New markers and fluro markers worked well, ones that are thick and 'juicy'
Happy Adventures :)
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Flick & Fling Physical Art
New markers and fluro markers worked well, ones that are thick and 'juicy'
Happy Adventures :)
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Barley Measurement - Early Math Play Tub
Instead of a sensory tub and some messy play for the sake of purely playing and having fun. Dimples enjoyed this tactile exploration tub, learning about early math measurement as he played and explored. The concept of measurements and adding was explored through the use of measuring cups and he learnt that even though 2 cups may be different shape, colour and size they can still hold the same amount.
First of all we checked all the cups by filling them up, reading what measurement they were and pouring them into the large cup to see if it measured the same. Dimples got the hang of it so I let him explore the materials. He filled all cups up and was quick to realise that they equalled the amount needed to fill the large measuring cup.
If I get Dimples started on something and show him the basic concept I can then let him explore himself safely, learning and enjoying himself at the same time. Then I am free to go do the dishes, the clothes, feed baby Cherub or just sit for a moment in the sun shine watching the delight in his eyes.
Happy Adventures :)
Thursday, 16 May 2013
Stack Up Cup Game - 100 Day Challenge
Have you been checking out all the fabulous play ideas at the 100 days of Play blog Hop?
If you haven't I have been sharing some of my favourites on my Facebook Page & Pinterest
My contribution to the 100 days of Play challenge is a easy game with materials your children have used already. All you need are plastic cups, Dice, and paper or plastic plates. I had all of these things in my party box (I sound very organised but I am not).
The stacking up in this fun game builds on focus and hand eye coordination, children need to utilise steady hands with a focused mind and principles of balance to stack as high as they can. Using the die allows children to take turns yet work together, its great for number recognition and practice counting as well.
First, divide your paper plates between all of the players and have your stack of plastic cups ready where all can reach.
Player one rolls, then has to get the corresponding number of cups set them out with the plate on top. Easy right? Well it wouldn't be as easy if you rolled a one, in comparison to a four.
It gets harder the higher you can play to. The best thing is you can play on your own or with a group of people taking turns, you can play how ever you like.
Player two rolls, gets the corresponding number of cups and has to balance them on top of the previously placed plate from player one and so it goes.
The Player whose turn it is sets the foundation for the next player, so they must be careful to stack their cups up as equally and evenly as possible or the whole thing may tumble down. Its a fun game to build anticipation, how far can you go before all the cups crash down?
Dimples and I had a few games before we decided to ditch the plates and see just how good we could stack, still using the die to take turns we made towers, walls and patterns in the cups. You can stack them bottom to bottom or upwards using two below, you can put plates in between or you can start with a circle and build up. Dimples rolled a 6 and 6 cups do not fit on the plate so he very cleverly and to my surprise problem solved and put 3 lots of 2 cups stuck together.
It was lots of fun and so simple. Play doesn't have to be with fancy toys, good company and something from around the house provides a much better learning experience.
How high can you stack them?
Happy Adventures :)
If you haven't I have been sharing some of my favourites on my Facebook Page & Pinterest
My contribution to the 100 days of Play challenge is a easy game with materials your children have used already. All you need are plastic cups, Dice, and paper or plastic plates. I had all of these things in my party box (I sound very organised but I am not).
The stacking up in this fun game builds on focus and hand eye coordination, children need to utilise steady hands with a focused mind and principles of balance to stack as high as they can. Using the die allows children to take turns yet work together, its great for number recognition and practice counting as well.
First, divide your paper plates between all of the players and have your stack of plastic cups ready where all can reach.
Player one rolls, then has to get the corresponding number of cups set them out with the plate on top. Easy right? Well it wouldn't be as easy if you rolled a one, in comparison to a four.
It gets harder the higher you can play to. The best thing is you can play on your own or with a group of people taking turns, you can play how ever you like.
Player two rolls, gets the corresponding number of cups and has to balance them on top of the previously placed plate from player one and so it goes.
