Messy Kids: May 2011

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

It's Playtime: Creativity with Everyday Items

Sometimes as parents (and teachers) we want to do a project with our kids but feel we don't have the right tools. The "I don't have this" or "I wish I had that" pops in our heads and we simply can't move past it. I say, "KNOCK IT OFF!" Creativity and inspiration comes when you least expect it. Instead of being concerned with what you don't have, look around your house and make a list of what you DO have. There is SOMETHING in your house that can inspire your children.

When I was a teacher I was the Macgyver of teachers. Sure I planned, but sometimes plans go array. It was in those moments that I put together the best projects. I never thought, "I wish I had...", instead I opened up the cupboards or surveyed the teachers' closet for what was available. I could put together a fantastic art project in less then 5 minuets with whatever we had laying around. And you can too! Check out these great ideas from last weeks It's Playtime and see where inspiration takes you.

Cotton Ball Painting: Angelyn's Semi-Healthy Lifestyle

Nail Polish Art: Housing a Forest

Mixing Colors with Shaving Cream: Play-Based Classroom

Outdoor Playing- Splat Painting: The Toy Box Years

Honorable mention (no photo): Painting with Candy: Teach Mama

Were you featured this week? Don't forget to grab your special button:

Now it's your turn!

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!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Imagination Tree: Run for Mum

Dear loyal readers,

My financial situation doesn't currently permit for me to donate but I feel the need to pass this on. Anna has become a dear online friend and I truly want to help her reach her goal, somehow, even if it's by passing on her message. Check out her blog post and if you feel compelled to assist her with a donation, please do.

Thank you friends for your time,

Rachele

The Imagination Tree: Run for Mum: "In two weeks time I am running a 5k race with 14 of my friends to raise money for The Wegener's Trust in memory of my wonderful Mum who die..."

Monday, May 23, 2011

Backyard Fairies

My daughter loves fairies. I love fairies. And every year we attend a Fairy Festival at a local garden. It's free, it's beautiful, and it's outdoors!

Ariel also has a small fairy garden she tends; adding and taking away gifts and toys for her fairies and trimming the succulents which make-up her garden. Recently though, my backyard had become a jungle. My kids were outside playing with a garden sensory tub I'd put together filled with green and yellow split peas, dry kidney beans, small flowerpots, faux flowers, bugs, and snakes. It became quiet, so of course that was my cue to check-up on them. I discovered some delightful imaginary fairy play....

The first thing I noticed were all the missing sensory items...

The kids, still in their jammies, had found a tuff of grass to create their fairy world. Michael was sprinkling peas around the grassy forest while Ariel was lost in creative thought.

First she arranged some of the fake flowers to her liking.

Uggghhhh! Snakes and lizards in the grass!

Then the bugs and flowerpots were arranged. Doesn't that spider look real?

Close-up of our lizard friend.

If you look closely, you can see that my daughter even created a path from some of the peas and beans.

And of course, our fairy...

This fairy reminds me of Miss Muffet

Ariel adjusting her work.

I left the play area alone for a few days, but eventually I had to mow the lawn. I was disappointed as I loved looking at it whenever I went outside. My son moved a few things around, as he does with Ariel's regular fairy garden, so it was changed slightly every time I took a look. Even though we had to remove it, I know it gives the kids a chance to create something new next time.

A fairy garden is a magical creation and can contain whatever elements you and your child chooses. It can be a play garden that constantly changes or a flower garden with added imagination and flair. Get creative and try using items you already have: old barbie toys, a flower pot for the fairies house, sticks, etc. For some great ideas check out these sites:

toadstools for a fairy garden: irresistible ideas for play based learning
Create a Fairy Garden: Go Explore Nature (this includes an idea even boys will enjoy!)
How to Make a Fairy Garden: The Magic Onions
creating a fairy garden in a pot: Let The Children Play

Linked with:
NurtureStore

Friday, May 20, 2011

Do Something! Sensory Exploration

It's the weekend! Time to grab the kiddos and Do Something!

