Exploring Paint {using differet utencils & canvases}

Did you know using different art utencils & canvases to paint on not only enhances creativity, it improves motor skills and exposes your child to different sensory experiences? Well, it does! So get out of the paint brush funk and try these other options-

Painting Utencils:

q-tip

toothbrush

yarn

bubble wrap

pine needles

cotton balls

parts of their bodies
feather
apples/potatoes/lettuce/other fruits or veggies {great for stamping}
cookie cutters
corks
combs
sponges {cut into squares or shapes}
spray bottles
straws {blob paint on paper and blow with straw to spread it}
cars
blocks
toy animals
bingo markers
bottles {like condiment bottles to squeese out the paint}
balloons {fill with paint and pop over paper}
balls/marbles
toilet paper tubes
droppers {works great for liquid watercolors}
kitchen utencils {potato mashers are fun!}

fly swatters
spaghetti

Paints:
{check out my Pinterest board on DIY Art Recipes}

watercolors

finger paint

shaving cream

chalk
colored glue
mud

Canvases:

table {an art table or easy to clean table is great for exploring things like shaving cream}
windows

sand paper {great for chalk}

construction paper

card stock

side walk

rocks

bathtub

cardboard {boxes, tubes...}

body {using face paint is fun and easier to clean}
aluminum foil {great for markers}
egg cartons
plexi-glass
snow {use liquid watercolors in a spray bottle}
fabric {shirts, sheets...}
wood {unfinished pieces, scrap wood...}
coffee filters {watercolors work great on these}
mirrors
paper plates, cups...
bread/food {use milk & food coloring}

Do you use something that's not on the list? 

I'd love to know!

Just some of our art experiences:

using droppers & oil

comb painting

snow paint

painting dowels to make rythem sticks

using her body to paint

using a dropper, liquid watercolors & coffee filters

kool-aid sprinkled on glue

You may find me at some of these child centered link parties.

Puffy Paint Letter Cards

Bug is starting to learn her letters. She knows a good amount already and she can write an H {the first letter of her name}. I love having some hands on ways to learn so I came up with this for letter learning. Bug seems to like them and we have been working on one letter at a time each week. I have all the letters she knows in one pile and the ones to learn in another so she can play games with the letters she learned. I am thinking about gluing a photo of the letter sign on the back to help her with signing her letters when I'm not there to show her the sign.

What you will need:

-microwave puffy paint recipe {found here}

-microwave

-writing utensil {I used a Sharpie}

-cardboard {we used an old box}

-food coloring

-scissors/razor blade

-a squeese bottle or a spoon

-patience

What to do:

-cut 26 small-ish squares out of your cardboard {big enough to write a letter on}

-draw in marker a letter on each square

-make the microwave puffy paint {I doubled the recipe and had a little more than enough}

-using your squeese bottle {I used a spoon} trace the letter with your puffy paint

-micrawave according to instructions below the recipe {I think we did it for about 25 seconds}

Here are some things you can use these for:

• Have your children trace along the letters with their fingers.
• Do crayon rubbings with the letters. {not sure how well these would work...but it would be worth a shot}
• Make words with the letter squares.
• Spread them all out, mix 'em up and have a letter search.
• Glue a photo of something that begins with that letter or a photo of the ASL sign for that letter.

See where I link up here.

Sensory Play with Shaving Cream "Snow"

A little while back I posted about shaving cream play...

but at that time Bug was not too into it.

See, not so happy.

It's always important, as with food, to keep introducing things because one day they just might try it and like it. This time Bug loved it so much! We took some Little People and called the shaving cream "snow". I think she was playing in it for almost an hour! I got the can of shaving cream at the dollar store {I bought the one for sensitive skin} and I filled her water table which we use indoors now. There is still lots left and we have done this a couple times already. Plus there are other great things to do with shaving cream. Just google it...or my new fave...Pinterest search it!

Just be careful about getting it in their eyes! It could burn pretty bad.It may be a good idea to keep a wet cloth nearby just in case. We had no issues though.

Always supervise your children during this play and we went over some rules: no clapping or splashing in the shaving cream.

One more thing before you go:
Yesterday I forgot to tell you all that I have some $0 budget projects featured on Full of Great Ideas. 
Check the feature out here. :)

DIY Children's Binoculars using TP Rolls

We recently went to a library class about the 5 senses. They had great activities using all 5 senses. I will share the sight activity they had out today. There was a table full of binoculars and photos of things around the room for the kids to find with them. 

