Ice Block Sledding

Since Winter wont come to us (let me knock on wood so it wont snow in April), we decided to try and improvise.  I had a "light-bulb moment" yesterday and thought - 'I wonder if we could slide down the hill on a block of ice?'.  I had no idea if this would work.  IT DID!!

My son and I filled a storage bin with water and put it in the freezer.  I wanted something big enough for him to fit on comfortably, so we used the bin from his sensory table.  It took a good day and a half to fully freeze and I'm pretty sure his checking it every hour didn't help.  ;)  Once frozen, we took it across the street to a steep, grassy hill.  I put a towel on top of the block, my son hopped on, and I gave him a push.  "Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!  This is so cool!!", he screamed as sliding down the hill!  It was a short-lived activity because he proclaimed, "Im freezing.  Let's go inside".  He loved it, though, and we will be doing it again very soon.  Hopefully next time it will involve long pants and a jacket. 

This would be a great hot summer day activity, too!

It was really hard getting any good pics. I will add more when we do this again with Daddy home.  Next time I plan to freeze a rope in the water for something to hold on to.

"Whoooooaaaaa!!"

There he goes, down the hill!  So fun!

- AK (MESE, MECD)

You have read this article Outdoor Play with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/ice-block-sledding.html. Thanks!

Infant Sensory Play - Touch

Children learn about the world around them through their senses.  

Touch is a vital sense, which affects the bond between parent and child. 

By providing your infant with the opportunity to use their sense of touch you are:

• boosting your child's tactile development
•  improving their sociability
•  stimulating their cognitive development 
• encouraging language development 
• building motor skills and an active curiosity

Providing these opportunities for your infant is simple.  Search around your house for items with different textures.  

Sensory ball, paint roller, little blanket, feathers, toothbrush, straw (to blow air), silk tie, bath scrubber

2 Months old

I have worked this play into our routine at the same time each day.  My infant knows that after morning bottle we go upstairs for some sensory play!  Here she is getting excited for what is to come!  

I always start from the feet first and work my way up.  This way something is not just thrown into her face.  

"Do you feel daddy's tie?  It's so soft!  Do you feel that on your foot?  Daddy's tie is so smooth!  Let's see how it feels on your knees.  Up to your belly!  Would you like to touch daddy's tie with your hands?  That feels silky!  Oh.. you're tasting it?  How does that taste?  Should we put it on your head?  That's so silly!  Where did ____ go?  There she is!!  

You can provide these opportunities for your child all throughout the day.  I always try to involve my youngest with my older two.  Here she is with her feet in water beads.  

Joining in on some paint play!  

Another excellent way to connect with your child through the sense of touch is with a massage.  Massages are worked into our bedtime routine with all of my children.  

For some wonderful information on infant massage please check out this website.  

http://www.angeliquefelix.com/articles/infant-massage-loving-hands-adult-part-1-introduction

RL  

You have read this article Sensory Activities / Things to do with infants with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/infant-sensory-play-touch.html. Thanks!

Playground ABCs Giveaway

It's giveaway time!  

Shelley specializes in making one-of-a-kind nameplates, fun and colorful alphabet prints, and words all from letters found at the local playgrounds here in North Carolina.

The giveaway is for this awesome 10"x20" Playground Alphabet Poster Print 

What a great addition to a playroom or bedroom wall!

You can also check out more of her work HERE

RULES:

• "Like" her Facebook page - Playground ABCs (make sure you write @Play at Home Mom sent me....so she knows to enter your name in the giveaway).
•  This giveaway is for people in the continental USA only (sorry)
• Winner will be chosen on Thursday, Feb. 23

You have read this article Giveaway with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/playground-abcs-giveaway.html. Thanks!

