Good Clean Fun - Sensory Table - Fun Summer Activities

Sensory development is key in early childhood, especially (NOT unless) your child tends to be overly sensitive to sights, sounds, textures, and temperatures.  The more familiar they can become with new sensations, the less anxiety will arise upon new situations.  During the toddler "explorative" phase is the perfect time to introduce the opportunity to explore. 

Sensory tables are ridiculously expensive and not always very practical to clean or relocate (those lessons were learned the hard way during my years in a classroom).  So, as our daughter got her sea legs and was ready to start exploring, my husband and I put our heads together to create our own table that was perfect for our curious toddler (then 15 months old....now still enjoying it at 25 months).  

We started with a shallow, rectangular tupperware box with a well fitting lid. Then we basically built the frame around it with some left over plywood we had. We made sure all edges were sanded and smooth, then begin filling it!

WARNING: Please be sure to supervise your children during their "exploration" especially while they are still in the oral phases.

A few fun ideas for toddlers:

1. Water
2. Soap and Water
3. Dry Rice (with little bugs or small toys to bury and find)

4. Cooked Pasta noodles

5. Autumn Leaves

6. Flour

7. Shaving Cream

8. Cotton Balls

9. Finger paint

10.Oatmeal

A sensory table can be a great, portable, easy to clean way for lots of crazy messy fun with older kids too!

A few fun ideas for ages 4+:
1. Ice Cubes
2. Sand with sand toys and shovels
3. Insta-snow
4. Oobleck  (1 part water, 1 1/2 parts corn starch....add food coloring if you want!)
5. Moon sand
6. Polymer Crystals

Clean up and storage:

Simply remove the box from the frame and hose it out, let dry and replace.  If the kids are still playing, but need to abandon the table for a meal or other activities, just put the lid in place to protect it from the elements, or curious critters. =)

Here's to a wet, soft, sticky, slimy, sudsy, rough, slippery, squishy, smooth, firm, and fun summer! 

Crazy Messy Fun - Marblized Paper - Summer Art Activities

 

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Here is another colorful project that I love sharing with my students (and my daughter got a kick out of it too!)

Here is what you'll need:
1. Liquid watercolor (LOVE this stuff!) or food coloring (keep in mind that food coloring is NOT washable and will stain your hands, clothing, and anything within spitting distance).
2. Shaving Cream....any old store brand will work, choose a scent that is pleasing because your paper will hold it for a while!  ( I buy the one for "sensitive skin" so the kids can play in it once the project is over!)
3. Stirring sticks....you can use anything from toothpicks to popsicle sticks...whatever pointy object you have lying around.
4. Paper....cut it in to any size or shape before the project....or after!
5. A scraper (I use a shower squeegee...but a firm piece of cardboard, or a spackle knife will work!)
6. A hard, flat, washable surface - a table....a washable mat....even a plastic cutting board will work!

Okay...so here are the directions - so simple!
Step 1. Spray some shaving cream on the flat surface (about an inch or so deep and large enough of an area to cover your paper size)

Step 2. Drip some paint on to surface of foam in random order.

Step 3. Use your stirring stick to create a swirl pattern with the colored foam

Step 4. Place your paper, face down, on to the foam and press down all the edges (nice and squishy!)

Step 5. Remove the paper from the foam and place it on the table

Step 6. Use your scraper to remove the foam from the surface of the paper....VOILA!! The color stays!

Step 7. Set your paper aside to dry (dries very quickly and cannot be smudged or damaged, but will stick together if stacked while wet).

 You can use your completed marble paper for wrapping gifts, adorning cards, or framing!
Now, go....create!  

Or....you could get on to more important business, like.....

This.

Or this.

The Power of Prayer - Our New Family Motto

Our daugther, now 2, has entered the stage of development that we were warned about since her birth. "When she starts copying everything you do and say....that's when you have to START setting a good example."   And I am ashamed to say that we are just now "Starting" to set that example.  The last two years we have loved and nutured her and tried to teach her right from wrong...but our attempts were aimless at best.  Just before her second birthday my husband and I decided to officially sit down and work out our family guidlines, rules, boundaries, and goals. We decided our motto would be "Be an example to others" and were trying to compile a list of traits to accompany it.  Here is a great reference that we started with:  The 49 Character Qualities of Christ http://ati.iblp.org/ati/family/curriculum/characterqualities.pdf?show=true

We each made a list of our top 5 most important qualities then compared notes.  I chose my five with confident intuition. My husband scoured the Bible, looked up definitions and scripture, took notes, and finally made a careful list.  Ironically, we basically came to the same conclusions. But, after working on it a few days, praying for guidance, and frankly feeling a little frustrated, I opened the Bible from my youth and came across a bookmark that I had always treasured, but had long forgotten. The bookmark read:  "Don't let anyone look down on you for being young, but set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." ~Timothy 4:12

Old faded bookmark, same inspiring scripture!

