I do that activity all the time and if only I had changed it ever so slightly...."  You get my point, right?  That's what's going on this week on It's Playtime!

Looking at this picture from Play Create Explore you might think, "oh, that's cloud dough," but not quite.  This Fluffy Stuff is a slightly different recipe.  Use it and create your own summer snowball fight!

At this point I think we all know what a water wall is, right?  Why not take the same concept and create a bead/ball run like the Russian blogger from The World of My Dreams...Lizon.org did?  She used plastic bottles to create a Rotating Ball Game, fun for grown-ups and kids alike.

 Puddles are for jumping and it can be fun to create Art in the Rain, but why not use some dried Tempura and create some Rainbow Puddles?  This fun idea from Play Create Explore will have your kids excited to mix some colors and create outdoor art.

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


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!


* 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.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

BabbaBox Review: Fun & Learning Delivered to Your Door

Occasionally I have the privilege of reviewing products.  I reviewed a great scrapbooking software back in February and I'll have another product review in the the next month or so.  It's a blogging perk that I enjoy.  I LOVE trying new products and sharing how I feel about them.  The BabbaBox by BabbaCo is no exception.  I was so excited to review this product I could hardly contain myself!  It fit fantastically with my blog plus I've developed and taught curriculum in the past, so I felt comfortable reviewing this product.  I wasn't disappointed!

We were so excited to get our BabbaBox in the mail.  It was like Christmas!  The theme for the month was "Sprouting Seeds".  The box included everything we needed to sprout and explore our own seeds, make flower pens, read and learn about seeds, plus a treat of yummy caramel chocolate (which being pregnant, I ate right away), and some coupons for babysitting sources and such.  It was quite the treasure trove.        
Amongst the crafts and science fun, was a Curious George book, actually two books in one.  My son, not being crafty, immediately grabbed the book to read.  He loves books!  After looking at it on his own, he asked me to sit and read the stories to him.  Both the stories related to seeds and planting, corresponding with the BabbaBox's theme.      

Once we sat down to play with our BabbaBox, my son became very interested.  We used one of the charts to do a quick review on parts of a plant.

After our plant review, we pulled out the "explore" pack.  It included a guide and a sturdy magnifying glass.  Michael loved looking at everything with the magnifier before checking out our seeds.  
 One of the "create" packs included a packet of herb seeds needed for both that project and the "explore" project.  I placed some of the seeds on a towel for my son and my daughter to examine.
The "explore" guide had a lovely picture of the different seeds in the packet along with the corresponding herb plant.  The kids sorted the seeds they wanted to grow in their own pots.

After sorting, they each got a small bowl to soak their seeds in before planting.

Both "create" projects came with enough supplies for two children.  For our planting project there were two pots, 4 dirt pellets, and a box of chalk.  The kids used the chalk to decorate their pots.

Once the seeds were ready, my daughter added two dirt pellets to each pot.  Then we added the water...
The kids loved watching the dirt "grow" until it filled the pot.  My son may have added a bit too much water...
Time to plant the seeds and place them in a sunny spot.  

The other "create" project in the BabbaBox were Flower Pens.  We pulled out that packet and the included scissors to get started.  The project included a guide, two silk flowers, two pens, two leaves, a vase, and green floral tape.  
 I had to start wrapping the tape for both the kids, but then they took over...
creating two unique flower pens.  My daughter has decided this is what she wants to make for Christmas gifts.
 


So now, what do I think?  I think the BabbaBox is a well thought-out product.  It has parents in mind who want to provide fun and educational activities to their children at home without all the work of downloading and "pinning" ideas, plus shopping for supplies.  This box can be spread out throughout the month or completed in a couple of days where a parent can add their own corresponding theme ideas.  I love that everything you need is included: the instructions, the supplies, reading material, and even a parental treat!  I didn't have to use anything of my own!

You can sign-up and join BabbaCo at anytime.  There are 3 great membership options to choose from; you can also give the box as a gift!  If you use the following code, you'll receive 20% off your first box: MK20OFF      

Don't forget to follow them on:

I hope you enjoy your BabbaBox as much as we did!  

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Ice Painting with Kool-Aid

Recently I shared our Kool-Aid Ice Play using frozen Kool-aid and paper towels to create some messy art and play.  Soon after that, my son asked to play with Kool-aid ice again.  I didn't have any cubes prepped so I took what we had and changed it up a bit.        

I placed a sheet of construction paper onto a cookie sheet.  My son loves orange so he always chooses that color.  Then we carefully sprinkled several colors of Kool-aid over the paper.  I let Michael help me with this as it's a good way to teach control.  

Then I gave him an ice cube.  He moved it around the page leaving wet and colorful trails as he did.  

But Kool-aid painting isn't just about what's on the paper.  It's the whole sensory experience!  He had to check out what was on the ice...
then of course he had to taste it...
and stick his fingers into the powder to taste that too.   

Once everything was touched and tasted, he was done.  For my son, as it is with many kids, especially boys, art is about the experience rather then the product (process art).  Michael could care less about what he created; for him it was all about playing and tasting ice and Kool-aid.    

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

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."


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!


* 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.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

It's Playtime: EGG-tra Special


Easter is upon us and the egg ideas are flying around the internet.  Egg crafts, egg dying, and egg hunts fill my Facebook feed.  So of course, I must join them, and feature some of my favorite egg-related activities posted on last weeks It's Playtime!  

Tape resist painting is so much fun!  I love these Tape Resist Easter Eggs from Putti Prapancha.  There are so many ways they can be designed!

We all know you can blow eggs for Easter decorations but what do you do with the innards?  Homemade Egg Tempera of course!  Tinker Lab will show you how to use rather then waste!

 Kids love hunting for eggs!  I know mine could do it all day if I let them.  But why not do it at night with this Glowing Easter Egg Hunt from Raising Little Disciples.  I know what I'm doing with my kids this weekend!

There are so many fantastic science experiments using eggs.  Check out the Eggy Investigations Round-up over at Science Sparks for 5 EGG-er-ific science ideas.

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


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!


* 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.

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