The Messy Kids Top 5 Posts of 2011

This past week, I've noticed a lot of other bloggers posting their top 10 posts of 2011.  Just to be different (and because I've only been around for a little less then a year), I'm going to share the Messy Kids Top 5 Posts of 2011.

#5 Baked Crayon Art

#4 Crayon Melt

 

#3 Building a Carousal

#2 Creepy Crawly Water Beads

And the #1 Messy Kids post of 2011....No Flour Playdough!  

Thank you for being a part of my first year as a blogger and I look forward to sharing so much more with you in 2012!  

It's Playtime: Let's Celebrate Hanukkah

With Christmas fast approaching, sometimes we forget there are other holidays celebrated this time of year.  While my kids are singing Rudolph and Noel, my nieces are learning to play with dreidel and light a menorah.  This week It's Playtime is dedicated to them and the Festival of Lights.

Join Se7en as they Learn About Hanukkah with Dreidels, Menorahs, and Latkes.  Besides their own activities (and a great Letkes recipe), they include several links to other Hanukkah activities.

Inside Out shared a little of how they celebrated Festivals of Light at preschool.  

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.


Next Week: It's Playtime will be on Christmas break.  We will return right after the New Year with more great ideas shared by YOU.   

It's Playtime: A Winter Feast for the Senses

I've often expressed my love of sensory bins.  I'd hoped to create my own winter "snow" bin at my house but bags of plastic snow disappear early in the season (us southern Californians find snow where we can).  I guess I'll have to be as creative as these wonderful posts shared on It's Playtime!

There's the fake snow I was looking for!  Winter White Sensory Tub from Make, do & friend

I love all the different elements this Christmas Sensory Tub from Pre-school Play has to offer!  The mirror "pond" is my favorite.  I remember one of my grandmothers having something similar when I was a child and I loved imagining the characters ice skating over it.  

H is for Homeschooling also put together a Christmas Sensory Bin.  I love how completely different it is from the one created by Pre-school Play!  

We Can Do All Things shared their Homemade Iceland created from colored salt.  The little penguins look so happy!  

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: DIY Christmas Decore

Ahhhhh....Christmas.  That jolly time of year when people suddenly become friendlier and kids fear the wrath of Santa.  A time for love and good cheer.  Also, it seems, the biggest collection of DIY decorations and gifts to found on the internet.  Blogs are ablaze with wreaths, garlands, cookies, and ornaments.  So was last weeks It's Playtime link party.  Therefore, this week, I've rounded-up some of my favorite DIY Christmas decoration ideas for your enjoyment.  Move over Martha Stewart, here comes some holiday family fun from mom's (and teachers) around the web.  

Garland can be made from many different materials: popcorn, cranberries, oranges, and of course, pasta!  Over at The Artful Child, you can find the recipe for coloring pasta, then using some string, your kids can make beautiful Christmas garlands for hanging around the house and/or on your tree.  

Advent Calendars come in all shapes and sizes.  Some provide treats while others provide a daily winter/Christmas themed activity.  This great Advent Calendar from Serenity You is made from  toilet paper rolls and wrapping paper!  It's festive, creative, simple and a fun way to recycle!   

Need some ornaments for your tree?  What could be easier then your kids creating ornaments with beads and pipe cleaners?!  Check out this simple idea from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas.  

Expensive candle holders are a thing of the past.  These beautiful stained glass holders from Playful Learners will add some holiday cheer to you Christmas gatherings.  

Also check out How to... Make Dried Orange Slices and Craft Ideas from Red Ted Art's Blog.  I'm hoping to make an orange slice garland this weekend.  

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.

Treasure Hunting...For Real!

Between the Thanksgiving holiday and our family feeling a bit under the weather, I am way behind in my blogging.  I failed miserably at the 30 Days of Hands on Play challenge (hosted by hands on: as we grow and The Imagination Tree), making it only about half way through, but I hope to keep playing on my own with the remaining challenges I missed.  One of the activities I did participate in was Day 16: Go on a Hunt.  As it happened, on the day of the challenge, my play group was going Geocaching.  Geocaching is a real, life treasure hunt!  In order to play, you need some sort of GPS device.  This is used as your "treasure map".  Geocaching.com has an application you can download to your phone or device.  Once it's installed you log in and search your location for caches.  The basic application is free, but if you plan to play on a regular basis, you may want to pay the monthly charge for the upgraded version.  You'll receive more and better clues.

