Name and Numbers Post-It Note Fun

I love Post-It Notes!
I took out some Post-it notes and added tape paper for my 3-year-old...time to work on name and numbers.  One of my favorite activities!
I taped it to our refrigerator and let him match the letters and numbers.  I did this with my firstborn son and it stayed on his wall forever, and he used it a lot.  Well, my second son has already crumpled up a letter.  Yet another way my boys are so different.  We used it as a learning experience.  I asked him what letter he needed and he told me.  He really wanted his name to be "complete".  He has not crumpled up another letter, yet...
For more Post-It note ideas check out: http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/2011/08/post-it-notes-why-i-love-them.html?m=0

Summer MUST HAVES

Pool Noodle Bat

Sidewalk chalk ABC's

Looking for ways to keep the kids busy....  As a parent, it is always a challenge to finds ways to keep the kids active and having fun, while stimulating their brains.  Here is a list of must-haves this Summer and the best part is that the materials can be found at your local Dollar Tree store!  (The following activities can be modified to meet the academic needs or level of your kids. They focus on fine and gross motor skills as well as basic math and phonemic awareness.).

#1 Sidewalk Chalk:  Besides just drawing there are lots of ways to use chalk.  Create an extra large race track to run, hop, or ride bikes.

Try drawing shapes, letters or numbers.  Have kids line up, call out a letter, number, or shape and kids race to find and stand on the correct spot.  Try throwing a beanbag to their target letter or number. Write the ABC’s in random order on the ground and have the kids go on a beginning sound hunt by finding things in the yard that begin with that letter sound.

#2.  Paint Brushes and a Bucket of Water:  Paint shapes, letters, numbers, or sight words on the ground with water and watch them disappear!

#3.  Spray Bottles:  I am not a fan of water guns, and have found that spray bottles work great!  They are easy to refill and hold a lot more water.  Try having target practice with letters or numbers.  Using Post-It notes or chalk, write letters or numbers and place on the garage door or fence.  Call out a letter/number and have the kids spray/hit it.

#4.  Pool Noodles:  They are not just used for the pool anymore.  Cut them in half and turn them into a bat or sword.  It is fun to use them to “ninja” pop the bubbles or hang a ball from a string on a tree branch and hit the ball with the noodle.

#5. Beach Ball:  I turn my beach ball into an “Alpha-Ball”.  Using a permanent pen, write the letters of the alphabet on the ball.  Roll, toss or bounce the ball to a friend.  When you catch the ball, call out the letter where your thumb lands.  You can create different balls using sight words, numbers, addition or multiplication problems,  etc…

I hope this list gives you some new ideas to get your kids active and having fun this Summer!  My 18 month old on up to our 12 year old neighbor enjoy these outdoor activities.

Sweet Potato Experiment

There are lots of experiments online that show the results of growing an organic vs. non-organic potato but we wanted to try it ourselves.  We took two sweet potato from Trader Joes, one "Organic" and one "Non-Organic" and put them in cups suspended in water halfway by toothpicks.  We placed them in a sunny window and added water as needed.  Within ONE week there were sprouts from the Organic potato, nothing on the non-organic.  About 4 weeks into the experiment, we decided to throw the non-organic potato away because it was starting to get slimy on the bottom and still NO GROWTH! 

It was fun to watch the organic sweet potato grow because it was like Jack in the Beanstalk!  It grew so fast and the boys got excited!  After 10 weeks and a windowsill full of sweet potato vines, it was time to do the final measure and plant into the ground.

Hmmm, I see something!

Wow, that's tall!

Check out these roots!!!!

Time to plant!

Unfortunately our experiment ended when we found out that rabbits enjoy the leaves of a sweet potato.  Within a few days, all the leaves were gone!

It was a great opportunity to talk about organic vs. non-organic, pesticides in our food and how it changes the food we eat, the role of water and sun to help things grow, measuring the growth of the vine, shape of leaves and for fun, reading Jack and the Beanstalk and creative writing.