I thanked God for his divine guidance and quickly printed, mounted, and framed the scripture in clear bold letters... As I found the perfect place to hang it, I thought of how benificial it will be to have boundaries, spritual expectations, and a clear reminder for our daughter as she grows...to learn to be an example of Christ's love...We were so proud to have our "lesson plan" all set to teach our daughter. But, when I hung it up and we read it over a few times, we realized those words are not just meant for her tiny little eyes and ears. They are a compelling reminder and a spiritual challenge for my husband and I (and all who visit our home) to be an example in everything we do, say, and are.

Overall it was a fun experience that helped us grow as parents and as believers. I reccomend digging for your own family motto no matter how old your children are...sometimes we need it more than they do, anyway.

Here is to learning and growing while you teach! 

Crazy Messy Fun: Color Mixing - Summer Art Activities

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Whether you are a child or just a child at heart, a fundamental understanding of color will empower you to make confident decisions in your artwork and help create an order within the chaos of your creativity.
So, how does one go about "understanding color"?  Its a process. And analyzing a color wheel only gets you so far.  Most of us need to learn by doing...by seeing...by making...

This awesome color mixing activity requires only a few recycled items and is entertaining AND educational! 

 

Here are the items needed:

1. A clear (or white) plastic (or Styrofoam) egg carton, cut in half.

2. An eye dropper (or medication dropper)

3. (3) applesauce containers (or small cups)

4. Liquid Watercolor (LOVE this stuff!)

5. Paper (optional)

6. Copy of Color wheel (optional)

You can dilute the colors (and extend the workability) by starting with a bit of water in each of the egg carton spaces.

Fill the three small cups with the primary colors (red, blue, and yellow)

Model the proper way to use the eye dropper...taking color from the primary cups and joining them in the egg carton to create new colors.

 Discuss the color combinations before you allow them to begin (older children) or as they are mixing (younger children).

 If all the color spaces have been filled and your child is still interested in mixing, offer a second or third egg carton (either wash that original one and use again, or use multiple empty ones) .

If you or your little artist would like to use their new unique mixtures to create artwork, provide white construction paper (on a mat, washable surface, or outside) and let them use the eye droppers to create a colorful masterpiece (you could also use a paintbrush, of course...but squirting is very fun!).

Here's to a colorful summer!!

Good Clean Fun: The Cardboard Box

How great are cardboard boxes??  From my early childhood development education, I know that simple, open-ended play items such as a box stimulate creativity, problems solving, and brain development.  From my own childhood, I know that playing with a box is SO MUCH FUN!!   We have a toy box full of toys from friend and relatives for my two year old. My daughter picks through it every few days and plays for a minute or two with each item.  But, a cardboard box.....that's more fun that a barrel of monkeys! Or a wind-up dog....or a singing duck...or any other complicated invention that has been created to "entertain" children.  Children are designed with their own built-in entertainment...it's called imagination!!  And an empty box seems to unlock it best. Next time you walk down the toy isle at Target, have the courage to walk right past the Rescue Heroes and Barbie dolls...to walk past the Tickle Me Elmos and the Leapsters....past the video games and dvds...past the Webkins and Bakugan cards...and go home and give your child an empty box!

 Look...a boat!!

A turtle shell!

  A house!

 A secret hideout!

A "cool bus" (school bus)

And Noah's ark!!

Here's to a child's imagination....and the courage to use it!

Little Miracles and Big Celebrations - A Lesson from my Toddler

Our garden seems to be flourishing under the tender care of my little girl's green thumb.  She even got to taste the fruit of her labor (literally) last week when the first cherry tomato turned red!  

I don't know about you, but when I pour myself in to a task or project, I expect results, change, and progress.  I determine the worth of my efforts by the outcome.  I measure, judge, process, decide....and sometimes forget to enjoy. I water my garden every morning so that the plants will grow and produce a harvest. My daughter joins me every morning...with no intentions or expectations.  To me, I see the growth as slow and subtle...but to her, each change is radical and unexpected. She celebrates each new flower bud, then celebrates it again when it opens, and again when it bears fruit.  She points out each new leaf and every ant her eyes fall on.   I would miss most of those little miracles if it weren't for her enthusiasm.  It is a good reminder to recognize the sweet little miracles within every task, and to appreciate a project for more than the expected results.

