Sock Sack

We made it through the week without paint! Yea us!

This is a perfect solution for lost socks...and in this house of 5 we have an entire bin of lost socks!

Here is what you need...
Unmatched socks
Dried beans, lentils or rice

Simply fill the sock with about 1 cup of dry beans.

Tie the end and pull to tighten.
There you go...it's a sock sack!

Combined with a large coffee can, #10 can or waste basket or large bowl and you've got "basket sack!"

We decided to leave the tails on because they look funnier when you are trying to throw it in the basket.

You can use it to really fling your sack high into the sky. Or throw it at your younger sister. You decide!

Bottle Shakers

At 6 months babies have good control of their movements, especially their arms and hands. These shakers or any rattling sound will make any baby feel excited and help them boost cause and effect awareness. It might also help with rhythm!

All of these from Walmart are less than a buck a piece!

What you need. Empty containers like spice bottles, baby bottles with flat lids, (I used Gatorade Bottles) sand, dried beans, water and oil, rocks or rice. Fill 'em secure them with glue or tape and let them have at it!

Here is my little fuzz ball after she woke up from her first nap.



Here she is with her siblings after dinner...

These bottle shakers help develop Cause and Effect, Listening, Music, and Large Motor. Make them, they are easy and everyone likes to Shake 'em.

Sensory Box

I found this under the bed tub at Walmart for 6 dollars. I love it because it has wheels and two separate openings. You will see why it is important later. So I took this awesome box and filled it with wheat, because I had it on hand (surprise, surprise) and put some old cups and spoons, and slotted spoons and a plate in the box.

When I taught, this was the most popular thing in the classroom. When I visited centers across Denver Metro the Sensory Box was still the most popular thing in the class. I will show you all through out the year what you can put inside, but I think my favorite thing about the Sensory Box is the fact that it can be played with all year round.
My kids played with it for about an hour, then we sweeped up the little mess they had made and poured it back into the box. I am keeping this wheat for the month and then going to share it with a friend (who ever comments first) When they are done with it we can pass it to someone else, that is what is so great about the sensory box. Oh and of course the two openings...
She loved to wiggle her toes in it. This is a fun and cheap way for kids to have fun indoors. Let me know who wants it next!

Ring Toss

What you need...

6 Water Bottles, Rice or Rocks or Wheat (that is what I used cause I'm a W), and pipe cleaners.

What you do.

Run the bottles through the dishwasher and let them sit out and open overnight. (I had to because the kids who used these at my son's party were covered in cheetos) Fill the bottles with the wheat.

First Try

Then we talked about funnels.

Second Try - you will never learn how to do things better unless you try it in the first place.

Screw the lids on.

Whip out the pipe cleaners and make rings out of them by twisting the ends together.
I let them try it first...

Then I finished them up. We identified the colors in Spanish and English,
Lucas knew 2 in Chinese?

Then we took them outside and played for a while.

We put this on our outside shelf. Next to the chalk and other things we have made in the past. This would be a great game to play in the winter! My kids also liked to line up the bottles and see which ones they could "score" on. Which gives me an idea for next week...

Flat Maracas

Today we made Flat Maracas, next week we will make round ones.

Before we could start the kids wanted a snack. I know the picture is crooked but my daughter looks like a doll sitting in that chair!

Here is what you need:
(the scent crayons aren't necessary but I had them and my boy wanted to use the stinky crayons)

First color the plates
(I used small plates because I have kids with little hands, but you could use big ones.)

She thought it was hilarious to sit with her brother.

Then you staple all around the edges, leaving a 2 inch hole at the top. Then you fill with rice.
(You don't have to use rice, dry popcorn-unpopped, salt, beans...anything will work)

My son was very into this, look how serious he is!
She opted to use her hands
The last thing you do is staple the last 2 inches of the plate and shake away!
(staples work much better than glue and you don't have to worry about dry time)
He was double checking my stapling job.
They were quite easy to make and will last a very long time. We put them in our music box and will use them for Jack's Big Music Show tonight. We are doing a music themed Family Home Evening.

(these pictures were all taken in My Daughter's room, yes those diamonds are hand painted. My husband is great at full filling my visions. It looks awesome trust me!)

Happy Monday everyone!

Original Post 8/4/08