Activity check- a fort

Way earlier in the month we made a fort with the kitchen table. Although at first my 3 year old wasn't sure what to do with it, it ended up being pretty fun for all the kids. However, even better than that was the fort my parents gave my little girls for Christmas. It was sewn together by my mom for me when i was little and made to go over top of a small card table. My dad said they don't make card tables quite that size now so he made a table like frame out of pvc pipes. The whole thing is easily pulled down into a big cloth bag my mom made to store it in. My 2 year old loves it! It has a little door to go in and windows to see out of. I think she spent half the day in there today, and the other half in a big box left from Christmas. lol.

Activity Check- Sink play

I am sure that is is no surprise to hear that this was a super big hit!! My 1 year old played happily in the water, and she played , and played , and played! I love things that keep them busy for awhile, it made the water mess worth it! When I did this before, in the summer, with my other little girl I let her wear a swim suit and go nuts!

Helium Balloons are Fun!

Today a couple friends brought a helium filled, shiny balloon over for my birthday that is later this month. It was awesome how long the baby played with it! The trick was that it has a really really long ribbon so she could let it fly up to the ceiling and then reach it herself to pull it back down again. It was quite the funny game. Happily the 2 girls did not fight over the balloon and took actual turns, but seeing how this was a never before seen first at our house, I suggest one per child. Good thing they are easily and cheaply found at the dollar store!

outdoor color hunt

My 12 year old daughter heard this idea and thought it would be fun to do with her little sister, so we thought we'd try it. My 3 year old and I got an empty egg carton and colored the inside bottom (where the egg goes) with different colors. Keep in mind that green and brown are going to be the easiest so we did those colors more than once. Then I sent her outside with her brother and sister who helped her look all around the yard for something to go into each egg spot that matched it's color. It was a great activity! Not only was she matching colors, she was happily playing outside with her siblings for awhile! She was so proud to bring it back full and show me all the treasures they found. Definitely one we will have to play again!

Activity Check

Today we did the milk jug buckets. My 1 year old loved it! Although it didn't keep her busy for as long all at once as I had hoped, she did go back to it multiple times through out the day. It was definite winner, especially for something that cost nothing and was simple to prepare! (just an old washed out milk jug with a hole cut out)  Mom's favorite part- if it gets ruined, or if she gets to tired of it, we can throw it away and make a new one another time!

ideas I want to try

 I ran across this blog yesterday where the stay at home dad was trying to try a new fun thing everyday with his little one. (http://randsco.com/index.php/2005/02/15/p72) These are the ones I thought might be worth a try at our house.I'll let you know how it goes!


"Milk Jug Bucket" -   I rinsed out the plastic jug and cut a hole in the upper portion, leaving the spout, handle & lid intact. The opening was large enough to allow some objects through, but only to a certain size. (She stuffed it full of giant legos, then hauled it around the house with her all morning. I emptied it for her, when it was time to put the legos away, so she can start all over again tomorrow)

"Floor Art" - We took a 3-foot by 3-foot piece of paper and taped it to the kitchen floor. Then I gave Alex a bunch of crayons and let her draw all over the paper and the floor. (She was pretty good about the latter, but needed some encouragement with the former). She doesn't quite grasp the whole "drawing" thing, yet, so dad had to lend a hand (and drew a very nice picture, by the way)! It stayed on the floor for a few days, as we all admired dad's handiwork and Alex's scribbles. Michaelangelo may have had the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but Alex had the floor of the kitchen!

"Sink Play" - Alex loves water (and water loves Alex). We got this idea from Alex's Gran. We let Alex stand on a chair and fill the kitchen sink a third full of water. Then, we give her various kitchen tools - that she's seen us use - and let her explore their interaction with water. She fills, pours and refills ... she stirs, pokes and floats the tools. (Of course, we have to remind her that the water is supposed to "stay in the sink" and she has a tendency to get the front of her clothes wet, but hey ... she's has fun and plays contentedly for an hour, if we let her get her fingers all 'pruney'!

Poker Chip Piggy Bank - Clean and rinse out a used, plastic butter (or margarine) tub and cut a slit in the lid, like a "piggy bank". Give your toddler some poker chips and show them how to put the chips in the tub. (Sometimes, when our 18-month-old son is finished putting all the chips into the bucket, he'll push it around the house, because he hasn't figured out how to open the container yet. He loves this activity!).
"Sheet, A Fort!" -  She took some living room furniture, re-arranged it a bit, then hung sheets off of it to make a cotton fort.

"Balloon Stick" - It's kind of a spin on a ball and paddle. I tied a bunch of rubber bands together, until I had about a foot's worth. Then I blew up a birthday balloon and tied it off at one end. I attached the other end to a 10-inch-long colored stick & gave it to Alex, to explore 'bouncing'.