Toddler “Beads”

Kidster, Hubster and I were visiting Auntie A and her family recently.  Kidster found an MP3 player and headphones and started trying to put the headphone cord into the jack.  I realized that she was ready for a few more complicated toys especially ones that help develop her small muscle motor skills.

You only need two items.  Both can be found at the Dollar Store.  A shoestring and a pool noodle.  Pretty simple to find almost anywhere especially during the summer season.

Using a serrated knife cut the noodle into ‘bead’ shapes. I cut ours into about an inch width but I think next time I’d make them thinner.  You want the end of the shoelace to go all the way through the bead so the child can grasp the other end when threading it through.

We use the ‘beads’ to learn small muscle manipulations, colors, numbers, and counting.  As she starts to learn more about numbers and letters I’ll use a sharpie marker to write numbers and letters on the beads so we can put them in order.

Kidster will ask for the ‘bead’ to play with all the time.  Be sure that your child is past the stage of having to put everything in their mouth!  

What is YOUR favorite kid craft?

~Lisa

Flash Card Books

Kidster has gotten to an age where she doesn’t just chew on books.  She’s actually interested in sitting down (in my lap of course!) and reading her little board books.  I really want to make sure that she’s as well prepared for school as I can make her.  I shopped around on Amazon.com for flash cards and they all range from $4 for a box of 50 up to $50 for a whole curriculum.  Flash cards aren’t going to be the sole form of education in this house but they will certainly provide a good visual aid.  Especially when we’re eating lunch or waiting in line at the store. 

Kidster and I look at the pages and I tell her what is on them.  A letter or a number or a color, etc.  You can also use the books for faces of family members to help learn names.  It will start to get really fun when she’s telling ME what is on the page!

 

Check back next week when I share a cheap ‘hack’ for loose cords in the nursery.

What is YOUR favorite educational project?

~Lisa

Dollar Store Sensory Bag

I love the dollar store.  I can go on a shopping spree and only spend $20!  I’ve been pinning so many different dollar store kid fun ideas I figured it was time to actually DO one.  I had originally pinned the idea from this mom: Play At Home Mom.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Biggest bottle of hair gel available
• Glitter
• Food coloring or finger paint
• Sandwich Bags or larger
• Packing tape
• Cardboard

 

Use whatever cardboard you have around the house.

Cut to the size of the bag.  Leave space for the tape.

Fill bag with gel.  The less gel the better for writing practice. Squirt in some food coloring and glitter.

Tape a border around the baggie to the cardboard.

Cut to fit high chair tray if needed.

Kidster loves it!

What is YOUR favorite kid craft?

-Lisa