Sensory : Seeing with our Ears

Have you ever taken your kids on a blindfolded walk?

You should try it!

The sights, sounds, and smells, are such an experience for those little minds.

I took my kids to the local nature reserve.

The rule was one blindfolded person, and one guide.

The 3 year old didn't like this. But, she is 3 and 3 year olds don't like anything.

The other kids loved it!

We stopped, listened and observed.

It was cold, but so peaceful and quiet.

When we got home, we took notes of our observations and drew pictures of what we 

heard but couldn't see.

I love being outside, even if it is fall/winter.

There are less people out, and the kids have more room to enjoy.

You should try it!

Fist Ladybugs!

Don't forget when we made these!

FIST LadyBugs!

back in 2009!

Thumbprint Ladybug Notecards

This was one of my first posts EVER! Thumbprint People it was so popular, that I got my first sponsor! That was like a million years ago (it seems) my babies are huge now! *sniff*

Anyway. My oldest daughter has had several friends move in the past few months, so we decided to make Ladybug ThumbPrint Notecards.

I did the antennae, she did the dots and wrote the notes.

We sent out about 8 of them. So adorable!

Bath and Body Paint

Want to learn how to do this... 

I bet you even have all the "ingredients" in your house!

Here is what you need:

Ice cube trays, a measuring cup, liquid baby soap, cornstarch, food coloring, paint brushes, ziploc bag and tooth picks!

Here is what you do!

Mix 1/2 cup baby soap and 2 TBSP of cornstarch in the ziploc bag.

or let the kids do it!

Then cut the tip of the edge and add to the ice cube tray...

Then add the food coloring.

mix with tooth picks...

Now - it is time for a tip!

Do you have this problem with aprons?

I mean, what is the point?

Here is how you fix it!

 ^^^add one side of string to the tail of the neck.^^^

 then tie normally.

Ta-Da!

Okay, back to the craft.

Once the paint has been mixed, head to the tub!

paint away.

When it it time to clean up, to pick up sibling from kindergarten....

Use a squirt bottle for added fun!

It cleans RIGHT up!

My girls were at this for 1.5 hours, and if we didn't have to leave - they would have kept going!

Try it on a rainy day, or a snowy day, or a "it's too hot to play outside" day.

The best thing?

You can paint your BODY with it too!

Winter Break Activity #3 - ART - Torn Candy Canes

We had some friends over and decided to do our art project with them.  Each kid tore red and white paper and then glued them into candy cane shapes. We did this while my husband was making lunch (it was a snow day)

aaaaaand here they are!

Just something simple and fun and stress free to break up the break.  Another option would be to do finger prints in lieu of torn paper. We had 6 kids here so I stayed away from the paint, but you totally could use paint!

Scheduling Toddlers/Toddler Tips/Potty Training

We are back from our 17 day road trip to California. Whew!

Potty Training Continued.

1- Make sure your child is ready.

Make sure you are following the right cues. Push it and you will have to start all over.  If they are showing interest - then go ahead and start

2 - Have the right equipment for YOU and your KID.

Potty Seat vs Potty Chair and Underwear.

3. Decide what is going to work for your Child. 

Sticker Charts, Treats, Rewards, Praise, etc.

4. Poop Training.

Most children are quick to urine train. Its easy fast and not that messy. (depending on the kid) Poop is a lot harder for toddlers. For some kids Bowel Movements feel like they are losing a part of them selves. They are afraid to watch it flush and it is scary for them. For others they are just lazy and would rather do it in their diaper. Another thing is that they don't know when they need to do it until they are squeezing it out.

If you have a child who goes to a certain place to poop or has a certain time they do it - you are one step ahead.  If you notice they are running to their "spot" pick them up in the squatting position and sit them on the potty while the diaper is on. Have them go through the motions of pooping on the toilet WHILE the diaper is on. So they mentally move their "spot" to the bathroom. Then slowly coax them to take it off - over time of course.

My kids have gotten double the candy reward for BMs. This was an incentive that worked for them.

Another thing that has worked for me in the past (with older children) is show them the digestive tract. Explain that the food they eat goes down, gets processed and then the "waste" - "poop" needs to come out.

For analytical children it helps them get the process.

image via google images

Remember that poo takes time. If you need to read a story to them while they take care of business too. Don't rush it.  Even adults have a hard time "getting it out."  If you suspect they might be constipated increase the fluid intake and give them more fiber. It will soften them up and help it slide right out.

Don't get frustrated. This is all part of development.  Just keep going and eventually it will happen. There are worse things in the world than a poop accident. 

Good Luck and as always I hope this helps! This as always is a post to help give you ideas or help with situations. Not a post telling you WHAT to do...because every kid is different! :) 

Pop Rocks

My son picked "try a new candy" for one of our summer fun things this summer.

So Pop Rocks was it! I had never had them, and the kids had never had them either.

 After we had them we put them in water and then in a small amount of soda.  The kids went wild!

Just a fun weird activity to do in the afternoon. :)

Follow and Balance

Here is what you need:

Masking Tape, Dice and Rules!

Here are my rules: 1 - Hop, 3 - Tip Toe, 5 - Walk ... 2,4,6 - OUT

 Tape a totally random pattern to the carpet and then roll the dice...

 We played two different ways. The roller was the leader and everyone followed the leader.

 Then we played where everyone rolled and then did their own rule at the same time.

So one hopped and one tip toed...etc.

Then I let them decide what each roll was going to be.  Some examples were clap, one foot, crawl.

It was a fun 30 minutes of fun and something to do inside since it was snowing this morning. And yes, I am fully aware that my kids are in shorts. Haha.

Happy taping!  PS save it for another activity I will post tomorrow AND Thursday...thats right!

Monster Munch

Another fun Halloween snack.  My son is in charge of the snack and on his day its monster day, which we will do on Halloween week. :)

Anyway here is my creation of MONSTER MUNCH! Aaah! Monster Munch is what Monsters eat-not monster parts. :)

Here is what I used: 

Honey Nut Cheerios (people eyes)

Vanilla Goldfish (dead fish)

Raisins (bug eyes)

Sunflower Seeds (mouse toes)

Sweedish Fish (baby tongues)

Chow Mein Noodles (dried up worms)

Cocoa Puffs-not pictured but used (mouse poop)

Totally gross, but fun.

I let them create their own mix and for my son's class I made a chart and let them see and read what was in their individual snack sized ziploc bags.   

 Then it was time to eat.

And discover what each thing was.  It was a fun activity. Try it instead of candy! 

Healthy Kids Activities - Taste #3

Sweet Lunch!

Sweet things...Strawberries, Cinnamon Graham Crackers, Jelly and PB Sandwiches, Raisins, Marshmallows, and Cantaloupe.

The girls picked what they liked best.

N just ate everything! 

We didn't do much on the sweet thing but we did talk about what was the sweetest.

We had a delicious little lunch.