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Showing posts with label parents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parents. Show all posts

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!  

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

30 Days to Hands On Play: Build a Fort



Day 2 of the 30 Days to Hands on Play challenged us to build a fort.  I asked my son what type of fort he wanted to build and he said, "a Buzz Lightyear fort on my bed".  Michael and his sister often drape blankets over the bunk bed for tents, forts, and hideaways.  He's been doing this  when he has friends over as well, so I wasn't surprised he wanted to do it with me too.  Simplest fort I ever built! But it was the fun IN the fort that really matters....

Of course we had to have a flashlight...
 so I showed Michael how to make shadow puppets.
He loved it!  He began singing "Old McDonald" or as he calls it, "Ol' McDonald".  Then it was my turn so I sang "Little Bunny Foo Foo."  He thought it was funny to turn the light on and off while I sang.  
Then Michael became really silly, and, well, here's how it went...

At dinner time, all Michael could think of was getting back to that fort.  So after getting ready for bed, we crawled in to read stories.  He really wanted me to sleep in the fort with him, but my bed is oh, so much more comfortable (plus he kicks in his sleep!)  But....that didn't stop him from sleeping in it.  

      

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

It's Playtime: Spectacular Spiders


I have a love/hate relationship with spiders. Inside my house, they are creepy, invading my space and freaking-out my family. Outside, spiders are fascinating and a thing of beauty.
I found this spider at my parent's house in their rose buses.  It's beautifully constructed web waits for a passing fly or bee.  I wanted to get closer but a large section of ice-plant (and buzzing bees) grew between the sidewalk and the spider.  I feared the bees stings more then this amazing creature.  Spiders work so hard to catch the bugs we despise.  If there were no spiders in our world, we would be over run with flies and other insects.  I don't want to even imagine a world with out them!

At Halloween we celebrate spiders for the horrific, marvelous and creepy beings they are.  So this week's It's Playtime will also celebrate spiders...preschool style!

My favorite post this past week are these glorious Glow in the Dark Spider Balls from All Artful.  They are simpler to make then they appear and the end result is outstanding!

 Chicken Babies created this Lair of the Spider Queen play/adventure course, surprising her young children after nap.  Streamers + Spider Rings= Afternoon Adventures!

No preschool Halloween is complete without Golf Ball Webs and Finger Spiders!  Instead of the traditional black and white marble or golf ball webs, happy hooligans used some Halloween inspired colors for a more whimsical feel.  And of course, the googly eyes on the spider remove all spidery creepiness!  

Who doesn't want to eat these Incy Wincy Spider Chocolate Treats from Puddles and Gumboots?

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."


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!


* 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.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

It's Playtime: Make Your Own Fun

It's DIY time again at It's Playtime proving that making your own fun can be just as good, if not better, then the real thing!
Kinder Days created this cute Play Treehouse from an old plant stand and some natural wood elements.  The perfect home for little critters, fairies, or gnomes! 

 How about these great DIY Bean Bags from My Little Princess World?  No sewing involved!  Plus the beans and rice inside are reused from an old sensory project.  Add some foam stickers and buttons and these bean bags double as sensory bags!  

Are your daughter's dolls looking for some new, high fashion clothing?  Check out the latest Foil Fashion trend from Let Kids Create.  Bring out your child's inner fashion designer and allow her to decorate the foil herself.  And don't worry, her doll won't need a bigger closet; this clothing folds and fits nicely inside a recycled egg carton.    

Have a great DIY idea?  Don't forget to link it up!   

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."  


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!


* 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.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Art in the Rain

On Labor Day, San Diego was given a special treat.  A rare, summer storm passed through our city bringing us thunder and rain.  Growing up, my parents and I spent many summer vacations in southern Texas where summer storms were common.  My great aunt and uncle have a house on the Guadeloupe River and my cousins and I would stare out the window over the river and watch the lighting.  When the lighting ceased, we would play in the warm rain, smelling the earthy smell that only rain can bring.  Here in San Diego, summer storms pass quickly bringing a couple rumbles of thunder, simply to announce it's arrival, and about 10 minuets of rain.  Our storm this past week lasted a little longer, mostly clouds and humidity, but a little rain on and off for about 24 hours.

The moment it started to rain, I checked for lighting, then grabbed my son and told him we were going to play outside; I knew we didn't have long.  Then the idea hit.  We would create art with the rain!  I'd seen rain painting on another blog months ago (I'm sorry, I don't remember whose it was) and had been waiting to try it.  I grabbed some white paper, dry Kool-Aid, and a popsicle holder, and ran outside to play.
We used the popsicle holder to house the various colors of Kool-Aid.  My son was able to grab pinches of the powder and sprinkle it onto his paper. 
Then he set the paper out in the rain.  The rain drops wet the powder creating a vibrant splatter pattern.  
Michel made a 2nd picture, this time he tried dumping the powder.  He was surprisingly careful.  
For the 3rd picture, we wet the paper first, then Michael finger painted with the Kool-Aid.  
 He dumped the remainder of the powder onto the paper which created little mounds for him to spread around.  
Now it's messy!
Of course he had to eat some of it!
Our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd paintings.

Michael became bored of painting and found some mud to enjoy.  So we turned that into art too!
I figured I might as well join him.
We made prints on the driveway as well.

As quickly as it appeared, the rain was gone.  But, we enjoyed a good 20 minuets outside together in the fresh, clean air.  Playing in the rain is good for the soul.

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