The Player whose turn it is sets the foundation for the next player, so they must be careful to stack their cups up as equally and evenly as possible or the whole thing may tumble down. Its a fun game to build anticipation, how far can you go before all the cups crash down?
Dimples and I had a few games before we decided to ditch the plates and see just how good we could stack, still using the die to take turns we made towers, walls and patterns in the cups. You can stack them bottom to bottom or upwards using two below, you can put plates in between or you can start with a circle and build up. Dimples rolled a 6 and 6 cups do not fit on the plate so he very cleverly and to my surprise problem solved and put 3 lots of 2 cups stuck together.
How high can you stack them?
Happy Adventures :)
100 Days of Play Blog Hop
Sharing simple ideas on how to connect with your children through play!
New ideas shared each day from 4/1 - 7/20.
Sharing simple ideas on how to connect with your children through play!
New ideas shared each day from 4/1 - 7/20.
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Saturday, 11 May 2013
Tips for Messy Painting
I have always embraced Messy Play and Messy Painting, or as I like to call it "Extreme Painting". Children can benefit so much from the freedom, exploration and the creativity of messy painting.
Many parents steer clear of it though because it is just too much!
I get that. You see the perfect ideas on the Internet, picture pretty Pinterest activities and unreal creativity on blogs.
A bit like the picture above
When you attempt to loosen the reigns and let your child be free with the paint it is chaos and not at all what you've planned or expected, right?
You're left with a rainbow child, hand prints up the wall and splats over the entire room.
A bit like the pictures below.
Don't let the word "mess" or "chaos" deter you.
Life is messy, paint is messy, kids are messy so its all bound to be a little chaotic but that is a good thing. These type of activities give children freedom to express and explore their senses and creativity. To them it's great fun.
To a pre-schooler splatting paint from a distance or squishing toes through it provides much more enjoyment then precisely stroking a brush in the one direction.
Experimenting with Lego pieces, potato shapes, sponges or string in paint is much more exciting then using one boring brush.
Mixing every colour together until everything becomes a lovely shade of brown is a great learning experience compared to getting roused on for muddling up the colours.
If this sounds familiar or you've had a bad messy experience with more time doing a clean up then the time your child actually painted, this post is for you and I hope you persist, try again and enjoy.
Tips for messy painting
Preparation is the key, have everything ready to go in the right place and you'll be grinning.Be age realistic- children's attention spans develop with age, don't expect a 2 year old to do an hour long master peice, therefore keep it simple and quick. Start with one or two drops of paint in a tray and finger painting or one object.
Dress them appropriately- dimples wears a old set of paint clothes and a smock, specific painting wear that usually stays with the paint suitcase. This way it doesn't matter at all if he does get covered in paint.
Take it outside- if its possible, painting is much easier outdoors, do it on a easel over the grass or lay out a large cardboard box opened, use washable paint and you can pin large paper up on a wall.
We have a large old outdoor table where we do all our messy play that is covered in paint, so it doesn't matter if more paint love covers it.
Expect a bit of mess- if you are being realistic then also expect and accept mess. Let it happen, don't sweat the small stuff. Of course this doesn't mean sit by and let your children splat paint over the newly washed clothes hanging on the line, but if your prepared and set up for messy play, then let it happen.
Use a messy mat- if your on a surface that needs protecting or inside use a plastic table cloth or a vinyl off cut as a large messy mat.
Have a wash up tub - Fill a tub or bucket with water and soup for after, so if there happens to be any foot or hand printing then its easy enough to wash off the paint before it dries.
Have a cloth rag- A lot of kids, including dimples, don't like wet squishy paint on their skin. They may like putting it there but not so much leaving it there and this is when they're most likely going to wipe it on something so a cloth specifically for this will be needed.
Use large paper- More space, More fun. Maybe even have back up paper.
Have a drying spot ready for their master piece to hang.
Have an empty bucket- If your using different tools to paint with have a empty bucket nearby so you can put them in it while your helping your child clean up, there's nothing worse then undressing them, cleaning up, hanging up their work and turning around and they've picked up the paint covered tools to try again.