Here is a great video to show your kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ugqjGgWNAY

Repurpose Your Child's Art

If you are like me, I have a hard time throwing away my child's artwork.  So before you "recycle" it, try using it for a card to grandma or to wrap up a present.  Here are two we just made for papa and 4th of July.

Tape Resist Art

Drying Art

 This year dad will be receiving this tape resist art project done by our 2 year old.  Using painters tape, I spelled out "DAD" and my son painted over it with his hands. When it dried, he pulled off the tape to reveal the special word.  My seven year old had fun creating his own tape resist project.

Final Product

Homemade Silly Putty

To make this, each child got a couple spoonfuls of corn starch and liquid dish soap.  They kept mixing with their hands until they got the right consistency. If too runny, add more corn starch.  If too dry, add more dish soap.  You can't go wrong with these two ingredients.

Pasta, Puddles, and Pajamas

We had the most productive rainy day!   The boys helped make homemade pasta.

Rory strung pony beads onto pipe cleaners to make Valentine bracelets.  Shay melted chocolate to make mustache lollipops for his class Valentines.

And the day ended with a walk in the rain with puddles.

Kaos Defeated - Skylanders Party Pinata

The things we do for our kids!  For the second year in a row, my son wanted a Skylanders themed birthday party.  Having to come up with some new, exciting ideas, we decided a great way to end the party was to DEFEAT Kaos (the main villain).  What better way, than smashing a piñata.
Thinking this would be a great bonding experience, I found myself doing the messy part.  The project was simple, just glad I started a week in advance to give the paper mache layers time to dry.  I did one layer a night - 4 layers of newspaper and the final layer was white copy paper.  The pinata lasted 9 kids,  3 hits each before it broke!!

 Here is the punch balloon we covered.  Torn pieces of newspaper dipped in a mixture of flour and water.

 After the final layer (white copy paper), we painted it skin color.

  My husband had fun drawing Kaos' face.  It turned out perfect.  We cut a hole in the top and filled it with goodies.  Then we made two holes and strung ribbon through to hang up.

It was a "hit"...the kids loved it!  More party highlights here: http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/2015/01/trap-team-birthday.html?m=1

Ladybug Hike for the New YEAR!

We survived the Holidays and now we are off and running into the NEW YEAR! Having a two-year-old doesn't allow for much downtime. We started our year off with a family hike to find the hibernating ladybugs at the Redwood Regional Park off the Stream Trail.  Luckily I asked a passing family where they were because I think we would have walked right by them!  It was amazing to see all the ladybugs.

 I had read about this before and thought what a fun way to spend the day and let my little one be free to explore.  My soon-to-be seven-year-old loved it, however, my two-year-old didn't want to walk.  Figures...and we didn't even bring the stroller.  We will definitely be going on more adventures together!

 

Here is where I first read about the ladybugs:  http://frogmom.com/2011/11/ladybug-hike-at-redwood-regional-park/

Don't forget to bring some snacks to keep the kids going! ;)

Bubble Wrap Painting

 Perfect rainy day activity!  Paint bubble wrap and press on paper.  We found that the sponge brush worked best to cover the surface easier.  This would work for any shape.  Have fun!

Pine Cone Christmas Tree

Not only are these fun to make, but they smell amazing!  I got the cinnamon-scented pine cones at Michael's.  The kids loved smelling them and they left the room smelling good too!!
Supplies; pinecones, glue, paint, and decorations to attach.  Anything would work.  I used pom-poms, sequins, and glitter.  Have fun!

Mommy and Me Turkey

It is turkey time!  I could just "gobble up" this simple project.  The best part was having my son paint my hand.  I am most thankful for spending time with my little ones.  This project captures this time together.

"We made these little turkeys so everyone will see,
That I am most thankful for my Mommy and Me!"

Today was the last class of my Fall session of mommy and me.  This project was the perfect end to our time together.  I'll be back in December for a very special 2-week session.

