May 29th, 2009 Make your own family Posted by Melitsa in Homemade, Thought of the week, play activities

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Make your own family is an easy craft activity that allows for imagination.

• balloons, flour,water, funnel, measuring spoon. Easy clean up table. Sharpie marker

Blow up the balloon then deflate…probably did this too many times. The boys loved to chase them around the room.

• Insert the funnel.
• Spoon in the flour.
• Fill up the balloon
• Add a little water.
• Tie off.
• Mash the little balls ( faces). If you packed enough flour and water you’ll be able to make faces by pinching the balls.

• Add character to your faces.

Have a look below at the new members of our family

These characters have become part of the boys pretend play. Let them join your puppet show. Name them after your family members. Allow for pure sensory play with pushing, poking and throwing.

After making their new family they both spent a long calm time playing with flour on a plate.
Enjoy!

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May 28th, 2009 Playing outdoors- Tell me Thursday Posted by Melitsa in play activities

Tell me Thursday is a chance to explain your Wordless Wednesday post. Join in the fun.

With Grandad in town they had to show him how they can scoot downhill towards the park. It was easy to get them outdoors today. The weather was great and they had a cheerleader.

Yes both decided to try from this picture to start. It’s very steep. Both ran off their scooters onto the grass and wiped out. Dusted themselves off- “That was awesome “(BG)  Shock (MO)  Poor Grandad ran after them and we all were shouting fall on the grass. 

On the way back home, they conquered the section just below this at speed. Hair raising for Grandma and I but Grandad and dad were very proud. The boys were past excited.

Thanks for stopping by. What was your story behind your Wordless Wednesday photo?

Thinking about starting your own business?

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May 27th, 2009 Playoutdoors- Wordless Wednesday Posted by Melitsa in Memes, Seasonal play, play activities

Find out the story behind this Wordless Wednesday picture tomorrow in Tell Me Thursday.

You can too. www.tellmethursday.com

Thanks for stopping by.

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May 26th, 2009 Going on a car trip? Posted by Melitsa in Roundups, Seasonal play, Sites to visit, language, play activities

3 things that we couldn’t do without on our car trips.

We think you’ll like them too.

1. Treasure Basket
2. Action figure
3. Memory Game

Treasure basket play for my youngest( 9.5months). We brought along a small collection of objects that swapped as time went by.  Happily his favourite is the teaspoon which we had brought anyway for his lunch.  He looked a lot in the little hand mirror. We were sure he was kissing himself but I think that was really wishful thinking. The steady flow of different items kept him engaged and entertained. Better than the board books we had brought. I’ve written about treasure basket play for babies before and during Operation Playtime. I’ve just finished an ebook that gives more examples and shows you how to use a treasure basket with your baby to get the most out of it for you both.

Learn more about treasure basket play

Action figures

We are definitely in the superhero phase. It didn’t matter which one he took up I could hear the action figure doing all sorts of things. The sound effects were loud enough for me to hear ( He’s in the 3rd row) lol. To move the play on from just sound effects. All the adults asked lots of questions-

• Where is he now?
• Did he help save his brother?
• What happened?
• What will happen next?
• Why did they do that?

We helped build his story and fill in blanks.

• What’s his name?
• How far away was it?
• Did they do it all by themselves?( big deal for my toddler/preschooler right now)

After he said “The End”. We would retell the story and ask him what happened next? Both together. He did play a lot more by himself without any guidance and with his carseat buddy his older brother.

“>

This Travel Memory Game was great for the BG ( 6). He played with Grandad across the seats. It’s just like memory but without the huge table needed for all the cards out. There are interchangeable themes- shapes, fruit and vehicles. You flip open ( as shown) a tab and then another. If you get a match then you score points at the bottom.

Going on a car trip- plenty of time for creative and exploratory play by the baby; pretend play with the toddler/ preschooler and perfect car trip games for the Kindie.  There are times when a music CD or a DVD becomes essential but a little careful packing and these will become firm favourites.

Other road trip games to try ( @ = twitter name. Click to go to webpage)

@missfish

****** What car trip games do you pack? *********

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