Clean up before the paint dries - If your using tools, supervise their choice, smooth plastic works best, things that can be thrown in hot water (or the dish washer) to be cleaned with little to no grooves or crevasses. Plastic animals foot prints, Lego stamping, hot wheels car tracks for example.
Check out some of our extreme paint
Happy Adventures :)
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Dont feel guilty - A day in my shoes
I've been very hands on with Dimples and I still am but since Cherub was born we've have difficulties with feeding, wind, an intolerance to dairy, colic and its been a struggle to have one on one time with Dimples. I've worked hard to keep his bed time routine the same and have that special time just for him so I can have a good chat with him, a big cuddle and read his favourite books. All is well in the world when were snuggled up with a book at night.
Living a day in my shoes at the moment is a bit unorganised and unplanned. We are starting to get into a new groove with Baby Cherub and Dimples is adjusting well. Things are starting to settle but it has taken a new positive attitude to get there.
Time has become my enemy, or lack of it I should say. I am usually one handed, usually comforting the baby while trying to help Dimples with something with the other hand in between attempting house hold chores, running a business, errands, study and blogging (key word attempting this does not imply success).
Things are getting easier now approaching the 3 month mark but for a while there my days blended together, nights went forever and I barely got anything productive done. It seemed as though I managed to feed the family, clean the dishes and look after baby Cherub- that was it; no house cleaning, clothes washing, studies, blogging and to my disappointment no hands on time with my little man. I felt he was missing out greatly and it started to get to me, the one thing I wanted to do was to help him adjust the easiest way possible keeping some one on one time just for him.
In order for me to not feel guilty about the household duties and endless tasks that were not getting done I had to adopt a non guilty positive style of thought. Otherwise I too would get buried under the mountain of chores. This is when I wrote a post for Positive Parenting Connection about making time to play and connect with children, something I had always done but something I was starting to struggle with. So as a new mum, second time around, with limited time I took a new approach and instead of trying to do engaging planned activities for Dimples I simply got down on his level when I had the chance, mostly on the floor and did whatever he was doing.
This was much easier, no set up, no clean up and we had just as much time together connecting. I took the opportunities when they came up, to join in play with Dimples and connect with him, really listen to him and to just be in the moment for a short time so that for starters he didn't miss out on time with Mummy and so that he didn't start to resent his sometimes fussy new little sister but also so that I didn't feel guilty.
I think the key to adapting to change as a mother, whether it be new family roles, a new house or a new baby or any significant change that alters your routine, time or adds stress and the key to staying happy as a parent is to not feel guilty.
If you see fantastic play ideas but don't have the time, don't feel guilty- there will be another time.
Motherhood, Parenting is often a rat race of over commitments and something has to give. For a few weeks the thing that was giving was me.
To hell with the vacuuming, I need not feel guilty. All this on line business getting past around about being screen free, who really is a stay at home mum and has weeks of completely screen free time? I need not feel guilty if Dimples is watching play-school while I feed the baby or playing an educational app on the iPad whilst I'm changing nappies and soothing an upset babe. I'm not doing as many set up activities or planned play, not as much scheduled play is happening at this stage in our journey but I need not feel guilty, we are having more spontaneous Play I'm connecting more and being more present during free play and that's what counts so I refuse to feel guilty for my own sanity.
Dimples has become more independent and he is choosing to spend more time doing things I wouldn't have encouraged him to do. Last year I wrote a post on the importance of doing nothing and this has become a light bulb moment. I'm not doing as much with dimples in the way of planning and prep but I am still being present, engaged and hands-on in his play. So I am not letting those feelings of guilt creep through my mind. I hope you do the same.
Leaving the clothes unsorted and the dishes in the sink for a little while longer is my new thing. Who cares! Really, Dimples is more important and connecting with him, spending time with him and keeping a strong relationship is more important. A new baby takes a bit of adjustment, not just for me but for him also, something I lost sight of as I got taken over with feelings of guilt.
If you too are coping with change and adjusting to a new role as a parent, try to be easy on yourself. Take time for yourself and don't feel guilty. Don't sweat the small stuff!
