Block Exploration

The Bug got a set of mega blocks for his birthday and we have found so many things we can do with them!

He is learning how to actually stack them and gets it about 25% of the time.

He also has started to sort them! The set we got was small so it has 4 colors but light blue and dark blue pretty much live in the same "sort" for now, red gets separated out the most!

For a mess less activity, this lasts for longer than most! He drives them around the room and dumps them out. I'll build a big tower and he'll pull it apart, brick by brick. There are so many different ways blocks can be used, what's your favorite?

Texture Walk

If you didn't pick up on it in my Snow Day Survival series, we've been stuck inside a lot because there is a LOT of snow outside... So we've had to come up with some fun things to do to pass the time!

The Bug loves sensory play but is also always on the move so I made a giant texture walk. We had some big brown paper in our stash but you could also tape individual textures to the floor (be careful not to use duct tape on hardwood). 

I included felt, bubble wrap, foam, a rough fabric, aluminum foil, and sticky contact paper!

The Bug danced all around (he used his ring stacking toy for music) and walked on all the textures.

The bubble wrap I used is thicker than standard so it doesn't pop when you walk on it (it seems the Bug and I together can pop it) but it feels really cool.

So look around your house and find a variety of textures to make your own texture walk! You could include pillows, sand paper, and so much more! Younger kiddos can crawl on it too!

Down on the Farm

The Bug and I spent a lot of time focusing on animal sounds. I'm working hard at encouraging his language as he begins to talk with purpose more despite only have a few actual words (Uh-oh, Mama, and Dada are the only ones we get in appropriate situations.) He has been very into the books Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr and Eric Carle as well as Are You a Cow? By Sandra Boynton. Brown Bear is a classic and he loves to "pet" them animals (it makes me want a touch and feel version...) but the Sandra Boynton wasn't one I had read before but now it's a MUST! 

The book simple asks if you are an animal (cow, duck, etc) and the Bug is THRILLED to shake his head no whenever we ask. It's been a wonderful way to introduce nodding and shaking as forms of communication and he uses them quite well!

We got the Bug a set of farm animals for Christmas (You can find the ones we got here) and they have been wonderful! They are great for sensory table use with smaller children who still mouth toys in place of the Toob animals (which we also love).

We also discovered they make wonderful stamps as the Bug made footprint stamps with several of the animals!

While he has not started making animal sounds, he will occasionally go get the animal that corresponds with a picture in a book (so mostly the cow...) but I can't wait to get him another set with a cat and a dog!

Snow Day Survival 6: Blocks and Books

The Bug was lucky enough to get a small set of Mega blocks for his birthday and they are a huge hit!

He put them all into his dump trucks and drives them around before dumping them out...

And he builds with them! (Ok, he's getting there...)

His favorite thing is taking them apart and yes, he's crying in the picture because the "4" block doesn't come apart... It's a whole piece but he didn't quite get that so Mommy was amused!

The Bug has recently gotten REALLY into reading! He got a little Anywhere Chair from Nana and Papa for his birthday and he'll curl up and read for longer than he'll do anything except sleep! He wanted to read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? a bit excessively for a while but we are branching out to the point where he clears the bookshelf to read them all!

Snow Day Survival 5: Pretend Play

The Bug, like all young children, is very much into imitating what Mommy and Daddy do so he got his very own stovetop for his birthday! We had some kitchen utensils and found some nice things at the thrift store and the Bug has his very own Kitchen Box!

He is still mostly into the sounds things make when he bangs them together but we're starting to get into the pouring and flipping (*note- an egg frying pan is the perfect size for a kid!!)

Snow Day Survival 4: Snow!

After being a teacher for years, there are very few things I won't try with my own child despite him not always being "ready". I'm excited to see the growth in projects such as our snow day puffy paint! We used:

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup salt

1/3 cup water 

(you could also add food coloring but we were making snow!) and put it into a squeeze bottle! 

The Bug couldn't quite squeeze the bottle so I got it going and he directed the bottle around and then smooshed some of it to explore!

He was pretty proud and was DELIGHTED to push the microwave buttons (we did 20 seconds on 50% power) to make his paint puffy! He then explored the texture on the paper (we made 3 pieces of art and the one he explored after puffing was destroyed!) but it was a really cool project and kept him engaged because he loved the squeeze bottle!

What snow storm isn't complete without a bucket of real snow? We have had plenty and it's light and fluffy so it's quite fun to play in! The Bug doesn't mind playing outside but does get cold (I mean its been below freezing PLUS wind chill...) so we can't play for long...

He was thrilled to use his shovels and scoops to explore the snow inside! His hands did get cold but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as it is outside!

We also collected some fresh snow and made snow cream! We used

4 cups fresh snow

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

We stuck a bowl outside to catch fresh snow and after we'd caught enough, mixed together the non snow ingredients and the Bug got to have his very first snow cream after his nap!!!

Snow Day Survival 3: Creative Expression

Despite the fact that the Bug is still a taster, I like to let him try art experiences. Markers are the one I shy away from the most because he sucks the ink out that its just gross plus markers are the least beneficial because you do not have to put pressure to make marks! We do lots with other writing instruments!

Crayon cakes are a personal favorite BUT the Bug doesn't use enough pressure for many of them. Crayon cakes are what I've done for years with the broken crayon pieces! 

The Bug enjoys getting things out of his buckets so we use them for art supplies!

He also got watercolors in his stocking which he has loved and it's amazing how far he has come! The first piece had 3-4 marks and his more recent ones have lasted MUCH longer!

Snow Day Survival 2: Oatmeal and Washing Dishes

Oats are one of the coolest textures and we love to play with whole oats, ground oats, and water to create lots of textures! Recently, the Bug has been into making shakers- we have lots of containers with lids so he will fill a container, get me to help put the lid on and then shake to his delight! Oats work well for this!

The Bug has recently been going through lots of brain leaps and is beginning to put together processes so we decided to try out washing dishes in the sensory table! He mostly ate the sponge (the soap made me a little weary but I used a drop to make the bubbles) but he did watch me and I caught him trying again a few days later!

Splashing in the water is a favorite pastime so we did lots of that too!