Here's how to make them:

You will need:

-2 toilet paper tubes

-yarn

-tacky glue (I tried hot glue, my fave, but it didn't work well at all)

-2 clothespins (optional) 

Here's what you do:

Punch one hole near the top of each TP roll {this is where you will be tying the yarn}

Glue the 2 tubes together making sure each hole is facing outward on the same side.

I used clothespins to hold them together while drying.

Once dry, tie on the yarn long enough to fit loosly around your childs neck and voila!

A pair of binoulars to play I Spy with. 

You can certainly decorate the tubes before you start but Bug just wanted her binoculars...STAT!

Linking up here.

{Toddler Tuesdays} Yoga Baby

Did you know yoga is a great way to introduce a healthy lifestyle to your baby & toddler? There are some great resources {which can most likely be found at your local library} on doing yoga & other exercises with your little ones. What a healthy way to spend time together! Here are a couple books we have seen and read from the library:

Sleepy Little Yoga

Little Yoga

I'm sure there are other books and DVDs that can help you and your little one learn the basics of yoga. Just remember when doing yoga with your tot...there is no need to make them do the poses exactly how it is shown. Let them do it their own way based on their capabilities and development. Just be sure you are modeling the correct way and they will catch on when they are ready. :)

Downward Facing Dog

"Owl" Pose from the book.

"Fox" Pose from the book.

Tree Pose

Easy Pose

Child'sPose

Legs up the Wall

Knee's Hug

Corpse Pose

I haven't really done much yoga {besides playing my Wii Fit} and it was a fun activity to do together. Now we include it in our night time routine and Bug really enjoys it. 

{Helping Children Learn & Grow} Encourage Learning

The first few years of life are essential for learning and you are your child's first teacher. Relationships, feelings, language, cause & effect are all learned during these years and learning should be encouraged so your child will grow & love to learn new things!

Children are naturally curious and if you encourage their curiosity they will continue their search for knowledge with confidence & excitement. Here are a few tips to encourage curiosity and learning:

• Answer your child's questions...all thousands of them. {try not to ignore the questions, even if they just asked it 5, 10, and 15 minutes ago too}


• Let them explore, even if they make a mess in the process. {just make sure they are safe}


• Encourage experimentation. Children are constantly wanting to see what happens when I do this? but if it is something that is dangerous or not allowed {such as dumping sand out of the sandbox} try to encourage them to try something similar {such as, lets see what happens when we dump the sand in this bucket/strainer}.


• Take your child to see different places. Take a trip to the zoo, park, library, mall, or anywhere that is a safe place to walk around or play. Ask questions such as "what do you see over there?" to enhance their exploration.


• Expose your child to different  experiences. Swinging, sliding, pushing, pulling...all of these can be explored with you as the commentator {look what happens when we push this button. Hear that sound? That button rings the doorbell}.


• Pretend. Read books together, play dress up, act out animals, have a tea party {that's our favorite}. Anything goes.


• Limit TV time. Educational shows are great, but it gives your child all the answers instead of them exploring and coming to their own conclusions. If you do have TV time with your child, try to be involved as you are watching.


• Include learning in everyday activities. Teach your child numbers, colors, & letters just by saying them out loud each day {How many balls are you holding? You're holding two balls! What color balls do you have? You have one red ball and one green ball.} You get the idea.


• Most importantly, make learning fun. Excitement is contagious! Always be encouraging, even if your child doesn't seem to be getting it or paying attention. They are listening and storing it...believe me! One day they will just blow you away with how much they know and learned from you.

'Learning is Fun!' by crocheting4baby

Some of my favorite toys for helping children learn and play.

READY TO SHIP// Mag... Cerra $16.00	Elephant Matching M... sarahbain $14.00	Mail and Mail Bag f... missprettypret... $29.00	The Elements Playsi... MyBeautifulGir... $35.00
organic BALANCING T... smilingtreetoy... $32.00	Minky Rag I Spy Bag... KNHDesigns $17.95	Wooden Rainbow Matc... BlackbearyMoun... $23.00	Children's Alph... AllThingsUnder... $32.00
Goldilocks Finger P... raindropstops $32.00	Wooden Alphabet Mag... UrbanHomestead... $25.00	Lacing Beads MamaMayI $28.00	Lacing Toy - wooden... littlesaplingt... $20.00
Felt Toy Handmad... TomomoHandmade $35.00	FELT PIZZA SET - 8 ... onenonly88 $30.00	Beautiful Fabric Te... LollieBlossom $35.00	Stacking Animal Puz... manzanitakids $35.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.