Happy Adventures :)
Living a day in my shoes at the moment is a bit unorganised and unplanned. We are starting to get into a new groove with Baby Cherub and Dimples is adjusting well. Things are starting to settle but it has taken a new positive attitude to get there.
 |
| A day in my shoes - I wear no shoes I don't have time :-D |
Things are getting easier now approaching the 3 month mark but for a while there my days blended together, nights went forever and I barely got anything productive done. It seemed as though I managed to feed the family, clean the dishes and look after baby Cherub- that was it; no house cleaning, clothes washing, studies, blogging and to my disappointment no hands on time with my little man. I felt he was missing out greatly and it started to get to me, the one thing I wanted to do was to help him adjust the easiest way possible keeping some one on one time just for him.
In order for me to not feel guilty about the household duties and endless tasks that were not getting done I had to adopt a non guilty positive style of thought. Otherwise I too would get buried under the mountain of chores. This is when I wrote a post for Positive Parenting Connection about making time to play and connect with children, something I had always done but something I was starting to struggle with. So as a new mum, second time around, with limited time I took a new approach and instead of trying to do engaging planned activities for Dimples I simply got down on his level when I had the chance, mostly on the floor and did whatever he was doing.
This was much easier, no set up, no clean up and we had just as much time together connecting. I took the opportunities when they came up, to join in play with Dimples and connect with him, really listen to him and to just be in the moment for a short time so that for starters he didn't miss out on time with Mummy and so that he didn't start to resent his sometimes fussy new little sister but also so that I didn't feel guilty.
I think the key to adapting to change as a mother, whether it be new family roles, a new house or a new baby or any significant change that alters your routine, time or adds stress and the key to staying happy as a parent is to not feel guilty.
If you see fantastic play ideas but don't have the time, don't feel guilty- there will be another time.
Motherhood, Parenting is often a rat race of over commitments and something has to give. For a few weeks the thing that was giving was me.
To hell with the vacuuming, I need not feel guilty. All this on line business getting past around about being screen free, who really is a stay at home mum and has weeks of completely screen free time? I need not feel guilty if Dimples is watching play-school while I feed the baby or playing an educational app on the iPad whilst I'm changing nappies and soothing an upset babe. I'm not doing as many set up activities or planned play, not as much scheduled play is happening at this stage in our journey but I need not feel guilty, we are having more spontaneous Play I'm connecting more and being more present during free play and that's what counts so I refuse to feel guilty for my own sanity.
Dimples has become more independent and he is choosing to spend more time doing things I wouldn't have encouraged him to do. Last year I wrote a post on the importance of doing nothing and this has become a light bulb moment. I'm not doing as much with dimples in the way of planning and prep but I am still being present, engaged and hands-on in his play. So I am not letting those feelings of guilt creep through my mind. I hope you do the same.
Leaving the clothes unsorted and the dishes in the sink for a little while longer is my new thing. Who cares! Really, Dimples is more important and connecting with him, spending time with him and keeping a strong relationship is more important. A new baby takes a bit of adjustment, not just for me but for him also, something I lost sight of as I got taken over with feelings of guilt.
If you too are coping with change and adjusting to a new role as a parent, try to be easy on yourself. Take time for yourself and don't feel guilty. Don't sweat the small stuff!
Happy Adventures :)
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Outdoor Surface Rubbing (A classic)
This is a classic. So simple, yet it can be so unique each and every time you try it.
Crayon Surface rubbing; I remember doing it at primary school and I loved it.
Dimples felt the same, he had so much fun exploring the outdoors for different textured surfaces.
First, when I asked Dimples if he wanted to do some surface rubbing he didn't understand the concept of a surface. rubbing what? he said. So we discussed what a surface was and brainstormed some surfaces within view describing the texture of each.
Then we went on a outdoor surface hunt. Dimples was enjoying himself outside on a beautiful day as he tried to find as many surfaces as he could to rub his crayons over. Not all of them worked well, he got the hang of keeping the paper still with one hand and shading with a crayon fast and on an angle.
