Valentine Playdough

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I love Valentine's Day.  Not because of the candy (but I do love candy!), but because of all the fun things you can do with kids.  There are no shortage of props you can purchase for inexpensive that can enhance any activity.  The dollar store is full of fun items to craft with, add to playdough, or use to create a fun sensory bin.  Valentine activities can be used all month long and is a wonderful way to teach kids about the heart shape and the colors red, pink, and purple (and how you mix those colors).  

Playdough is quite popular in our house.  My youngest (of 3) benefits from 13 year of collecting supplies, cookie cutters, and various tools which she can enjoy with her playdough.  I always have some on hand or am ready to make it, trying different recipes along the way.  

This beautiful, rose colored playdough is a no-cook recipe from The Imagination Tree.  I added some red food coloring (less for pink, more for red), glitter, and rose oil for a complete sensory experience.

As an invitation to play, I put out the playdough, some red faux diamonds, silk roses, foam heart picks, and heart DecoPics (cupcake decoration) . Most of this stuff I purchased at the dollar store.  There were no instructions, no "you must create this..."; just a table full of tools to explore.

When you provide an open play experience, you never know what your child will create.  It's all up to them.

Materials:

1. Your favorite Playdough
2. Various Valentine type/inspired items such as flowers, gems, cupcake decorations, floral decorations, etc  

Don't forget to leave a comment about your experience.  And feel free to share your pictures on my Facebook page!

All You Need is Love...& It's Playtime

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  Tonight, I have to finish my 5 year old son's Valentines because his attention span is all of 1 minute.  He wrote his name on 1, that's right, 1 Valentine out of 24.  But this week on It's Playtime, all you need is.....

This fun Love Painting was shared by Seattle Area Lifestyle Photographer.  It's creative, messy, and perfect for sharing on Valentine's Day.

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* 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.

Valentine's Day with a K.I.S.S.

*This post contains affiliate links

I see all over the web families who go crazy for every holiday.  While there is nothing wrong with that, after all, I've been known to do the same, something can be said for keeping it simple.  I've had a number of years where money was an issue.  I couldn't run out and buy my kids candy, cookies, stuffed animals, etc.  Pinterest wasn't popular and life was crazy busy.  Instead, I had to keep it simple.  Show my kids that Valentine's Day is about love, not about candy and stuffed bears.

Heart pancakes are incredibly easy, cheap, and what kid doesn't love a shaped pancake?  You don't need a fancy pancake maker to get them.  I use large cookie cutters.  You can use a pancake mix or you can make them from scratch (see below for my recipe), which is not as difficult as it sounds.  Once you are ready to cook, spray the cookie cutter(s) with cooking spray and place them on an oiled, hot pan. Then pour your mix into the molds.  Don't pour too much or they'll be really thick and take forever to cook.  When the first side is browned, gently slide the cookie cutter off the cakes and flip.  Beware, it will be hot!  Repete as necessary.

Simple Pancakes:

1 c all purpose flour

1 tbls sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 c milk

2 tbls oil

Red food coloring (optional for V-day)

Whip cream and holiday sprinkles (optional)

Combine all ingredients (except whip cream and sprinkles) in a mixing bowl, stirring until blended but still slightly lumpy.  Place heart-shaped cookie cutter on a hot, slightly oiled griddle or skillet.  Pour batter into mold.  Amount of batter will depend on size of cookie cutter.  Cook until surface of pancake is bubbly and the edges are dry.  Flip and finish browning.  Makes 8-10 standard-size pancakes.  Serve with syrup, fruit, or whip cream with sprinkles.        

What's a good pancake without a cold glass of milk?  Valentine it up a bit by serving pink milk.  You could buy strawberry milk or you could simply add red food coloring to the leche of your choice.

See?  Even on a budget, Valentine's Day can be fun.  And of course, don't forget the hugs and kisses!

XOXOXOXOXOX

 

Mommy & Me Book Club: Valentine's Day

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Last year I started a Mommy & Me Book Club for the moms in my Meetup group.  Shortly after, I found out I was pregnant and was extremely tired (for months and months and months and....).  So while I continued to host for a few months, I never shared the activities we enjoyed.  Lucky for me, one of them was a Valentine's Day themed play date and what do you know...it's almost Valentine's Day!

Reading List: 

Activities:

I made some terrific no cook play dough (Thank you The Imagination Tree!), colored it pink, and added glitter and Rose Oil .  It was smellerific!  I provided the kids with diamond beads, red stones, heart cupcake decorations, silk roses, and these pink hearts on a stick.  All of which I purchased at the dollar store, except the cupcake decorations which my grandmother gave me.

For art, I folded a TP roll in half, which creates a heart shape and gave the kids red paint.  The TP roll is long enough that this project can be fairly mess less.  Unless you have boys...or little ones that like sticking their fingers into the paint...or boys....did I mention boys?  We were lucky on this day though, the boys were occupied with wrestling.

Snack:

  For snack I made Glitter Grapes.  Aren't they pretty?  And no added sugar!  Warning: this snack is as addictive as it is beautiful.    

Would you like to start a Mommy & Me Book Club with your friends?  Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

LOVE to Learn on It's Playtime

It's amazing to me that It's Playtime is almost 2 years old and we still get over 100 links each week!  It's so much fun to go through all the posts each week, looking for a theme and discovering new ideas.  With Valentine's Day approaching I wanted to share ideas that not only followed that theme, but promoted education and exploration.  Here's what I found:  

Literacy:

Carrots are Orange shared their educational letter game, Learning Sounds with Movement.  Not only does it promote letter sounds but also letter recognition.  A simple game, perfect for home or preschool.

Did you know you can purchase blank Conversation Hearts?  Mess for Less shares how you can use them to make a Valentine themed Sight Word Matching Game.

Reading Confetti shared their post of 10 Valentine's Day Literacy Activities which includes Songs, Books, Writing, and more.

Math:

Counting can be fun and pretty with this Valentines Day Diamond Count from Timeless Adventures.  

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?  Share in the comment section below.  

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* 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.

Hearts Abound on It's Playtime

It's that time again.  Hearts are everywhere: in food, in play, and in art.  It's Playtime was no exception.  With Valentines Day only a couple weeks away, heart activities are beginning to pour in our little linky.  Here are a few projects to get you started in your celebration of love.  

Putti's World shared their Sticker Resist Painting and Printing.  Not only is it two projects in one, but I love how the resist portion of the art looks great framed (above).  

What kid doesn't love to play in the water?  Keep them entertained (and clean...all be it wet) with this Valentine Sensory Sink idea from My Nearest and Dearest.  

Coffee filters are cheap and versatile.  Kara's Classroom used them to create Faux Stain Glass Hearts.

What heart-shaped projects will you be doing with your children?  Link up or share in the comments below.    

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* 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.