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Is it possible?
The big guy started with a rice tub during speech therapy at two. We bought a large rubber maid tub and filled it with rice and beans.
We found lots of things to bury from around the house and local charity shops. We’ve had puzzles pieces, plastic animals from crackers and party bags, tea cups, plastic cutlery, old medicine bottles and measuring cups from the bottles, figures, lego, plastic mirror, doll clothes, pictures of family, plates of different sizes/colours etc to name a few things.
He loved the sensory experience of burying his arms up to his elbow and discovering things. We had a treasure hunt to find buried items. It was a great calming activity for a very active toddler. He loved the flow, pour, scoop action as well.
Activities started from the basic
- find the object- name the object to find a group of objects that belong together ( fork/ knife . Cup/saucer caterpillar/bee mummy/daddy picture).
- Storytelling came next. We had stuffed animals and we took out 2 objects and made a story to go with it.
- Find all the correct puzzle pieces for the 4 piece shape puzzle ( variations included naming the shapes to find or letting him just find the pieces, changing the type of puzzle from simple animal puzzles with the shape to 25 piece floor puzzles etc)
- Sorting and grouping objects by colour, shape, size, type- whatever comes to mind.( Find all the red things, all the things we use with eating, find your friends)
- Pouring,measuring, dumping, balancing, burying.
- finding all the things to have a picnic with the teddy bears
- linking other toys together with the rice tub to make longer stories :Car wash- find the hidden cars. Use the special spray gun with scented water and wipe with kitchen towel. Park cars in the “sun”. Uncle George can now drive it to the farm to get some milk.( to drink of course)
These were play sessions with the therapist. But we were encouraged to continue this extended play ourselves. He enjoyed the language sessions and through play had fun experimenting with a new sensation.
Just like playdoh there’s so much experimenting children can do with a rice tub. This open ended activity is perfect as a calming activity after a hectic one or one that can be used during freeplay time. Sometimes we directed or started the play especially to encourage a more varied and complex play and other times he free played using his own ideas and ones he’d learnt from sessions, friends and influences around.
Find that perfect book
Note of caution:
- You will find rice everywhere. Use a shower curtain and clean up is
easy easier. During the summer months we played with rice outside for even speedier clean up.
- Dried beans are very dangerous for young children due to being so small they can go in many places so think carefully about supervision.
Both the boys have Mr. Potato heads: The original and Spiderman, ( guess which one for which child) .They like to bury all the pieces and see who can assemble the quickest potato head. If truth be told Mummy and Daddy like to play this game too with the boys.
Our potato heads have all the pieces in the wrong place which gives the whole game a fun aspect detracting a little from the competition, which can get a little fierce.
Do you use a rice tub? What games and activities ?
Other rice tub ideas
- Sensory activities : Tactile
- Article on the need for touch play
- Play activities article on touch
- Forget small go bigger than a Rice tub
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February 25th, 2008
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Welcome to the 7th edition of Carnival of Parenting Podcasts
It’s a place to share and find some new parenting podcasts from the podcaster and recommendations from those who listen to podcasts.
Top 10
Send in your favourite podcasts of the fortnight.
- Mommy’s milk and more:Episode #30 Newborns with Jaundice
- Oh Behave!:Episode 2: Setting effective boundaries with children
Technorati Tags: Parenting, podcasts
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February 22nd, 2008
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Whilst looking through some blogs I love I came across a recipe for cookies.
Perfect! I had these
and a craving for cookies.
The kids were hoping for pancakes as this is what we usually do when bananas get so ripe. But today was my lucky day.
Check out the recipe here. It was quick and easy and the kids had a blast.
I substituted the chocolate chips for dried craisins and crushed hazelnuts, as that’s what I had in.
We’ve been munching them every since…….small dinner for us tonight. ( excuse the flash)
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February 18th, 2008
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This activity was submitted by play activities subscriber, Monica N…………Thanks
You need:
- marbles
- paint
- paper
- sided tray
- Put the paper into the tray.
- Let your child squirt paint into the tray and onto paper.
- Drop in the marbles.
- Watch marbles move and makes pattern on paper.
- Carry on activity until child gets fed up!
developmental benefits: Creativity & Imagination, Arts & Craftwork, Outdoor & Physical Play
Looks like a lot of fun for preschool and up.
Other marble painting links
Great ideas if you are stuck inside with bad weather with toddlers…….. See what one creative mum found.
***When was the last time you got the paint out?***
Technorati Tags: play activities, marbles, paint
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February 15th, 2008
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“It starts at home and not by you sitting on the couch and telling the kids to go out and play. They need your attention and your enthusiasm.”
Pam Kirk of Richmond Community Schools
This week was mild enough on some days to go outside. I wrapped them up and sent them out, just like the quote above. Just like yo-yos they were back inside within 10 minutes. I had estimated at least 30 minutes of play activity outside but they just wanted to see what I was doing inside.
With a little frustration, I must admit, as I wanted to get a few things done, I abandoned my chores and went outside with the intention of showing them some ideas to do.
We filled the pull along truck with snow from the little shovels and went on a pretend journey. ( Never did find out where with the muffled sounds from the hood up on my son).
We drew lines, toddler and our names in the snow. Then used stones to try and make shapes and letters.
We tried kicking the ball but it got stuck in the snow. The little guy followed footprints of the cat until he walked into the fence….poor thing. They bounced on the snowy mini trampoline to watch the snow bounce with them.
At this point 15minutes or so had passed and they were having a ball….probably because I had joined them. I slipped back inside and managed 10 minutes of time before cold faces pressed on the door.
OK I didn’t get what I wanted done but if my Maths is right that’s 35 minutes of activity outside. They came in much calmer,worn out and full of talk. Anyone would think I had not just been out there with them. It was lovely to see.
We had warm hot chocolate ( the only way my little guys drink it after months of pilfering my cup when it’s put down) and the last slice of carrot cake.
Enthusiasm really is contagious.
***When did you last go out and play with your kids? Share some of your ideas. ***
Technorati Tags: play, snow, pretend
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