Trick or Treat Sight Word Game

 

Halloween may be over, but I had to post this game.  It was a hit at the Halloween party and we have played it again and again at home too!
 Prep:
Cut out approx. 40 white ghosts.  I used index cards so they were sturdy.  Write 30 sight words with silly eyes on the ghosts, 5 ghosts write the word "BOO!" and 5 ghosts write "Trick or Treat!".  Shuffle up the ghosts and place them in a bag or spooky cauldron.
Ready to play:  Place all the cards in your cauldron.  Have players take turns pulling out one card.  If they can read the word,  they keep it.  If they pull the word "BOO", they have to put all their cards back in the cauldron.  If they pull the word, "Trick or Treat", all the other players give them their cards.  Keep going until all the words are gone.  The player with the most words wins.
Hint:  Keep "Boo" and "Trick or Treat" cards out of the cauldron once pulled by the players or the game will go on and on forever.  Have fun!  You can also do this with numbers or letters, depending on what skill you are working on with your little ones.
This game would be great for practicing letters or numbers, depending on what your child is focusing on.

Puffy Ghost

Another simple project for your little ones.  Cut out a ghost shape and have your child "paint" on the glue with a paint brush.  After there is enough glue, place cotton balls on top.  (My son didn't like when the cotton stuck to his fingers from the glue). Have wet wipes available.  Final step is to add the face...Boo!!!!

Be sure to check out the chocolate chip ghost post.  http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-chocolate-chip-ghost.html?m=0

Second Annual Halloween Fun

Tonight was the night for my son's second annual spooky play date and dinner.  He had three friends over for games, a science experiment, dinner, and a spooky treasure hunt.

Thanks to our great neighbors for participating.  I had dropped off rhyming clues and small goodies at their houses earlier that day.

 Dinner consisted of mummy dogs, ghost quesadilla, grape snake, and vampire blood punch with an ice cube that contained a gummy worm inside.

 The bug slime didn't turn out like I had seen in pictures online, but the kids still LOVED it.  Their giggles and squeals were priceless.  They also had glow sticks and played a ring toss game in a dimly lit room.

Spider Web Paintings

 Another classic art project...
Supplies:
Black construction paper
White paint
Marbles or gold ball
Plastic spoon and small bowl

Place construction paper in the pan.  Pour a small amount of paint into a small bowl and drop in marbles.  Have the child spoon out the marbles

and drop on paper.  The child holds the pan and moves it back and forth to move the marble around to create a web.  Then tape a spider ring or spider cutout on the web.

This is a great project to practice fine motor skills by using the spoon to collect the marbles.

Halloween Drawings

Today I took out one of my favorite Halloween books.   Ed Emberley's Halloween Drawing Book is an easy, step-by-step drawing book using basic shapes.  This year my 6-year-old had fun making all kinds of spooky pictures and details.

Pumpkin Mosiac

 Now that it is October, it is time to have some pumpkin fun!  Today we made a mosaic pumpkin by applying glue with a paint brush on a pumpkin shape and sprinkling pieces of orange paper on the glue.  My two-year-old had more fun painting on the glue and wasn't too interested in filling up the pumpkin with the orange.

Welcome October!!!

Fall Exploration

Today was a perfect Fall day for a walk.  We brought a bag and collected things we found on the ground: pine cone, acorns, leaves and sticks.  We observed how the leaves and branches moved with the wind, watched the clouds float by and saw birds and airplanes.
After our walk we dumped out our treasures and noticed how some were rough or spikey and others were soft and light.  I poured small amounts of Fall colored paints and then used the tresures as our paint brushes.  It was a great way to take in the change of Season!

Fall is Here

Here are two simple Fall projects to kick off the season:
1.  School House - The start of school is always very exciting!  This simple project is a perfect keepsake.  Depending on the child, paint or ink their hand or foot.  Each heart has information about the child, including their height, weight, name, age, teacher's name, etc.  It would be fun to do this every year and see how they have grown,

Very proud of his first day of school!

2.  Leaf Painting - Cut out a leaf shape and child paints using Fall colors.  It is fun to use red and yellow and have them create the color orange.  My son loved mixing the colors on the paper plate.