Everyday objects will always hold a fascination to the little ones. We don’t have a huge separation of objects as toys but do have ones some that belong to them and belong to us. Largely because we need the object at the same time so it is just easier. But mostly we share.
Yesterday you saw the LO sorting.
He is loving this pouring, dumping and putting back stage. To help him I placed in his cupboard two empty icecube trays. After banging on these for a bit I brought him a small baggy of sticky letters and shapes . His brothers were crafting with them around the corner. He merrily sat there for quite a while filling each hole. Dumping them all and filling each hole again. I stayed and played with him for a minute naming colours as he dropped them in. Rearranging them into groups of colours. He dumped them when I did this so I got the message and stopped .
I do control the baggy after play otherwise that stuff would trail around the house.
………..Turning little moments into playful moments.
Thanks for reading Tell me Thursday. If you would like to see the WW photo that goes with this post please go to WW: Sort it out!
Today I’m combining the boys two true passions; food and play.
I have one who eats enormous meals and is very light on the snacks.
One who will feels snacks and milk are the better choice-always and OK if I have to eat a meal I will very slowly and whine all the way through.
One who is just happy to eat everything that is about if he can feed himself. He’s been known to climb to get what he wants and wrappers are no test when you can bite a hole in it and squeeze the little something out!
About once a week we bake a cake or cookies.
Everyone gets involved with the weighing ( Yes we use scales!) We use those lovely cup scoops to pour into the bowl. The older boys get to collaborate together. It’s funny how they learn to be a bit more understanding when they know the pay off!
The youngest gets to scoop and pour and the oldest gets to check the measure. Apart from that they swap out who does what.
What I love about cooking with the boys
They get so enthusiastic
They have so many fun ideas like can you add mint and raisins together in a cookie and if we make carrot cake can you have aubergine cake. ( Not tried any of those suggestions…..can’t see how they would work) But their willingness to try and experiment makes me smile. I know one day I won’t be able to distract them.
Most of the time they keep it together.
They do the cookie happy dance and peer into the oven to see if it is done yet.
They are learning about so many things without even realising it.
We have great conversations while we cook.
………….the clean up is amazing and huge but well worth it to me.
Cookies we’re eating this week
85g Crunchy Peanut Butter
175g Soft Butter
175g Soft Brown Sugar
300g Self Raising Flour
2 tbsps of milk
85g Roasted peanuts (2/3 roughly chopped or any combination of seeds/craisins
175g Plain chocolate, roughly chopped.
180C/360F/GM4
Line 2 large baking sheets with non stick paper. Beat the PB.B and S until light and fluffy. ( use an electric whisk or processor)
Add the dry ingredients, stir in the flour and milk then the chopped nuts and chocolate. Bring the mixture together to make a dough
There’ll be approximately 18.
Roughly shape into a ball by rolling the in palm of your hand. Space well apart to allow for spreading.
Flatten each cookie with a fork and sprinkle the remaining nuts.
Bake for about 12-15 minutes until cookies are pale and golden around the edges but still soft in the centre.
Cool for about 5 minutes before packing away.
Ours were crunchy this time instead of chewy. We made small ones and big ones for little hands and little snacks times……well that’s the theory
What cookie recipes do you enjoy cooking with your kids from scratch?
Treasure basket play is used in many different ways. There are many who say if you deviate from the Elinor Goldschmied’s method then it is not a true Treasure Basket and shouldn’t be called one. I like to hold to the principles but feel that a lot can be achieved if you change things to fit your lifestyle.
Treasure baskets are a great play activity for sitting to approximately 12months olds. However towards that year mark they like to start throwing the objects, well mine certainly did. Parents also get concern that they are not just mouthing but chewing and being destructive with these objects and start putting them away.
What to do?
Changing the type of items available may be a better choice.
Perhaps try a theme instead of an eclectic mix.
If they like biting: metal items
If they like sound: musical items ( bought or homemade)
If they like touch: fabrics, cardboard, sandpaper
Adapt the treasure basket from being a sitting independent basket to a more collaborative basket, at times. To me it is a treasure basket because of all the treasure and goodies inside but to many others not.
Try Containers
After 12months my LO and still at 18m0nths has a fascination with containers. We collect empty food containers, for a time as well as collect containers when they are on sale. There is something about pushing stuff inside and pulling stuff out that he can’t get enough of. Having a collection of ever changing containers really keeps him entertained and totally engaged. He’s is totally learning while he is playing.
The difference is that this is deliberate play. I gathered the materials and let him have at it. Rather than he found them himself and got to play with them for a time before I took them from him. Both ways maybe playing but one way gives him more opportunities to exercise his curiosity and wear his scientists coat. The other way is a lot more stressful and emotionally charged.
The best thing about Treasure Baskets is how you can find so many delights in your own home without having to go and buy anything extra. You just have to put on your “Treasure Basket glasses” on. Meaning, looking at your house, cupboards, pantry, bathroom etc always with an eye to use.
Empty wipes box containers and tissue boxes. I can’t tell you how much fun we’ve had with them. Using new boxes is fine and transferring tissues and wipes to zipper bags also works.
You child maybe past the 12month stage but don’t give up on the Treasure Basket idea. There are so many things to be discovered in a basket…………..figures, stories, games and lots of imagination and discovery.
We’ve been having fun with bottles recently with both of the little ones. More to follow with the LO another time.
Here’s a fun activity I have been hoping to try for a long time.
Gather together coloured rice and strong plastic letters that fit inside of a bottle.
It’s easier than you think.
Colour rice with alcohol from the Pharmacy and food colouring.
Allow to dry in a ventilated room
Repeat with additional colours.
The MO was excited to add the colouring.
Once fully dry, fill the bottle 1/4 full then add a bunch of letters.
Repeat until all the alphabet is in and all the rice is inside as well. We checked as we went along to get everything in.
The MO is unlikely to undo the top of the bottle but to be sure, we taped it down with parcel tape although a glue gun would probably work. I like the physical reminder. His friends all ask, “Why is this tape here?” as they try and take it off.
Uses:
He tries to find his name.
Plays alone and with a friend( or mommy)
Easily carried to the car, dropped into the stroller, taken while at the Drs. ( again!)
Why we like it?
He’s proud of what he’s help make. Everyone that has come to the house recently has seen it!
He’s determined to find some letters that he can’t see.
His brother and he both try and do the same thing and find lost letters.
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