The rock wall was a successful surface, the patterned concrete had some good grooves and he picked up some small rocks to try as well. The wooden fence worked well as the wood grain came through nice and strong.
The outdoor rubber mat worked well, it had a honey comb print that Dimples said looked like a bee hive. As he found different surfaces I asked him what type of surface it was, describing different textures and prints; bumpy, rocky, rough, grained, and so on.
Starting to take initiative Dimples explored further, trying out the dot grip on the step ladder, then he used the step ladder to do the fly screen on a closed window, walls on the house and the roof on his cubby house.
Of course no outdoor surface rubbing would be complete without some nature prints. Dimples collected some leafs and grasses from around the yard, we tried to get different size shape and textured materials to see what would work best.
Some of our surface rubbings turned out beautifully. It really is a great classic to enjoy with the children, outdoors. The inspiration is endless and why not enjoy a nice sun shining day outside hunting around for amazing prints and textures in nature.
Happy Adventures
Friday, 3 May 2013
Recycling Depot Pretend Play
Learning to recycle is an important message in our growing world. We explored what to recycle, how to recycle, what the recycling symbols mean, where our rubbish goes, what materials are made into after recycled properly and what materials are environmentally safe through this pretend play recycling depot.
We didn't really do anything special on Earth day, we talked about our planet and what we can do to look after it but I believe it is not going to make a difference if we celebrate our beautiful earth on one day, it takes a lot more commitment than that. Starting healthy, wise and clean living habits should start young and on a daily basis so that the future generations are more likely to make the right choices unconsciously.
Dimples had some money saved and recently bought himself a cool recycling truck. This sparked an interest into the process of recycling materials and where it goes. So we went for a trip to the dump and looked at the trucks, the buy back centre and the different dumpsters: glass, cans, plant material.
At home, we make use of a large compost bin to reduce the food scraps, paper and cardboard that gets thrown out. Dimples often helps me take a bin up the backyard to dump in and one of the chores he loves to help with is putting out the recycling, our bins are off the side of our Veranda with a rope attached so he shoots plastic bottles in from above. Putting the rubbish out can be fun in our house. So was this small world for pretend play. Dimples pretended to be a top recycler.
While he has been showing an interest in recycling I decided to set up a mini recycling depot where he can dump, sort and play with different recycled materials in the hope that he would learn through play and do what all newly turned four year old do, ask questions, lots of questions (I just hoped I could come up with the right answers). we had some straws representing plastic or glass bottles, some sticks to represent plant matter and some bits of paper scrunched up to represent rubbish or waste.
Dimples went about pretending to work at the recycling centre, sorting through rubbish in the truck is really annoying he says as he says which things are rubbish and in the wrong places. He sorted through and we talked about what happens to the bad waste and what happens to the good recycled stuff, how it can get reused or remade into other things but the waste doesn't decompose, it gets thrown out and pollutes our planet. there was lots of learning going on as he asked questions and played away with his cool recycle truck. He enjoyed it and was right into the sorting and dumping of things. I included a silver foil conveyor strip for him so that he could see how the recycling depots could sort through mixed up rubbish.
If you have a toddler or pre-schooler, its never too young to start teaching clean habits. Recycling is an easy place to start.
~ learn what you can recycle; paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass, tin cans etc.
~ recycle unwanted items by giving them to the buy back centre at your tip or to charity
~ start a compost bin
~ Pack lunches in reusable containers, not rubbish; this also helps healthy eating choices, think fresh fruit and veggies not packaged snacks.
~ be resourceful, you can use many things for craft and play, reuse plastic bottles around the home
~ shop for biodegradable or recycled products
~ use material shopping bags
~ use drink bottles for your water, don't buy bottled water
These are very small starts but they can set good habits in our children by setting them up to live clean and practise wise recycling choices unconsciously, if its in their everyday life now its more likely to be an every day choice when they are adults.
We didn't really do anything special on Earth day, we talked about our planet and what we can do to look after it but I believe it is not going to make a difference if we celebrate our beautiful earth on one day, it takes a lot more commitment than that. Starting healthy, wise and clean living habits should start young and on a daily basis so that the future generations are more likely to make the right choices unconsciously.