SWING

Play that encourages gross motor skills should be a daily part of every child's life.  One way we develop gross motor skills in our home is through the use of our swing support bar and all its attachments.  Not only does this encourage strength, coordination, and an active lifestyle, but it also translates into patience, confidence, competence, perseverance, problem solving skills, etc. 
(Our swing was once in our playroom, but we moved it to the garage for a greater swinging range.) 
Here are our attachments that bring all the fun....

Our platform swing.  This swing allows for several different positions that are fun and beneficial for ALL children.  Sitting helps develop balance and trunk control and lying down is great for increasing shoulder strength and head control. Its also fun to climb around on as it swings - great for coordination and kinesthetic awareness.

 For do it yourself instructions on how to make a platform swing, CLICK HERE.

Also check out our fun SWING PAINTING post.

Climbing rope - helps develop bilateral coordination, grip and forearm strength, arm and back strength, etc

Trapeze bar and rings.  He loves to flip over the corn pit.  Building confidence, strength, and coordination.

Climbing ladder with a bell at the top for ringing helps develop balance, agility, strength, confidence, etc.

Infant swing - yes, he still fits in it.  A nice, relaxing ride.

"Regular" swing.  While he went through a fluke period of being able to swing himself using his legs, he's not doing it anymore.  When he learns how, though, it will provide a great workout for his entire body.

Chair swing - a comfortable ride stimulating the vestibular system.  Ahhhhhh - what fun!

Have you been inspired to install a swing in your home yet??  We love ours - all the benefits are just a bonus!

- AK (MESE, MECD)

You have read this article Do It Yourself Furniture / Environment with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/swing.html. Thanks!

DIY Light Table

The inspiration for this was taken from a combination of ideas from HERE and also our own findings. 

First off... let me tell you that converting a train table is not cheap!  LOL  It is cheaper than a light table this size purchased in a store but there is nothing cheap about it.  

I am going to explain what you need to make a light table in general... not necessarily a train table.  

1.  A table -  This can be a train table, a coffee table, a table you make yourself, etc.  

2.  White plexi glass - You can learn a little bit about plexi glass HERE.  We used #2446 3/16".  This will make more sense when and if you call a plastic place.  White plexi glass is hard to come across at a local hardware store.  You most likely will have to call a specialty plastic place.  

3.  A light source - There are a TON of options out there.  I know a lot of people have used rope lights but there is a HUGE difference in the brightness of light.  Please see pictures below to see the difference.  

We used daylight fluorescent bulbs.  There are all different types of tube lights.  They vary by size and length, and can be hard wired or plugged in.  The three different sizes are

T5

T8

T12

The lower the number, the smaller the bulb in diameter.  

We used T8 18" hardwire.  We chose this set up for a number of reasons.  

1.  They fit side to side the length of the train table.

2.   I was able to change them out with daylight bulbs

 3.  I am also able to change them out with black light bulbs.  I plan on converting this to a black light table as well with a piece of clear plexi.  

4.  My husband is handy enough to have them hardwired... that way we don't have to plug 4 lights in.

When you buy the lights they always come with a dim bulb. You have to buy an additional daylight bulb.  Daylight bulbs do NOT come in all sizes, at least at Home Depot anyway.  

If making the table yourself I would buy your light source first... and then build your table around the dimensions of the lights you are using.  If you are converting a table you have to do a little engineering and find sizes and lengths that will work with what you have.  Which is not always an easy process!  

Our finished light table!  This is bright!  We can use this with the lights on during the day and still get an awesome glow.  You can still use this as a train table as well.  Just lay the train table boards on top of the plexi.  

Rope lights... HUGE difference.  

How we installed the lights (These still need to be screwed down).  My husband cut a piece of plywood to set in the open space under the train table.  Since the boards were slanted, we could just lay this in without any hardware.  

Close-up of the light fixture we used.

Close-up of the bulb we used.  

RL  

You have read this article Do It Yourself Furniture / Playing with Light with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-light-table.html. Thanks!