Before this event, I'd never been geocaching before.  Luckily, two moms in my group frequently play so they led the expedition.  

 The hunt was set up at Lake Murray Park.  We all set off, ready for an adventure.  

 The younger kids quickly became bored and found their own fun by throwing rocks into the lake.  

 

 The first cache was difficult to find so once the adults discovered it's location, it was moved to an easier spot for the kids discover.

 Now with geocaching, the idea is to bring something to swap with something else in the cache.  This one had a lot of junk!  I think most do.  I think one child did swap, but most of the kids simply enjoyed looking.

 The 2nd cache was amusing.  Hidden well, yet in plain site.  

 The kids LOVED that the cache was a duck decoy!  Again, the treasure was more junk.    

 We decided to hunt for one more cache.  My daughter, Ariel, loved the hunt!  She's almost 9 and at the right age for it.  Really, the little kids could have cared less.  They were simply happy running around outside with their friends.

 The last cache directions took us a bit off the trail.  Despite the slight protest of their dad, I allowed my little billy goats to climb the rocks.  Ariel was carefully hunting around the rocks for the cache but Michael just likes to climb.

 We didn't find the treasure, but we did find this awesome snakeskin between some of the boulders!  

So here's what we learned:

• Geocaching is a lot of fun!
• It's a great way to get outside and exercise.  It makes walking more exciting!   
• Bring along some trinkets to exchange or to add to the cache.  
• It's a secret so when you are searching, be sneaky.  Don't yell out directions, or "we found it!", or flash the cache around for "muggles" (non-geocachers) to see.  Some muggles will take the cache not understanding what it is, so it's best if they don't know.   
• If your little one isn't interested in the hunt, it's O.K.  They'll enjoy being outside either way.  
• Geocaching isn't just for kids!  I think the adults in the group had more fun then the kids.  It's like a puzzle and if you enjoy solving puzzles, then this is for you.  This is a great way to get your map loving husband involved in an outdoor activity!  
• Geocaching is world wide and there are caches everywhere if you simply take the time to look.   If there aren't any near you, start one and log it.  It won't be long before somebody finds it. 

It's Playtime: Wishing for Snow

I live in San Diego, so I often find myself wishing for snow, as do my children.  My son is 4 and has yet to see snow.  Every year there is a short window where we can drive an hour from our home to play in the snow, and it seems, every year we miss out.  We drove north for Thanksgiving and my daughter's big wish was for it to snow, which it did not.  Very disappointing.  So this week, on It's Playtime, I'm featuring some fabulous snow activities...NO SNOW REQUIRED!

Who needs snow to make a snowman?  Not Nurture Store!  They created Snow Playdough and built their own indoor snowman.  The best part?  This snowman won't melt!  

I'm not the only one wishing for snow.  Sassy's Sanity is longing for Snow in the Tropics so they created some with contact paper, glitter, and miscellaneous white items.  The contact paper allowed them to stick the "snow" to the window creating the illusion of a white winter in 85 Fahrenheit.     Sounds like what I need to do!

Pre-school Play had some sensory fun with their Foam Snowmen.  This snow is messy fun with 0 cold fingers!

How about a little science with your snow play?  Hands on: as we grow investigated "icy roads" the safe way: at home with ice, sand, salt, and some trucks.

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.

30 Days to Hands on Play: Outdoor Adventures: Bubble Wrap Dancing

Day 11 of the 30 Days to Hands on Play challenge took us outside.  We'd had an incredibly busy day but we did manage to squeeze in some outdoor play time right at dusk.

We have loads of stuff in our garage but I thought it would be fun to do something different, something other then chalk or bikes, so I pulled out some giant bubble wrap and set it down....

I figured my daughter would ride her scooter over the poppy paper but instead, she began dancing.  So, I joined her...  

Michael wanted nothing to do with us.  He chose to stay inside the garage and whine about how he wanted to go inside because it was cold and dark (he was a bit tired).  I guess you can't please everybody all of the time.  

Once the bubble wrap was finished, my little artist pulled out the chalk to draw her family.  My husband works out of town during the week and returns home for the weekends.  He arrived about the time she finished.  Play time was finished, but family time was just beginning!  

Shared with:

Mama Pea Pod- Outdoor Play Party