While he has been showing an interest in recycling I decided to set up a mini recycling depot where he can dump, sort and play with different recycled materials in the hope that he would learn through play and do what all newly turned four year old do, ask questions, lots of questions (I just hoped I could come up with the right answers). we had some straws representing plastic or glass bottles, some sticks to represent plant matter and some bits of paper scrunched up to represent rubbish or waste.
If you have a toddler or pre-schooler, its never too young to start teaching clean habits. Recycling is an easy place to start.
~ learn what you can recycle; paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass, tin cans etc.
~ recycle unwanted items by giving them to the buy back centre at your tip or to charity
~ start a compost bin
~ Pack lunches in reusable containers, not rubbish; this also helps healthy eating choices, think fresh fruit and veggies not packaged snacks.
~ be resourceful, you can use many things for craft and play, reuse plastic bottles around the home
~ shop for biodegradable or recycled products
~ use material shopping bags
~ use drink bottles for your water, don't buy bottled water
These are very small starts but they can set good habits in our children by setting them up to live clean and practise wise recycling choices unconsciously, if its in their everyday life now its more likely to be an every day choice when they are adults.
Friday, 26 April 2013
Making Duplo Mix & Match People
Easy DIY lego people. Hello, This is our duplo family, (so Dimples tells me), aren't we gorgeous?
I am all about easy and quick projects these days since the birth of Miss Cherub I still want to provide Dimples with some new and different experiences, little twists to our favourite play things work well to keep him occupied.
With some craft googly eyes, glue and my permanent sharpie markers I quickly drew some faces and clothes together on Duplo Lego blocks. Once the glue dried Dimples mixed the heads around. This was really quick, I drew the clothes up in a matter of minutes so please excuse the dodgy fashion statements of our Duplo family.
Dimples had a good laugh at our family, mixing up the heads, making Daddy where beautiful red high heel shoes and giving my pretty pink blouse and skirt body a hairy stern man face, then he continued making silly combinations then matching them back together.
He had fun swapping the clothes around, mixing up the shoes and faces until he was happy with our family. He built a little house for them to stand next to and laughed at their silly eyes.
Friday, 19 April 2013
Salad Spun Solar System - Extreme Paint
Apparently Pluto isn't important any more?
I know I learnt this stuff at school but my memory has failed me.
When Dimples got his Tag reading system on his 4th birthday I also got him a solar system booklet, he loves it and often plays, well "reads" by himself so it shouldn't have been a surprise when he told me that Venus was the hottest planet.
Silly me jumped in and said "isn't Mercury the one closest to the sun" well yes but Dimples was quick to tell me Venus is hottest because its cloud keep the heat in.
This conversation lead to my 4 year old teaching me all these things about our solar system that his tag reader had taught him. Fancy That! Then this lead to putting together a large floor puzzle we had and pulling out a space poster with matching stickers then some extended learning through Extreme Painting; The Salad Spinning technique.
Using a salad spinner, some circle paper and paint. We put the paper in with the right colours on top, shut the lid and spun. Dimples though that was the best part, he was rapidly spinning the planets around with wide open eyes telling me this one is going to be awesome! This one is going to be the best, I am spinning it so so very fast. Its a pretty easy painting technique and all the mess is confined in the salad tub making for easy clean up. We went through pointing out the planets on the floor puzzle, the tag reader diagram, the poster and then the ones we put in the salad spinner reading all the facts as we went. Dimples really engaged in the process, even to the extent of repeating anything I read to him.
All the Salad Spun Planets were put out in order and he set out his own solar system drawing rings around Saturn and the asteroid belt between Mars & Jupiter. Saturn and Earth worked the best in the salad spinner, it works best with running blobs of paint and with some even spread over your planet otherwise the paper can end up flying up the side of the salad bowl.
I think I learnt more doing this then I did at school, or my memory has failed me. One thing I noticed was the Pluto wasn't even on any of the solar system info anymore, apparently it is a dwarf planet with several others.
Happy Adventures
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