Ivory Soap, Paint!

So, after you have turned it into a slightly stinky, but really cool cloud, you tear it up into pieces. The kids love to do this!

 Put it in a mixer, and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup warm water.  you want it to be smooth, but NOT runny.

 It looks so weird.

 Put it in baggies, and add the coloring, then let the kids smoosh.

 

 Awesome!

 Then, cut the tips off and explain to your kids how piping works, because that is what they are going to do in the tub! "Back to the tub, kids!" you will shout with excitement! LOL

 Then, let them have their fun!

 

 Here is what it looks like.

 Then, check out the designs and then let them swish it with their hands, for added enjoyment!

 Sensory Fun!

 

 Yay!

It is fun, clean, and - washable!

More to come!

Cream Cheese Play Dough/Snack

This is a great recipe if you have kids who need something to do AND eat! :)

Here is what you need:

8oz cream cheese

3/4 cup non fat powdered milk.

1.5 TBSP of honey

Food Coloring

 

Sounds totally bizarre right?

Well, you mix and mix and mix until you get "frosting" consistency.

Then you slap some on waxed paper and let them go to town. I gave them forks and knives so they could scribble with it, chop it, smear it, and just "play" with it.

This was great for the 1 year old.

She wanted to "play" too!

It works, because it is also edible!

When they were done I gave them some pretzels, excellent timing, as it was snack time. :)

This stuff does not keep, so it is for one time play only.

I bet you have all this stuff on hand.

I always have powdered milk - but that is because I use it for baking wheat bread. 

Have fun and try it!

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!

Secondary Colors - Toddler Activity #1

It was my turn for Tot School this week.  Everyday I will post what we did for you to do with your 2.5-3 year old.  If you want my tot school schedule email me and I will send it to you! :)

Last week they worked on Primary Colors. I was pleased that they knew the 3 they worked on so it was time to learn the next 3.

I downloaded this Catch a Rainbow observation chart from KidZone.  I printed it on Graph Paper for full effect! :)

Then I filled a bowl of milk and added food coloring red, blue and yellow to the milk.  I used milk because it showed the colors better than water would have.

 Then we observed it.

 Then we filled in the first circle with what we saw.

The kids were so good and coloring everything just as they saw it. Cute!

 Then I stirred it with a wooden stick.

 They thought this was neat. Then we colored what we saw after the stirring.

During snack I asked each person what we did and what we saw.  I loved that 4 of the kids said that we made a mess in the bowl. Hahaha.

Rice Krispy Dinos

For dino week we also made a special treat, GREEN Rice Krispy Dinos. Here's how...

Bag of small marshmallows, 6 cups of Rice Krispies, 1/4 cup of butter, green food coloring.
I used cookie cutters to cut the shapes and then let my kids after bath identify what each dinosaur shape was and what they did. (eat plants or meat)
It was a great after dinner snack. Here is a tip do not add food coloring until everything is melted...then once the butter and marshmallows are smooth and green add the rice krispies.

Cereal Lacing

I know you all have done this, but my kids are up for anything. They haven't done it in a while and I know it is fun. Here is what you need...

Cereal, Yarn, Tape, Scissors.

I taped the ends to make them pointy and then knotted the other end to make a stopper.
I learned that my daughter had better hand eye cordination and was really good at lacing them all by herself. She sat there patiently and strung them one by one.

My son was having a hard time picking colors so I handed them one at a time. You will see why later. I let them go for about 15 minutes, where they sat there really working on their necklaces.Then we stopped so I could teach them about patterns. My son was quick to understand.

He then wanted to figure out his sisters all by herself.

We quickly discovered that the best part of the activity was eating them off our necks. I am sure we will do this one again! :)