Dumping and Pouring

It is so developmentally appropriate for toddlers to dump and pour. It does mean our houses are a bit of a toy war zone but the brain connections your toddler is making far outweigh the mess.  There are ways, however, to provide this opportunity for them more often. It can also be a special activity that they will enjoy and ask for over and over. We have used lentils and dry chick peas with various sized containers and scooping utensils. I place everything on a low table inside a tray to prevent spills from hitting the floor; it helps but there are still spills, of course. I just give M a small broom and dust pan and he is more than willing to help clean up the spills.

Here are some ideas for dumping and pouring activities:  

• Regular household utensils and containers work well for the activities
• Apple sauce containers are great for scooping and pouring
• Cups, funnels and colanders are great in the bath tub or with any other activity
• Tray and/or containers
• Ice cube trays

Here are some items that work well for pouring and dumping:
Dry beans
Cotton balls
Dry pasta
Rocks
Pine cones
Lentils
Dry chick peas
Coffee
Corn meal
Rice
Sand
Water

I have to admit when I do this with M it is very relaxing and soothing. I can see why he enjoys it so much. It’s a stage that does not last forever but I want him to have lots of choices and opportunities while it lasts.   

Stained Glass

I've always wanted stained glass windows in my home. This may not be exactly what I had in mind but it certainly adds beautiful colour to our house and I can say my boys made it. Both of them had a hand in creating this work of art. They worked alongside each other. M liked sticking the tissue paper on the contact paper and J liked pulling it off. It was great fun to watch them. J was so fascinated by the sticky paper that we moved it to his light box so he could explore further with it. It eventually turned into a sticky colourful ball. In this case the process was more important than the product!

Here’s how:

I found adhesive contact paper (stationary isle) and tissue paper at Dollarama. Peel back the paper lining on the contact paper and tape it sticky side out on a window that is reachable for your little one. Cut squares or shapes of any kind from tissue paper and let your kids place the pieces wherever they please. You will be surprised at how pretty it is when they decide they are done.



Yogurt Designs

This is a great sensory activity for your young baby. It’s an easy activity that can provide a few minutes of fun. We like to do this in the highchair on the tray as it cleans very easily.

What you need:

Plain yogurt

Food colouring (optional)
*Note: Let the yogurt sit on the counter for a few minutes so it’s not too cold on little fingers.

Benefits for baby:

• Encourages creativity
• Stimulates hand-eye coordination
• Adding a drop of food colouring adds visual stimulation
• Baby can eat it with no worries (as long as dairy is safe for your child)
• Baby can make designs with fingers, which helps develop fine motor skills
• Stimulates sense of touch

When doing artwork, don’t worry about always having your child produce a product. I have to admit I love keeping their paintings and random pieces of work, but sometimes it’s the process that is more important than the product. It is also the experience that builds creativity.

Squishy Spaghetti Squash

"in"and "out" of the bowl

M was sure the innards needed to be cooked in a mini muffin pan
He loved squishing them into the molds.

Skin up!
This was news to me as I would have cooked it the wrong way.
 Don't forget to poke holes in the skin before you bake it.

Tis the season... for butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash and pumpkin. These vegetables are not only tasty but can provide a fun sensory experience for your young child. There are many options for how the activity can go. You can talk about the changing seasons, the value of food and the importance of eating what you use. M wanted to help clean out the squash and also helped to prepare it for baking. He had a wonderful time squishing the seeds and innards in his hands and also had his own ideas about what to cook and how to cook it. This can encourage wonderful conversations. M liked talking about how he put the seeds “in” the bowl and “out” of the bowl. When I explained that we can cook and eat it he was sure you should cook the innards. However, when I explained that we would cook the “meat” of the squash he knew better than I did which way to face the squash on the baking sheet.

Your child will have a great time helping you in the kitchen. Their self-confidence will grow and you will create great family memories.

Squash is in season and is very affordable to buy right now.  

Happy squash squishing!!

Homemade Playdough Recipe

Playdough is very versatile, especially when you make it yourself. You can also find random items in your house to jazz up a child’s playdough experience. M is interested in colours right now so I found items around the house that coordinated with his orange playdough. This is a great activity that has many learning opportunities. For toddlers who are very sensory motivated, playdough is a wonderful choice.

Homemade Playdough

1 c. flour

1/2 cup salt

1 tbsp. cooking oil

1 tbsp. cream of tartar

1 c. water

Food colouring of your choice

Add-ins of your choice (i.e. spices, extracts, glitter, etc.)

Mix dry ingredients.  

Add wet ingredients and mix.  

Add to a pan (I just used a non-stick pan) and cook over medium-low heat.  

Stir constantly until dough forms into a ball and isn't wet anymore.  

Take dough out after you have your ball (it will be a little warm) and knead for a minute or two.  

This is wonderful playdough that stays moist and doesn't leave a salty residue on your hands.

Mud Puddles!

As a family we try to savour the summer and fall before the long winter comes. These pictures remind me of the simplicity of childhood and the wonder children have in our daily environment. On a warm September day we went to the park to throw a ball and frisbee around, but after the frisbee landed in the huge puddle on the baseball diamond we had to go get it, so off came the shoes and socks and into the squishy mud it was for us. Instead of playing ball or frisbee we bare-foot-puddle-jumped and played in the grass for the rest of our time at the park. The essence of making family memories and having good old spontaneous fun is what I like to call the delicate balance of parenthood and childhood. When we forget to be like children ourselves moments can be missed, opportunities disappear and life gets away from us. We live in a world that is complicated. We are surrounded by negativity in the media daily, bombarded by the everyday responsibilities of just being grown-up. Children just need us to be near them, to love them and to encourage them to be free to explore. When we do this for them I think we learn new things about ourselves. We become better for our children by allowing ourselves to watch and learn from them instead of managing and dictating what we think should be done. Of course children still need us to set some reasonable boundaries and limits, but you can still have fun and protect your children at the same time. So, I say splash in the mud puddles once in awhile, walk bare-foot in the grass and enjoy your children as they are: simple, joyful and curious. Life is too short for anything less.