Messy Kids

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

It's Playtime: Playing with Seeds

Fall is a fantastic time to play with seeds and seed pods. They can be found everywhere: on the ground, in the food we eat, and at the store. They are great for sensory play, painting, counting, graphing, eating, etc. This week on It's Playtime, I've featured some fun, messy, and creative ideas for exploring seeds (or seed pods). Enjoy, and remember, sometimes it is OK to play with your food!

Playful Learners shared Pumpkin the Hedgehog. How cute is he?!

How about some outside exploration, messy fun, and fall decorations all wrapped up in one blog post? Then check out Paint & Pine Cones from Sun Hat & Wellie Boots. They had a grand time gathering pine cones, painting them, and creating wonderful displays.

It's OK if you've lost your marbles, there are acorns laying on the ground! Marla's Motherhood Musings created Acorn Art. It didn't quite go as planned...

Indian corn isn't just for decorating the Thanksgiving table, it's a great material for artistic expression. Just ask Child Central Station who made a wonderful mess while they did some Indian Corn Printing/Painting.

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!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

30 Days to Hands on Play: Mega Floor Doodles

Day 7 of the Hands on Play challenge was Mega Floor Doodles. I am blessed with a tiled entry way which is perfect for sliding in socks or drawing on the floor (on paper of course). Forgetting I had some old bulletin board butcher paper floating around from my preschool teaching days, I improvised. I pulled out my tin foil, cut two large pieces, taped it to the tile, and placed permanent markers around for us doodle.

My daughter loves to draw so she dove right into the project, drawing each member of our family, including the dogs and cats.

Michael is the opposite. He made a small scribble, had me help write his name (I held his hand, writing it "with" him), and said he was done.

I drew Bob from Monsters vs Aliens

Since Michael was done doodling, it was time to torture his sister...

and spin on an office chair...

Finally he became interested again when I traced my hand. But just to be different, Michael asked to have his foot traced.

Michael's foot

Then he wanted to trace his hand on top of my hand. He said, "it looks like we're clapping."

Ariel traced her hand and foot, coloring both in using pink.

Michael decided doodling wasn't so boring after all, so he drew a "cash register." I think he said something about it being for our hands.

It was nice, pulling ourselves away from the T.V. to do something creative together. It was simple and I know, we spent much longer then 15 minutes playing together.

Monday, November 7, 2011

30 Days to Hands on Play: Play Dough Exploration

Day 4 of the challenge came and went. The theme was Pretend Islands and as much as I wanted to participate, I was lazy. Rain, makes me extremely lazy. I think partially because in southern California, we don't see too much rain, so when we do, I just want to cuddle with my kids and watch a good movie, which is what we did.

Day 5 was Play Dough Exploration. We have a lot of store bought play dough, but I decided, since my son loves to cook, that part of the fun would be making play dough. I have my own tried and true recipe (which I haven't made since I taught preschool, but it's sooooooo soft!), but since it involves a little longer in the kitchen, I decided to try the recipe Anna posted on The Imagination Tree site with her challenge (see the above link). If you desire a gluten-free recipe, check out my No Flour Play Dough. Anna's recipe was very quick. Next time, I'll have to try a bit less salt to see if I can get it softer. Even my regular recipe, I reduce the amount of salt by half. But I did love Anna's recipe for the speed factor. I've never made play dough so quickly!

Once the playdough was made, I set out a variety of items for my son and I to explore...

We had some pom pom balls, rocks, acorns, straws (different lengths), buttons, google eyes, and pipe cleaners.

Michael began by making a happy face. Acorns for the eyes and nose, and upside-down google eyes
for the mouth.

I asked Michael if he could share some play dough with me and this is what he gave me!

So I taught him about straw worms...

He experimented with the pipe cleaners and straws...

Which led him to discover that a pipe cleaner can also go through a hole in the play dough. Pipe cleaners make better worms.

I showed him how pom pom balls make cool prints!

Then Michael folded a bunch of items into the play dough. I thought he was going to dig them out...

instead, he covered the dough with acorns and decided he was done playing. I packed up the dough into a ziploc but the items are still stuffed inside, even as I write.

I had to include this video. It's my son playing by pounding the acorns into the play dough. As he does he creates sound effects. I found it quite amusing.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

30 Days to Hands on Play: Block Building

Day 3 of the Hands on Play challenge sounded like fun...build with blocks! Well, today, that was easier said then done....

We had a busy day running around getting the car looked at, library, new shoes, etc. Once we got home, I cleaned the kitchen and told my kids that after dinner we could build with blocks together. Well, my daughter took forever to do her homework, so she was out. My son, was so tired he was whining and throwing tantrums. I asked him what he wanted to make and he said, "a fish", so he laid out 3 blocks for the tail, then told me to finish it...

So I made a fish...I guess...

Then Michael became frustrated with SOMETHING, I don't remember what, and kicked the blocks around. As suddenly as the tantrum came on, it stopped, and Michael said, "look I made a dog!" My daughter thought I should post this picture and ask, "Do you see the dog?" Well, do you?

So we put away the ABC blocks and pulled out the Mega Blocks. With much frustration, Michael built a rocket ship, "because I never got to go in rocket ship yet."

Michael's rocket ship.

Finally, we kind of made this "castle" together. I say "kind of" because I prompted it but Michael added, oh, maybe two blocks, then was off in his Michael world. He had no interest in helping me.

I tried, I really did. But I learned that play, doesn't always go your way. I finally listened to the cues; we put the blocks away and pulled out the one thing my son has been asking me to do ALL DAY...we battled each other on Skylanders, the kids' new Wii game. My son LOVES to play with me, especially when he beats me (I don't believe in letting kids win so he honestly beats me quite a bit when we battle together).

On a side note, my son is sleeping in his fort again tonight.

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.

It's Playtime: A Bit of Science

Halloween may be over but these It's Playtime science activities are good all year around...

Science Sparks shared their post about Making an Eerie Sound Device. This simple activity can be spooky or just plain silly. I love the video she posted demonstrating the device!

Whole Child Creative Curriculum posted this Science Experiment for Preschoolers. Don't have a rubber glove laying around the house (or school)? Try using a balloon for a similar effect.

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