Keeping my Kids Busy this Winter

After a few glorious weeks of sun and warm weather, today is finally feeling like Winter.  While I do try and leave the house every day, it is just too cold to be spending much time outside.  The constant challenge is how to entertain my kids all day long (especially on those days when we are at home without a car, and my husband doesn't arrive until bedtime).

I always get inspiration from what others are doing, so I thought that some of you might enjoy seeing what we've been doing to pass the time.

Art, Art, Lots of Art

 

It's always fun to create.  Today we tried painting on the window.  To make your own window paint, mix tempera paint with a bit of dish soap.

For our front windows, we made some cute snowmen out of coffee filters and paper.



Sew Something

The other day when I was over at my friend's house, she made this adorable stuffed owl for my daughter.  My friend cut out the fabric, and I sewed it up.  My daughter loves it.

Sensory Activities

My daughter loves doing transfer activities.  For example, rice from one bowl to another, water with a turkey baster, or cotton balls with tongs.

Build a Fort

Do you have a lot of cardboard kicking around?  We always seem to.  Our house is currently home to a large cardboard "palace."  We decorated with stickers and even put a crib mattress and blankets inside.

Yoga

We are currently monopolizing a library DVD called Yoga for Families.  I also checkout the Yoga Kids DVDs quite often.  Even though we can't go outside and run around, we can at least move.

Interested in more things to do with your kids?  Check out my Fun Jar list from last year.

What are you doing to keep sane?

Oh What Can You Do in the Summertime?

If you're like me, I'm sure your summer will be pretty packed with vactions, visitors, beach days, and lots of outdoor playing.  I'm also pretty sure that not every day will be sunshine and roses - there will be some yucky weather, and bored kids (even if the weather is nice).  There are, however, a lot of great ideas out there in the blogging world that just may save you a time or two this summer.

We never tire of sidewalk chalk.  This picture is from last summer, my daughter and our next-door neighbor had fun tracing and then decorating their bodies.

I've complied a list that just scratches the surface - there are a million fun things that I could do this summer with my kids.  Here are a few ideas that I just may try:

• Do some brainstorming.  It's helpful for me to have a list of great ideas that I can draw from.  Sew Dang Cute Crafts has a printable magnetic summer fun board on The Brassy Apple.  Teach Mamma shares a summer fun list that you can create with your kids.  The Crafting Chicks also have a lot of great summer fun lists here.  

Leftt Image via The Brassy Apple, Right Image via Teach Mamma

• Water is alway entertaining.  Fill up a little pool, big bucket, or even give a kid a spray bottle and then let them play until soaked.  I love the idea of "painting" the house or sidewalk with water too.  



Sponges, containers and water are always fun (and not even messy outside).

 Don't forget about art!  The Artful Parent has a great printable for simple art activities.  The Long Thread has compiled a list of 50 handmade crafts for kids.

Left Image Via The Artful Parent, Right Image Via Lila-a-design

• I was sent a link for these Preschool Packs.  These are some super cute printables for you to use with preschoolers in the event that they will actually sit still long enough this summer to do some school-readiness activities. 

Images via 1plus1plus1equals1

 Some other websites that I love for kid activities are tinkerlab.com and modern parents messy kids. 

Do any of you have any fun things that you like to do, or any great resources or websites that you recommend?  Please share!

No matter what you do this summer, make sure you get out and enjoy the outdoors with those you love!

My daughter and Carlee's little guy enjoying the great outdoors together this past week.

Spring Fun List

This month's list will focus on Spring, things from the natural world, books, and Easter.  I'm giving you enough activities to last all the way to June, so I'm calling it my Spring Fun List.  Go here to check out and print off the full list.  I'd love it if you leave a comment saying that you are using my list so I know how many people are using it.
Here are some examples of what you'll find in the Spring Fun List:
Cornmeal Spelling

My daughter has had so much fun playing with cornmeal and drawing letters using her fingers.  "Look Mom!  I made another 'O'!"

Easy Art Projects

My daughter loves experimenting with glue and paint, but sometimes I want a new twist on her favorite art work.  In the Spring Fun List I give you lots of new and simple ideas that require very little (if any) prep. work.

We had fun making "track art" earlier this week.

Book Lists

I can't say enough about how much I love children's books.  We bring home a huge stack of new books from the library every week.  In the spring fun list I share favorite books, great activites to do with them, and a challenge to read with your child the New York Public Library's 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know.

This week's library stack.

 Mini Book

Not only does the Spring Fun List include lots of ideas for books to read, it also gives a few ideas about making your own books.  I want to share with you a quick tutorial on how to make your own simple mini book without glue, tape or staples. 




This is a trick that I learned in University (see Elementary Education majors do learn something!), and I use it all the time. 

