Ice Painting

It's so exciting that the weather where we live is warming up. 

On days like this I start thinking about all the things we can do outdoors.

Possum enjoys using finger paint, however, I thought I'd try freezing coloured water blocks and allow her to paint with those. 

This is a great activity because it teaches Possum two main things. Sensory awareness, because the ice will feel quite cold and cause and effect as she makes marks on the page. 

Possum thoroughly enjoyed this activity. She was interested in the face that the ice felt cold but was also keen to use them to make marks on the paper. 

This is a great outdoor activity. Obviously you need to be a little careful and ensure they don't swallow  the ice blocks so close supervision is required. 

kate_lloyd@hotmail.com

Books for Babies - INDESTRUCTIBLES

People often email and ask me to recommend books, especially for babies. Hands down you can not go past INDESTRUCTIBLES. Indestructible books are the perfect way to allow babies to experience books (sighting pictures, words and turning of pages) in a way they understand. They are TEAR-PROOF, CHEW-PROOF and WATERPROOF (aka drool). I love and highly recommend these because you don't have to stress they are ruining a book you've paid $20 for and with INDESTRUCTIBLES they can play and explore books in their own way, with their mouths.

Great as gifts for new babies.

Cost $5 - $10

Please check out this website for more information and video. 

www.indestructiblesinc.com

Baby Maracas

These little baby maracas couldn't be easier to make. 

Find some small containers from around the house and add a few interesting items. 

Here I have added things found in the pantry. 

When you shake these they will each make a different sound. 

BABIES LOVE THESE. 

Just be sure to have a container that is well sealed. 

You could also add buttons or beads. 

100% Banana Ice-cream

Are you like me and seem to constantly have the embarrassing brown (almost black) bananas sitting in the fruit bowl? I'm sure you had great intentions for those bananas. I do every week! 

Well how about we turn them into something amazing, like ICE-CREAM! 

The best part of this recipe is you only need BANANAS. 

That's right, this is a banana only recipe. 

Be sure to get your children involved in making banana ice-cream. 

In fact, leave them to it because it is really so simple. 

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Firstly mash up those ripe bananas

Add the mixture to a blender. No need to add anything. 

 Blend the banana until is it smooth. 

Add to a small container and freeze for 24 hours. 

Scoop out the frozen banana and drizzle with chocolate if desired. 

What a great way to use up those brown bananas????

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Please feel free to email me at - kate_lloyd@hotmail.com

Inspired by 'Come Together Kids'. 

Salt Drawing or Writing

This is a really great activity that uses many things found around the house. 

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Simply find a large plate or tray and stick down some coloured paper with sticky tape. 

It's a good idea to stick it down quite well or else you'll find salt gets behind the sheets and raises the paper sheets, which is not helpful. 

Cover the paper with salt. Initially I used lots and lots of salt but I found that it was much harder to write or draw in because I was constantly 'shovelling' the salt out of the paths that I was creating. 

A fine layer of salt will be enough. 

You can use this as a maths activity and create problems for your children to solve. 

It can also be a spelling or word study activity. 

Provide your child with the ending of a word and see how many complete words they can make. 

The coloured paper underneath the salt makes drawing fun and interesting. 

Great alternative to paper. 

I hope you enjoy this activity. 

It has been inspired by 'The Imagination Tree'. 

Feel free to email me any pictures. 

kate_lloyd@hotmail.com

Edible Finger Paint

I have been absolutely chomping on the bit to get Possum using paint. She is just 11 months now and it has never seemed right to have her using store bought paints. Sure, they say that are non-toxic but the thought of her putting any of that stuff on her beautiful soft skin or having a lick gives me heart failure. 

So let's make EDIBLE FINGER PAINT!!!!!

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The benefits being that I have made it myself and so I know what is in it AND if she happens to put any of it in her mouth I know it isn't going to cause her any hard. Now edible finger paint isn't actually new, however, there are some recipes that claim to work but in practice turn out to be more like water paints or gloop that you find hard to touch yourself - trust me, I've tried them.

Without sounding wishy washy, I'm going to have to suggest that you go with a bit of instinct with this one. If you think it needs a little more of something then add it etc. 

The basics you will need are - 

1/4 cup cornflour

4 tablespoons white sugar

food colouring

water (you to judge how much)

In a pot mix together the sugar and the cornflour. 

Add a splash of water and mix over a medium heat. 

Depending on your mixture, add more water or cornflour until you have a 

smooth and rather stiff consistency. 