PAHM Potty "Training"

We try to stay away from "parenty" issues such as potty training on our blog and FB page.  We like to keep it about play, and still plan to, but we get more emails asking for potty training advice than anything else.  So, we decided to create a document about it.

Table of Contents

Choosing a Potty

Getting Familiar with the Potty

When to Start

Why we don't use rewards/punishments

Why we don't use schedules

Bowel Movements

Nap and Nightime

Daycare

Playing Outsise/Day out

Regression

"Training"

For older children
FAQ's

Price is $4.99

You have read this article Documents with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/pahm-potty.html. Thanks!

Burn Baby, Burn!

Children are interested in almost everything that you wont let them have.  I'm sure that this activity will not be for everyone, and that's ok.  In our home we feel better about allowing our son to explore and learn to use things safely as opposed to hiding things away and locking things up.  I knew my son would love this because he loves helping us build a fire in our fire pit, and he loves "tools".  There are actually several things about this activity that stimulate the senses and lead to a lot of dialogue - the warmth of the handle, the crackle of the wood burning, the smell of the smoke, etc. 

This is just another art medium - another way of allowing him to be creative.  :)

The Invitation - wood pieces and a wood burning tool.

drawing

Trying it out on the other wood, which didn't burn as well.

"Whoa, you hear that noise.  It sounds like t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t."

He told me he drew a goblin. 

"Look, Im making dots."

 

 

 

 

- AK

You have read this article Clay and Crafts with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/burn-baby-burn.html. Thanks!

Elephant Toothpaste

I got this idea form Steve Spangler's Science page.  You can see the link HERE

My girls absolutely loved this one.  

What you need:

A bottle with a narrow neck (A plastic water bottle will work)

1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide that is at least 6% solution.  You have to get this from a beauty supply store.  We used 30 Volume.  I had no clue what this was... just ask, they will know.  

Squirt of Dawn dish detergent

Food Coloring

1 teaspoon yeast dissolved in approximately 2 tablespoons very warm water

Funnel

Something to contain the "toothpaste" (We used a storage bin).

Directions:

1.  Put 1/2 cup of peroxide into your bottle using a funnel

2.  Add food coloring.

3.  Add a squirt of dawn dish soap.

4.  Mix 1 teaspoon of yeast with 2 tablespoons of very warm water and let dissolve

5.  Pour yeast mixture into bottle and remove funnel 

Supplies

Adding food coloring to peroxide

Pouring in the bottle

Adding dish soap

Watching it "explode"

My oldest smells EVERYTHING

"Look!  It's making bubbles.  What is that, Mommy?"

Round 2 

Pouring yeast mixture into bottle

Smelling it again.  LOL  

The bottle feels warm to the touch afterwards

My 23M old woke up from nap and wanted in on the action.  I think my 11 week old even enjoyed this one!  

My 23M old backed up at first.  "Is it going to be loud, Mommy?"

They loved this!  

Cool!  

My 11 week old watching.  She has discovered her hands!!  

RL 

You have read this article Rainy Day Play / Science with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/elephant-toothpaste.html. Thanks!

A Glass Mosaic Adventure

Its always fun finding new materials to use on the light panel.  These glass tiles (from Michaels) did not disappoint.  My son built with them several times throughout the day.  It was interesting watching and tracking his play.  When we talk about something that encourages patience, this would be a prime example.  His creations fell - a lot - and I was there to support him through his frustrations. 

He always builds "garages".  This was his first attempt.

I continue to be impressed by his accuracy and focus - these things are not easy to stack.

The larger version fell, so he built another garage - with "stairs".

He needed to put a person in his garage.

Again, that structure fell, so he started again and it became a "house".

CRASH!

"When something falls, we just fix it."

Another "house" with the playmobil girl inside.

- AK (MESE, MECD)

You have read this article Child-Guided Play / Playing with Light with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://happychild2210.blogspot.com/2012/02/a-glass-mosaic-adventure.html. Thanks!