It's So Easy, It's Playtime!

Welcome to the weekly It's Playtime link party!  This week I'm featuring two simple ideas for play with items I'm sure you all have laying around the house.  So check out the features, join in the fun, and browse our linky for your next super fun play or art idea.

If you don't have TP laying around the house, well then, you're in more trouble then entertaining a bored preschooler.  Mess for Less shares their towering math game brought to you by Charmin or the TP of your choice.

How about Q-tips and a Colander ?  If you have those two items then you have some simple fine motor play shared by our friends at Fantastic Fun & Learning.  

Ok, after looking over this post, I swear I didn't share these two play ideas just to promote my Amazon account.  I really didn't!  But if you really want to buy a colander, well then, by all means, you should!  If you don't have TP, then I suggest running to the store because you shouldn't wait two days for Amazon to ship it to you.    

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.

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

*This post contains affiliate links

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.

Creating Indoor Snow

*This post contains affiliate links

In San Diego, we have a lack of snow.  When the weather is right, we only need to drive 30 minutes to reach snow, which is awesome....except I have a newborn.  As disappointing as missing a drive to the snow has been for the kids, we've managed to find other ways to enjoy "snow".  We have passes for Sea World so we went and played in the snow there (below):

Don't you love how they are in short sleeves? Love San Diego!

We also brought "snow" indoors through sensory play.  Recently, I was preparing for a clown job (yes, if you didn't know, I'm a professional clown) and found some Slush Powder in my magic stash.  Slush Powder is basically the stuff they put inside diapers to absorb liquid.  You can also purchase it as Insta-Snow If you've never tried it out I highly recommend it.  It's very simple to use.

Place a small amount of the powder in a large bowl or sensory tub/box.  A little goes a long ways!

 Add water.  I'm sure when you purchase your powder there are measurements on the packaging.  My powder is "magic" grade and was from a bag my dad bought years ago, so it's in a baggie with no instructions; I just added water until I was happy with the consistency   The nice thing is if you add too much, you sprinkle on a little more powder and you are ready to go.  Use cold water to enhance the experience.

As it gels up, you can stir it a bit to ensure equal distribution.

I gave the kids some Arctic/Antarctic animals, blue floral stones, and clear marbles to add to the exploration.  My son found some plastic trees to include in the experience.

It always warms my heart to see my kids playing together.  Both my 10 year old and my 5 year old enjoyed exploring the "snow".  Who says older kids don't like a good sensory experience?

Once his sister started her homework, my son had the snow all to him self.  He created a "snow monster" and of course...

  a great big snow ball!

When I taught preschool, I made a huge sensory tub full of this stuff.  What's nice is if you cover it, it will keep for quite a while.  I believe I had my tub for about 2 weeks.  I would add water to freshen it up but other then that, it didn't smell or get too dirty from dirty hands.  I think I filled the tub with about 1/4 cup or less of this fun stuff.  Although I added toys to the slush, most of the kids enjoyed squishing it through their hands and measuring it with cups.  Even though this is a product you have to purchase, I believe it's worth the cost, as you need so little of it to make a good amount of snow.

Have you tried powdered "snow" in your home or preschool?  What did your kids think of the experience?