Musical Balloons

My girls love their balloons.  We've been having a blast with the luminary balloons.  Those things can get expensive, though!  I was trying to think of something different we could do with them that didn't cost so much money!  After looking back at posts from 2011 I revisited our Sensory Balloons post.  I thought I would put a little twist on it.  It led me to this...

All you need are some balloons and various objects to stick inside.  We used 12 inch balloons.  They were very easy to fill. I did set up an invitation for this that you will see below.  However, my girls had so much fun just dancing around with these and shaking them.  

After 30 minutes of dancin' and shakin' the questions starting rolling in.  "Mommy, what is inside of there?  Do you hear that?  What does that sound like?"  

The invitation

We had six balloons.  I placed what was inside each balloon in a small container.  These containers were purchased in a pack of six at the Dollar Tree.  

Top row from left to right: Marbles, bells, and lentils

Bottom row from left to right: Pony beads, sand, and water

My 22 month old placing her bell balloon on the bell container.  She was right!  My oldest had to check all the ones my 22 month old did to make sure they made a match.  There was a lot of switching going on.  LOL  I left the tops to the containers out so that they could shake the container and make a comparison.  I wish I had more pictures of this but my youngest was up.  Speaking of that... depending on what you put in the balloons, this activity is LOUD!  At least if your children are anything like mine with the shaking.  :-)  

All matched up.  

After 5 or 6 rounds my oldest asked to cut them open.  They cut them over a bin to contain what was inside.  

Watching the balloon deflate.

"Bells!!!!  I made a match!!!"

"I think this one needs to be switched.  Those are marbles"

Cheater!!!!!  LOL LOL  

My 22 month old loves the scissors now, too.  

RL

Bathroom sink turned sensory "box"

We use the bathroom/kitchen sink often as a sensory "box".  This is great when I am trying to give my oldest a bath and my middle child wants to play with me... or vice versa.  I can be present with both of them while still keeping it fun!  Who knew you can have so much fun in a bathroom.  :-)  

This is a great solution for a shower for mommy as well!  :-D  I have 3 girls that often do not nap at the same time.  My 22M old loves giving her animals a "shower" while I take a quick shower myself.  

Lastly, this also works great at the kitchen sink while you are cooking dinner.  

Here are a few things we play with in the sink.  Clean up is a breeze!  

RL  

Colored bubble bath for their animals... their favorite one by far.  

Ice cubes and liquid watercolors. 

Rubber ducks and boats

Water balloons.  My oldest loves sliding these on the countertop.  

Water beads.  

Just make sure these don't go down the drain!  They love scooping them out of the water.  

Great Big Giant Tree of Light

I posted a picture of us doing this activity on our Facebook wall a few weeks ago, but never blogged about it.  Today my son asked me, "Mommy, can we make the great big giant tree of light again".  I didn't know what he was talking about until he ran and started pulling out the projector.  There was no "invitation", but you can very well set one up any way you like.  I used a chalk marker to draw the tree directly onto the projector....and he chose all the "ornaments".  He also added snowflakes this time (our DIY magnet snowflakes, that we made like THIS).

 snowflakes added

 adding translucent mosaic tiles as ornaments

 on the other side of the shower curtain liner checking things out

 he put the yellow square on the bottom and told me it was a present and that it had a weed eater in it

 he told me the blue piece was a jingle bell, then held it to his ear and shook it

:)

 he decided to take out the magnetic circles for more ornaments

 :)

 using magnets to "undecorate" the tree

 he really enjoyed decorating it and then using the magnets to take off the "ornaments"

toward the end he was only using the magnetic circles as ornaments and using the magnetic wand to take them off

- AK (MESE, MECD)

Busy boxes

I know I have been promising a  "Siblings" post for forever.  This was originally going to be apart of it but I thought I would separate it for a quicker reference.  Here are 10 starter boxes.  I am sure I will add to this as I think of/remember more.  

I know nursing/feeding can be extremely time consuming. I don't think I realized this until I had a second child and I had a 17M old at my feet.  When you have one child you're thinking..."I love these special feeding times with my baby" when you have two children you're thinking... "Hurry up and finish the bottle already!"  :-D  All kidding aside, a newborn baby that needs constant attention can be very stressful on everybody.  It is a HUGE transition.  I hope that these ideas make that transition go a little smoother for you.  They are also great for when you have to prepare a meal or God forbid go to the bathroom for five minutes.  :-D  Another great idea is to give them as gifts.  