1. Start with two sheets of paper.  In my pictures, I use two different colors, but the book can be all the same color. 

2. Fold each sheet in fours, and cut each sheet in half so you have four sheets, each folded in half.  You can set aside one of the sheets for now.

3. Choose one sheet (the blue one in my image) to be the base.  Unfold the paper, and loosely fold it in half the long way (hotdog style).  Cut along the middle of your original fold, but not all the way to to ends (as shown in my image.  Cut only where the white line is.)

4. The other two sheets will be your add-ins. On these sheets (red in my image), unfold the paper, and then loosely fold in half the long way.  Cut the two sides of your original fold, leaving the middle uncut (cut where the white line is on my image).  

5. So now you will have your base cut in the middle of the fold, and your add-ins cut along the outsides.

6. Now, take an add-in sheet (red) and roll it up.  Open up the base, and slide the add-in sheet inside.
Repeat this with as many add-in sheets as you want.  The more you add in, the more pages your book will have.

7. You are ready to write a book!

There you have it!  There are lots more ideas in the Spring Fun List so be sure to check it out.  Now get off your computer, and starting having fun with your little ones.  Please let me know if you've downloaded and used this Fun List.  I hope you enjoy it!

March Fun List

Since my fun jar post was so well received, I decided to share with you another month's worth of fun activities for you to do at home with small children. 

This month's list has 31 activities, one for each day of the month of March.  (Sorry for not posting it sooner, you'll get to play catch up for a few days.)  For March, I bought a pack of foam shamrock-shaped stickers from the dollar store.  On each sticker, I wrote the numbers 1 through 31.  Every day, we choose the number for the date, and stick it to our counting sheet (this is a great precursor to calendaring for my little one).  After we stick the number to the sheet, we get to do something fun.  At the end of  the month, we'll have done 31 fun things, and a calendar to prove it!  Click here to download my March Fun List.

One of the things on the list this month is called Rainbow Stew.  The instructions for this were found in a library book, Mudpies to Magnets.  My daughter loved it!

Rainbow Stew is perfect for little hands that like to touch, but a lot cleaner than playdough or magic mud.  This colorful, squeezable stew stays in the ziplock bag, and doesn't get all over the carpet.  It's also a great way for your budding young scientist/artist to experiment with mixing colours. 

Recipe for Rainbow Stew

In a medium pot mix:

1/3 c sugar
1 c cornstarch
4 c water

Heat over medium heat stirring constantly.  When mixture is thick, remove from heat and let cool.

 - From Mudpies to Magnets


Once your mixture is made you are ready to play.

1. Separate the mixture into 4 (or more) bowls.  Add food colouring of desired colours to each.

2. Put 2-3 tablespoons of each color into a ziplock bag with a good seal.  You may wish to duct tape the end closed.

3. Play to your heart's content.

4. Hang your child's artwork on the wall or in the window.  Enjoy your beautiful rainbow creation!

The Fun Jar

When I was an undergraduate student, my elementary education professors drilled into me the mantra: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." 

I learned the lesson!  Planning isn't just for teachers - it's for everyone.  I've found that I have good ideas for things to do with my kids (or husband, or friends, or family), it's just sometimes hard to think of them on the spur of the moment.  (Especially when my kid is writhing about on the floor in the afternoon because she's so bored, and we can't go anywhere while the baby is napping.)  This is why I love my fun jar.

WHAT?

Once every few weeks, I sit down and make a list of some fun things that my three year old can do with me in the afternoon.  You can alter this to your own situation, eg. dates for you and your husband, Saturday activities for the family, things for your kids to do alone or with friends after school, etc.  My criteria are as follows:

• fun
• cheap
• requires little preparation
• novel - something that we have rarely or never done before

HOW?

1. Collect the ideas.  The Internet obviously is a great place for ideas.  I love looking at Preschool Express.  Every month there is a new activity calendar posted for both toddlers and preschoolers. 

Here are some things that we've done in the past:

• Giving the ice cubes a ride on the slide.
• Building a "snowman" inside.
• Making rainbow ice cubes.
• Reading new books that I put on hold at the library.
• Baking something sweet.
• Making a seasonal art project.
• Playing with water and sponges

2. Make the container.  This month I used stickers and cardstock to decorate a mason jar.  In January, I wrote the ideas on the back of foam dollarstore shapes and stuck them to the wall.  I was inspired by this blog post.

3. Decide how and when to use your ideas.  For me, I need some extra fun in the afternoons.  I've decided that I can come up with a million ideas and let my daughter choose as many as she wants, but it may work for you to just use one a day (or week).

4. Have Fun!  (Obviously.)

Click here to download my Winter Fun Jar List. 
You should also check out my March and Spring lists.