We found a particularly large miracle in our herb garden yesterday...what a treat for my daughter. She was just bursting with excitment when she spotted this little guy. She celebrated his surprise appearance with squeals and giggles.

And she celebrated again when he blinked his eyes...and again when he popped out of the soil...and again when hopped out of the planter...and again and again....until he was out of sight. 

Here's to little miracles and big celebrations!

The Power of Prayer: One Week, Many Blessings.

Photo: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RayOfHope

I’m learning to be patient and trust that God will eventually turn my frown upside down when I encounter an obstacle, or answer a prayer when I seek Him. Patience is really something that requires patience to learn: funny how that works out. However, God has been extra efficient in his delivery lately: no patience required.   Our blessings have been so numerous and His grace so mighty, I can’t type fast enough to share this weeks events:

Firstly, as my summer camp sessions approach, I have begun working on lesson plans, gathering supplies, and dealing with enrollment. However, the most important task, I had left up to God: To find someone to watch my daughter while I teach each morning.  Secondly, during our recent trip out to California for my sister’s wedding, we visited parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.  After an 8 day speed visit at 6 different locations, we returned to our beloved home, 3 states away.  We were so glad to be back home and were content with the thought that perhaps years from now our daughter would have extended family nearby.  Our little girl, however talked incessantly about her brief visits with the relatives. Her enthusiasm left my husband and I, once again turning to God with prayers. “We ask that in accordance with your will and your timing, we are surrounded with family to participate in our daughters upbringing and to support and encourage our family.”

And thirdly, and I share this, only to complete the magnificent image of God’s exceptional generosity, we have begun the practice of praying for objects of desire, rather than frivolously purchasing them with money we don’t necessarily have.  We figure we’ll try to live as simply as possible, but if God believes an item will truly be a blessing in our life, than he will find a way to deliver it to us.  Our latest prayers are for a chest freezer to store frozen meat and prepared items for easier meal management. 

As we read our evening devotional story early last week, we thought nothing of the theme: Honoring your parents and relating to your central and extended family.  Even though our family was distant from us, we prayed for opportunities for us to “honor our mothers and fathers” and went to bed. The next morning, 4 prayers were answered with 1 phone call:
My husband’s mother called unexpectedly and asked if she could come out next month to house hunt. Confused, my husband just stared at me. My mother in law continued with, “We found someone to do a short sale on the house and we have to be out in 2 months, so we are moving to Texas.”  My darling husband always takes a while to process news like that before he reacts….while he sat in shock for a moment, I laughed out loud and gave thanks for all our answered prayers: Extended family nearby, check. Opportunities for us to honor our parents, check. And a loving caregiver for our daughter during summer classes, check.  Once my husband was off the phone, we delighted in God’s efficiency.  How quaint: 3 prayers, 1 answer.  And even though we had prayed for those things, we were still bewildered that he had delivered them. How foolishly shocked we were.  So, I imagine, in amusement, God answered the last prayer just to see the looks on our faces: My husbands parents called back and asked, “When we move out there, do you guys want our chest freezer?”  Ha!