I separated my mixture into small containers and added 4 drops of food colouring to each. 

I probably suggest not to add any more drops because it may start to stain fingers. 

Looks GORGEOUS!!! 

What a wonderful sight it is to see the begin of creativity. 

I added a few finger scoops of each onto a large page of paper. 

Possum was very interested to touch (and taste!) the finger paint. 

I demonstrated how the mixture could be spread across the page. 

Of course if your child was older they would probably not need the guidance. 

This is such a great sensory activity for babies. Possum loved opening and closing her hand and feeling the texture between her fingers. 

Possum's 1st piece of art work. 

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Please leave me some comments and/or email me some pictures of your 

little one having fun with finger paint. 

kate_lloyd@hotmail.com

Milk Bottle Rackets

Kids will love REUSING empty milk bottles and making them into a racket.
Hours of fun to be had and a great way to demonstrate how everyday items can be recycled and reused. 

Adults will find they are simple and quick to make but will have the children playing for hours.
You can use whatever ball or object you like to pass between friends.

These games are great for improving social connections, physical co-ordination and
hand eye-coordination.
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Begin by cutting a section of the bottle, as showen. Be sure to keep the handle of the bottle because this will be an important part for its functionality. 

you can make as many as you have players. 

My husband felt that to improve on the way the ball rolled through the container, it was better if a flap was created at the end. This also allowed the ball to move faster and project further. 

My husband tested this game out in the kitchen. I WON of course! 

Reflections

Babies and young children love to look at themselves in the mirror. Possum in particular!

You'd be pleased to know that this pleasure has many great developmental benefits. When a baby looks at their reflection it helps them to do the following - 

* teaches them how to focus on objects

* tracking images

* explores their capabilities

Looking in mirrors can also help to promote social and emotional development. 

Here I have allowed Possum to look and play with her reflection in the car window.

We also do this at shop windows too! 

It is a daily tradition that Possum and her Daddy have a play in the mirror 

after she has just had her bath. Sometimes mummy gets to feature too! 

How many mirrors do you have in your house? 

Remembrance Day

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month has a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front and it became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. 

LEST WE FORGET

I always feel it is my duty, simple as a fellow human being, to respect and honour those who were involved in war and share the importance of the incredible sacrifice, courage and bravery of so many. 

It is because of this that I am sharing a great activity that you may wish to do with your children. It is a simple poppy wreath. You don't need many items, simply a sheet of black and red felt, a paper plate, sticky or masking tape. 

Cut out a poppy shape from the red felt, a circle of black felt for the middle and 

attach using double sided tape. 

Cut out the middle of a paper plate and begin attaching your poppies, again with double sided tape. 

LEST WE FORGET

You (or your child) might also like to attach a poppy to a basic headband a show 

your support for Remembrance Day 

Thank you. 

Kate x

If you don't know the story about the significance of the poppy or why we lay a wreath, you can find this information at the following link. 

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/poppies/

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/wreaths.asp

Pinterest

Are you following me on PINTEREST? 

http://pinterest.com/KidsLaughing/

http://pinterest.com/KidsLaughing/

Box Play

It's true, sometimes children prefer to play with the wrapping instead of the toy. 

Here is a great example of what you can do with some of the old boxes you have laying around. 

Here I have used black cardboard boxes but regular brown boxes are good to use too. 

Provide your little one with crayons, metallic pens, paints and chalk and let them be as creative as they desire. Without providing too many rules for this activity, you might like to have them practise writing their name, mathematical problems or just draw a picture that inspires them. 

I hope you all have fun with this activity. 

Foil Art

Has your little one ever tried foil art?

It is simple to do, fun and can be as educational as you desire. 

Such as activity - 

 Improves FINE MOTOR SKILLS

Develops LANGUAGE SKILLS through discussion

Improve childrens understanding of OBJECT PERMANENCE

Here is how I set up for foil art - 

All you need is - 

* Cardboard

* Tape

* Tin foil

*Pens (I recommend sharpies for this activity)

Wrap the foil around the cardboard and secure with the tape. 

Try and have the shiniest size exposed. 

Allow your children to be as creative as they can be. 

They might like to practise writing out spelling words, create special signs or just see where their creativity takes them. Sometimes it's a good idea to not create rules and just give them the freedom to do whatever they feel they would like. 

Here is a picture I did of a house. 

This activity is incredibly simple, fun and enjoyable to do. 

kate_lloyd@hotmail.com