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Showing posts with label craft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label craft. Show all posts

Monday, March 2, 2015

Easy Toddler Activity Inspired by The Cat in the Hat




This activity is incredibly simple, which for an active toddler, is perfect.  All you need is:
  • White paper
  • Red paper cut into strips
  • Glue (glue sticks are the easiest but white glue works fine too)
  • Q-tips (if using white glue)
You can easily use this activity as an invitation to create.  Place paper, strips, and glue on a table.  Invite your little one over and let them explore the materials.  I did show my daughter how to use the Q-tip to spread the glue on the strips because she's never experienced that direction before, but feel free to see what your child will do on their own.

That's it!  Simple and toddler friendly.  Plus it's an invitation to read The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (or at least part of it because it's a long story).

Happy Birthday Theodore Geisel!



Thursday, October 30, 2014

Toddler Friendly Tattooed Pumpkins


It's the night before Halloween and maybe, just maybe you are looking for one more way to decorate your pumpkins.  Something that doesn't require paint, knives, glitter, or glue.  Something you can do with your little one, as well as an older child.  If you are, then I have the pumpkin decorating idea for you!

What you need:
  1. A pumpkin (smoother ones work best but minis work too, as you can see from my picture)
  2. Temporary tattoos of choice
  3. Paper towels or a wash cloth
  4. Water
If you've ever placed a temporary tattoo on your child, you know what to do, except place them on the pumpkin.  It's that easy.  If you've never used temporary tattoos, here's what to do

 
Pick out the tattoo you'd like to place on the pumpkin.  Depending on what you have, like a sheet of designs, you may have to cut around the one you want.  Others come as individuals or with perforations that allow for easy tearing.  Make sure you remove the plastic before placing it on the pumpkin. Place the picture side on the pumpkin with the paper backing facing towards you (see Picture below).
Get your wash cloth or paper towels wet.  Not dripping, but pretty wet, and place over the tattoo, holding it on for about 30 seconds.  Afterwards, carefully peel the paper away from the pumpkin's surface.  If you don't hold the wet cloth on long enough or are too quick to pull the tattoo paper away, some of the picture may tear away.  That's O.K,  you can always wipe the tattoo away and try again.  Or leave it as I did with my daughter.  She was proud to do it on her own so I let it be.  If the tattoo is bunched a bit, simply use your wet cloth to gently rub and flatten the tattoo.  And again, if your toddler is "helping" and proud of what they have done, it's O.K. to leave it as is.  It's about the experience, not the finished product.    

This project can take as long as you allow or as long as your toddler/preschooler is interested.  This was a great mommies group activity and while some of the kids chose to play (while their moms enjoyed pumpkin decorating) a few of the kids (my daughter included) couldn't put enough tattoos on their pumpkin.  Once the pumpkin had enough, my daughter moved to her arms.

Sometimes it's the simplest decorating ideas that inspire us the most.  I've been absent to the blogging world for about 2 years now but it's time for a return.  I hope I can continue to bring you fun and engaging activities for your children and family.  Thanks for joining me again!    

*This activity promotes fine motor skills and counting.  If you have different pumpkins in your house, you could also talk about differences/opposites: Large, small, smooth, bumpy, etc.


Thursday, May 23, 2013

Flower Power on It's Playtime



Flowers, flowers everywhere!  Here are some great posts from last weeks It's Playtime link party.  

Join Craft to Art and the 100 Days of Play challenge with this wonderful recycle post featuring a Magnetic Bottle Caps flower game plus several other creative play ideas. 

 The Pleasantest Thing shared their Sensory Spring Water Table and dandelion boats.  A great activity for those warm spring and summer days!  

Also check out:

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* Jillian: A Mom With a Lesson Plan

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.

By linking up you give us permission to grab a picture and feature you here, on a site we write for, on FB or Pinterest.   If we share your link, we will always credit you, send people to your original post and use only ONE photo.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Reusing Plastic Eggs on It's Playtime

This week I'm rushing. I have two other posts I want to get done and a baby who's being less then cooperative; ahhh the life of a mother. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. As we speak I'm typing one handed so I won't make this long.  There were many amazing ideas shared last week.  Thank you all for joining in.  With Easter around the corner, here's one post with many ideas....

KC Edventures posted 10 Fun Ways to Recycle Plastic Easter Eggs.  Science, reading, crafts, plastic eggs aren't just for jelly beans.

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* Jillian: A Mom With a Lesson Plan

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.

By linking up you give us permission to grab a picture and feature you here, on a site we write for, on FB or Pinterest.   If we share your link, we will always credit you, send people to your original post and use only ONE photo.
"

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Eggcellent Fun on It's Playtime

Easter activities are in full swing: eggs, chicks, bunnies, they're everywhere!  Thanks to all of our friends here at It's Playtime, you can find a good chunk of those activities shared on our linky.  Thank you to all of those who joined us for last week's play date and shared your wonderful projects.  This week I'm featuring EGGS, EGGS, and more EGGS.

Over at Putti's World, the girls created 3D Easter Egg Decorations using contact paper and tape as the canvas.  Creative and decorative!

Don't let the name fool you.  These Jello Eggs from Momma's Fun World look sweet but  are a bubbly science project your kids are sure to enjoy.

Do you have a ton of plastic eggs you don't know what to do with?  Try making these Yogurt Berry Popsicle Eggs found over at Play Eat Grow.

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* Jillian: A Mom With a Lesson Plan

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.

By linking up you give us permission to grab a picture and feature you here, on a site we write for, on FB or Pinterest.   If we share your link, we will always credit you, send people to your original post and use only ONE photo.

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!  

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