This week, Sensory Exploration....

Ocean Sensory Bin: Play Create Explore

Flour Piping Activity: hands on: as we grow

Cutting Grass Sensory Tub: Strong Start

Flour Power: Messy Kids

Multi-Sensory Bath Times: The Imagination Tree

Jell-O Excavation: TinkerLab

The Little Island: The Chocolate Muffin Tree

Bug Slime Speghetti: The Imagination Tree

Playing with Shaving Foam: Tales of an Aussie Mum

Clean Mud: A Teacher at Heart

Enjoy your weekend and have a great time with your kids! Just don't forget to Do Something!

This post linked up at:

Nurturestore

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

It's Playtime: Rainy Day Fun

It's raining in San Diego, so this weeks It's Playtime features rainy day type activities. So pull out those extra blankets, find yourself a flashlight, and keep your sanity on a rainy day!

We don't see too many rainy days in Southern California but during the past few rain falls my kids have enjoyed activity courses...

And forts.

Sense of Wonder took their fort to the next level by using cardboard boxes to create a cave for spelunking.

The family at Chadwicks' Picture Place created Indoor Hopscotch with a Yoga Mat. Great for little hoppers and counting practice!

And art is always a great rainy day activity! Especially the kind that is edible like the Marshmallow and Toothpick Sculptures over at Smiling Like Sunshine.

For those featured this week at Messy Kids, don't forget to grab your extra special button!

Now it's your turn!

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!

Rainy Day Fort

Yesterday was rainy and I was a bit on the lazy side for most of the day. My son was tired from the weekend so I let him vegge in front of the TV for most of the day (to my defense, I did try to get him outside to play in the mud, with no luck). Finally, I became bored with him sitting on his butt, so I built him a blanket fort. Here's how it went:

Michael checks out the inside. He said it was "creepy". My flash was on so you can't see how dark it really is!

Inspired by the Spelunking post at Sense of Wonder, I gave Michael his flashlight to see if he felt less creeped out.

Michael tries crawling on his tummy into his "cave".

He thought it was funny I took a picture of his feet!

Michael decided me taking pictures was more interesting then his fort so he came out to be a ham.

Time for the silly dance!

Back to the fort.

I have two dogs. One was missing while I was watching TV last night. I'm pretty sure he was in the fort (he likes to sleep in Michael's rocket ship play tent but wasn't there when I looked)! This morning we found it collapsed with both dogs and one of our cats laying on the blankets. Michael was so disappointed, I repaired the fort right after breakfast. Hopefully he'll enjoy it as much today as he did yesterday. Maybe we'll try some under the table art, inside the fort later today.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Sunday Playtime

Like me, my kids are slow to move on the weekends. Even once the TV is turned off, they like to hang around the house for a bit rather then running off outside. This weekend was no exception:

Michael tried some new containers with his sensory material (green and yellow split peas, brown rice, and dry kidney beans mixed with plastic bugs, lizards, and snakes...which he's removed).

Here he uses a cornstarch tub to dump peas and beans into his dump truck.

Now he is using a small flower pot as a scoop.

Time to dump it all back into the bin!

Other recycled containers Michael enjoys when he plays with this mixture include measuring cups, yogurt containers, and a parmesan cheese shaker (which, next to the cornstarch tub, is his favorite!)

Ariel declared it was her panda's birthday and decided to organize a parade with a royal procession. Here she works on tying some of her dolls' vehicles to the panda's "carriage".

She works on lining up the procession just right for the parade down the hall.

Ariel leads the parade by pulling the rocking horse, which pulls the panda's "carriage", which pulls a mini wagon, which pulls a doll carriage, which pulls her doll's golf cart, all full of party guests. Whew! Try saying that quickly!

You can check out her parade, complete with "music" below...

"Imagination is the seed of dreams. Nurture it and you will harvest it's rewards."- Flavia

Messy Kids

Pages