Toddler 365 Fun: Making homemade lace Shapes

I was looking online this morning on toys for fine motor skills which promote writing skills.  I am using Pamm’s House Curriculum, which by the way is so appropriate for what she needs at her age.  I am thinking of doing a Spanish version, so I’ll keep you posted on that project.

Any who… her curriculum is great for Mandis age level in writing, but I see that I could do more and I needed her to work on her fine motor skills. So I ran across Melissa and Doug products which reminded me of my mats.  I already have these sets, but it gave me an idea to use my place mats and work with her in creating something.  I had recently found these place mats at a thrift store for 25 cents. I knew I would use it eventually for a project and ta da! I found my project.

Using place mats is great because they can be washed and my Charis (9month) can play with them as well.  Not only are they durable but they are very flexible so that Mandis can maneuver the lace through the different shapes.

As you can see... I punched holes just on the sides.  At this age, they only need a small amount of them or else they will get overwhelmed and won't want to do it.

The best part about making your own is that you have full control on how you make them! Big circles, small triangles, three holes, six.  As they grow and master this “toy”, you can add more!

Have fun making your own, just remember the ideas are endless when it comes to finding great stuff at the thrift store.  Always keep an eye out for bargains at yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, consignment stores, and much more! 

(Don’t forget to wash your items, if needed, with bleach and water and let dry at least a day in the sun.)

If you want to go ahead and purchase lace shapes, I suggest Melissa and Doug products, they come in a variety and are very durable, vibrant in color, big, and affordable.  I’ve added what I  have for Mandis below and have included Melissa’s products so you can see the selection.  They were my first set that I ever got for Elijah and he still uses them as of today. 

43 Things Tags: place mat toys,lacing toys,homemade toys,making toys at home,toddler craft,toddler toy,toddler learning toys

LiveJournal Tags: place mat toys,lacing toys,homemade toys,making toys at home,toddler craft,toddler toy,toddler learning toys

Toddler 365 Fun: Sprinkle the Grass

It’s getting hot, were playing outside more often and we need activities that will actually work that are easy and fun!  Well, at least I need that, with a baby and three small ones.  I created a workstation outside as I do inside so that they can be occupied with a learning environment while playing outdoors.

Here was my first project which I found to be a long-attention-span-pleaser. 

The kids played with these bottles for about one hour! As usual…. it was fast and easy.  Just prepare before hand by saving your half gallons and gallon milk jugs.  (I saved more half gallons than the gallon size because my toddler plays outside more than usual.  She’s an outdoorsy girl.  The gallons would be too heavy.)

Your Toddler will learn:  Hand-Eye Coordination

 

• Poke holes in the bottom of a large plastic bottle.
• Go outside with your toddler and talk about the grass, the flowers and all the things in your yard.  (Even if you have dirt for your back yard. Mud can be an interesting topic. )

• Fill the plastic bottle with water from the hose and tell your child where to sprinkle water.

 

I asked Mandis (2 yrs. old) to sprinkle the slide, grass, the sidewalk, the flowers, etc.  Each time she understood my directions, I praised her.

 

• Sing to the tune of “This old Man” as they sprinkle.

Sprinkle time, sprinkle time,

Now it’s time for sprinkle time.

With a shake, shake, shaky shake,

Water everywhere.

Sprinkle time is here again.

 

Now go out there and have fun!! When you come back from a nice exhausting activity, you may want to read them these books:

Toddler 365 Fun: Pudding Paint

Snack Time!!  It was 10 o’clock and what did we do? We did some creative play.  You can get yourself some INSTANT pudding and make yourself a snack while enjoying your toddler’s creative play time. 

Elijah (5yrs old) had the day off of homeschool today so I asked if he could MEASURE for me. 

Get you some paper bags from the grocery store… I have made it a habit to ask for paper instead of plastic.  Now I always have great construction paper handy.

Make sure the paint brushes are only used for food art.  I keep a set in my kitchen drawer and label them “kitchen”.

 

Glob a bunch on each child’s section and let them just create.  Some kids don’t like to get messy but the more you involve them with this type of art, the more they will let go and start IMAGINING and PRETENDING which helps get their creativity going.

Toddler 365 Fun: Painting and Pretending with Jell-O

You can do this with just about any unit you are currently working with.  This activity is so much fun for your toddler and you, because the clean up is amazingly easy.

Make sure you plan this the day prior. I usually get all of my items ready on the weekend so all I have to do is get them out for Mandis the day of.

Some questions you can ask for this activity to increase vocabulary is:
1. How does this feel?  Squishy, soft, hard, wiggly?
2. Is it cold or hot?
If your planning on mixing colors for the science affect:
1. What color can you make when you combine blue and red? (try preparing two colors at a time, per activity)
2. “I’m mixing yellow and red, what will I make?”

Place these globs of each color on a tabletop, highchair tray, plastic or paper plate, or other smooth surface.  Your child will have fun pushing, squeezing, pouring, plopping about with this tasty activity, and eating it won’t hurt her a bit!