photo: http://www.savedbylovecreations.com/

Also, this week our computer monitor faded to black and was not responsive to resuscitation. I accepted the loss and tried to accept our inability to email friends and family until we could afford to replace it (which would be a long while).  My husband came home from work and cleverly worked out a resourceful solution: connecting the computer to our television screen and using it as a monitor.  We were proud of our little arrangement and didn’t mind adjusting to using the television as a multipurpose screen, since we hardly watch TV anyway.  Three days in to the transition the entire computer died (it was 11 years old and had been ailing for quite some time).  We laughed at “our luck”  First the monitor and now the whole unit…in the same week.  O’well.  There was no more magic my husband could work that could make that situation work out, so we conceded to our circumstances and wondered how disappointed everyone would be that they couldn’t video chat with their grand daughter, or get photos and videos of her amusing antics on a regular basis anymore. I told my husband that I would go to the local library several times a week to keep up with all the correspondence as best I can.  I called my sister to tell her of the great tragedy, but just left a message. My husband decided to pack up our broken down dinosaur and take it to a local computer shop to see if it could be salvaged.  When we arrived, an employee inspected it and pinpointed the problem: The fan was broken, which caused a burn out on the motherboard.  He said the whole unit was pretty much a goner, but he might get it to work for a while longer if he can repair the fan (for $40).  Then he showed us refurbished units in the $300 range.  We did not have $300 and yet we were tempted. Tempted to put it on the credit card that we are attempting to pay off. Tempted to purchase something out of desire, rather than pray for it and let God decide if we really truly need it.   After a little back and forth we came to our senses and we decided to get the old computer repaired and just pray that it will last long enough to retrieve all of our important files from the hard drive. We walked out of the store a little disappointed, but hopeful that someday God would consider blessing us with a replacement.   We piled in the car and drove to our local used bookstore. After about 30 minutes of perusing, I got a phone call from my sister. Before I could greet her, she asked, “You know how you have Father up in heaven that wants to bless you.” I cautiously answered, “yes.”  She continued with, “Well, you have one here on earth too…and he’s gonna’ buy you a new computer. What kind do you want?”  This time I was the one with a dumbfounded look on my face.  “Dad called me and mentioned he sent you a Mother’s Day email.  I told him you probably wouldn’t get it for a while because your computer just died. He said, ‘Oh good, I was wondering what to get her for Mother’s Day. Find out what kind she wants.”  So, just like that we were restored. Our computer was replaced…in God’s time. (Which is pretty darn fast, sometimes!) Here is to the power of prayer…and all God’s miracles.

DIY Storage: Using our Blessings to Their Fullest Potential

Our society has been shamefully labeled a “culture of consumers”.  And now that we sit in a recession, we find ourselves wondering why we were never really taught how to budget or prioritize our needs.  I find the answer lies in our definition of the word "needs".  Somehow in the last century- particularly in the last 30 or so years the line between necessity and luxury has faded.  A generation has been raised with the understanding that not only phones, computers, and televisions are a basic right...but internet, texting, and 1000's of channels are simply expected to accompany them.  And everything seems to be disposable...only built to last long enough for the next version to replace it a few months later.  Blinded by our "need" to consume, we foolishly treat the growing concept of “going green” as a new age trend or a bright new bandwagon to jump on.  Conservation, reducing waste, and recycling is not a movement forward, but rather a visit to the past. 

During the Great Depression (an ACTUAL recession) my great grandmother washed and dried her aluminum foil and reused it meal after meal.  Pie tins took turns carrying cherry, blackberry, and apple pies before they were relegated to the backyard for the grandchildren’s mud pies.  When my great grandfather wore the knees out in his enormous pants (He was 6, 5”) my great grandmother would cut the fabric down and make play clothes for my mother and her 3 sisters.  Peppermint tins were repurposed as sewing kits and aprons were not just a fashion statement. People were grateful for what they had and did what they could with it.  I’d like to teach my daughter a genuine appreciation for the blessings God gives us and the ingenuity to use everything to it’s fullest potential.  When I "need" something, I look around to what I have or what I could make, create, or repurpose.  Boxes are great for storage and organization.  I love the look of the fancy canvas boxes in the catalogs…all uniform in shape, size, and color, perfectly labeled and functional.  However, we are not always blessed with the money to purchase those, instead we're blessed with lots and lots of diaper boxes... and a roll of wrapping paper:
 

 

These boxes line the top of my art studio shelf.  They are part of my décor and get lots of use! 

 

These are a collection of former formula and oatmeal containers that are now my fancy pencil, paintbrush, and do-dad holders.

Would you like to share a project with your child that requires creative decision making and uses supplies already available? Of course you would! Here is the basic idea…with soup cans (or fruit and veggie cans –whatever you have!)

I use this as a project with my art students all the time!  Have fun!
 

 

1. Tear the wrapper off of used cans and discard  (make sure to only use cans that were opened with a can opener. Cans with pull-tab tops leave a very sharp edge!)

2. Wash the can thoroughly (I just put them through the dishwasher)

3. Select fun wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or draw/paint your own

4. Measure the paper on the can and mark the size

5. Cut a panel of paper to fit around the can (cut another one for the inside for a finished look)

6. Put some glue along the edges that overlap and slide it on the can (or in the can)

7. Ta-da! Enjoy!

People always comment on how well organized, colorful, and orderly my studio (and my house) is…and I can’t help but let them in on my little secret:  An absence of finances creates an abundance of appreciation. 

Here's to potential blessings!