These are easy to pull out when in a crunch.  I typically feed my newborn in a chair or on the floor next to my older two when presenting something like this.  That way I can still be present to all of them.   

I purchased the bin I am using in all these pictures at Walmart.  The size is 6.2 QT and it costs $2.97.  It also comes with a lid for easy storage.  The brand is sterilite.  

  

Painted corn and animal bin.  

Painted corn is pictured here but you can throw anything in depending on how "messy" you want it to be.   Sand, epsom salts, aquarium rocks, dyed pasta, dyed rice, etc.  For more ideas check out our Sensory Bin album on Facebook... Click HERE for that.

Glue box.  

A bottle of regular glue and a couple bottles of glitter glue.  A few pieces of paper.  Various objects to glue.  Included here... colored pasta, buttons, googly eyes, sparkly pom poms, and acrylic shapes.  I bought the small containers at the Dollar Tree.  There were five in a pack and they also came with a lid.  

Play-Doh box.  

Colored matchsticks, clay hammer, cut-outs, straws, and a few tools.  You could also add little animals to this one as well.  

Cutting box.

Mardi gras beads, ribbon, string, straws, and scissors.  

Sticker box.

Stickers and paper

Rubbing plate box

Rubbing plates, paper, and crayons.

Bingo box

Paint dabbers and paper

Lacing box

Piper cleaners and pony beads

Sorting box.

Various objects in jar to sort into containers.

Stamping box

Ink pad, stamps, and paper

Watercolor bin

Watercolor paints, paint brush, little jar of water, and paper.  

I SPY bin

Colored rice, ice cube tray used to match hidden pieces, teaspoons for digging, and various objects.  

RL 

Our Christmas Tree - (play and creativity evolving)

OUR CHRISTMAS TREE

• "Mommy, the leaves are falling off of my tree."
• "I see that.  Hmmmmm.  I wonder why.  What do you think?"
• "I think they are falling so that I can vacuum them up."

[Runs to closet....takes out Swiffer vac....vacuums up leaves....removes filter (his favorite part....and he insists on cleaning the filter every time he vacuums)....dumps filter into trash.....replaces filter....replaces Swiffer vac and puts it on charge.]

• "Mommy, the leaves are falling off my tree like they do outside."
• "Oh, that's right.  That's a great comparison.  I wonder why they do that."
• "Hmmmmmmmm....I dont know."
• "You think it might be because the season are changing and the leaves are dying, so they fall off the trees?"
• "Yeah, the leaves are dead.  Dead and crunchy.  Mommy, we need to make another tree."
• "I think that's a great idea.  Would you like to make another Fall tree or something different."
• "Hmmmmm...maybe a Christmas tree!"
• "Sounds good to me.  What should we use?"
• "I dont know."
• "Let's look out the window.  Do you see anything that looks like a Christmas tree outside."
• "Yes, Mommy, there are lots and lots of Christmas trees in our back yard."

I LOVE HOW HIS FALL TREE HAS EVOLVED INTO SO MANY MORE DISCOVERIES.  SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ASKED IF WE APPLIED MORE CONTACT PAPER ON TOP OF THE TREE TO PROLONG ITS LIFE....WE DIDN'T.....IT WAS HIS PROJECT AND I LET IT BE AS IT WAS.  I'M GLAD I DID BECAUSE IT WAS A CATALYST TO THIS ACTIVITY, LOTS OF DIALOGUE, AND EVEN MORE FUN!

My son and I ventured into the back yard with pruning scissors and I assisted while he cut branches off of the cedar trees.  We found out very quickly that they DO NOT stick to contact paper.  We decided just to use gems.  He asked me to join in play with him this time....on several occasions.  I would stick on some gems and periodically ask him to help me find a great place to put them - "Where do you think this one should go?"

Now, we have a Christmas tree.  :)

He told me that the gems under the tree were presents.  :)

- AK (MESE, MECD)

Foam Christmas Tree

Yes, we are getting an early start this year.  

 The Invitation (Foam cone, beads, gems, Christmas lights)

 A closer look

 Great for fine motor skills

 Pushing in more "ornaments"

 Focused!

 When he was all done he ran downstairs.  THIS is where he put his tree.  At first I was so confused as to why he would chose to put it here and then it dawned on me.....this is where we put up our tree at Christmas!  WOW!  Too funny!

- AK (MESE, MECD)