Maze Craze

We are maze crazy here at the King house. I bought Lu a Kumon Maze book and she flew through it in one sitting! After inspecting the Kumon book I realized we could duplicate the look very easily on my computer. I used Illustrator, but you could use any drawing program. Lu and I (Lu was the Art Director) whipped up six mazes in about 10 minutes. Just use a large brush (I used 45 pt) to create your maze. So easy and fun to make. At this age, Lu doesn't mind redoing the same maze. So print out a couple of each and save them for another day. 

Mazes are a great way to help children develop writing skills.

On a similar note, Emme is cutting crazy. She sits at the table quietly and cuts everything up into tiny pieces. This girl can focus. I'll give her paper but then find her having silently moved on to anything she can get her little hands on. I am making some cutting pages with lines for her to follow so she will stop cutting up the mail, my unread magazines, my husband's Valentine's Day card...

Simple Weaving for Kids

I saw this activity in a back issue of High 5 Magazine. Lu and Em love High 5. They love the stories, poems, hidden pictures and activities in High 5. Plus, getting something in the mail once a month is pretty exciting.

Why weaving? Weaving is great for improving:

Eye / Hand

Fine Motor Skills 

Under / Over

Patterns 

Supplies: box lid, rubber bands, ribbons cut into workable sections

The great aspect to this activity is that your child can practice and then pullout the ribbons and start over again. The wider the elastics are apart the easier it is for smaller kids. Place the bands closer together if it is too easy for your child. We used a tie box. When we are done, the ribbons and rubber bands can be stored inside to be used again.

Color Matching

I see so many great ideas on line it is hard to keep track of them all. Most likely this idea came from seeing various takes on the clothes pin matching game. I have seen great alphabet clothes pin matching activities. If this was your idea please let me know so I can give you proper credit.

This game is a bit advanced for my 21 month old. She can not use the clothes pins properly. The wonderful discovery that came out of this game is that big sis likes to teach little sis and little sis loves it! Seeing the two of them playing with this activity is precious. Lu holds up the pin and says the color she then asks Em where the color is on the plate. Then she attaches the clothes pin for Em. Em likes to take them off at the end and then they start all over again.

Edit: I just found Em correctly pinching the clothes pin. She just needed help lining up the plate to slide the pin onto!

Simple Weaving Project for Toddlers

I wanted Lu to practice her weaving skills (fine motor) so I cut large toddler size slits into a long strip of white card stock. The big opening makes it easier for them to thread the ribbon through. Remember you don't want this to be too frustrating for them. I showed Lu what I wanted her to do then I helped by holding the strip and reminding Lu...in...out...in...out. After awhile she didn't want help and tried it on her own. The great thing about this project is it is simple to pull out the ribbon and start over. You can model the steps, have her practice with your help and then start fresh with no help at all. We made it into a crown/head band after we were done.

I used a box cutter to cut the slits. I drew lines with a pencil on the other side. It actually did not take that long to do. Cut all your vertical lines first then your horizontals.

Measure out a piece of ribbon about 6 inches longer than the weaving piece. Makes it easier to tie off.
Have fun crafting with your kids, Mama King!

Sorting Beads

I bought a large mixed container of beads at our craft store for about $4. Lulu loves sorting through them and picking out her favorite beads...which we put in a recycled spice jar. The other beads she makes bracelets with or just likes to sort through them. We store the beads in a container I got at the dollar store. It is important when working with beads that you use a tray with sides to keep the runaway beads to a minimum.

Having specific standby activities available and organized (i.e. beads, lentil tray, water play, playdough, puzzles, painting...) allows your child to to ask for a particular activity during down time. It also allows you to give your child choices when they are looking for something to do. It also helps to have a designated spot for messy activities, especially if you have younger children. Lulu will come in sit herself at the table and ask to do "beads please" or "lentil tray please."

Lentil Tray / Sensory

You can use lentils, oatmeal, rice, pasta... Lulu loves playing with the lentil tray for long stretches of time. She listens to music while scooping, pouring, burying her counting bears, pretending she is cooking... This is a wonderful sensory activity and excellent for practicing her pouring and scooping skills.

This is may not be for you if you mind a mess. We do it in the kitchen and Lulu helps me sweep up afterwards. Obviously you know your child better than anyone...so if they are prone to eating the contents of the tray or making a mess rather than playing...than this is not the activity for you. We store ours in a Gladware tray to ensure it doesn't attract rodents. Plus it makes it easy when she asks to play with it -- it is ready to go. I place the tray on a rimmed cookie tray to catch some of the overflow spills as she works. Make sure you give your child a variety of cups, spoons, and small toys to play with. As always, use this time to talk to your child and ask them questions about what they are doing or what they think may happen if you do xyz.

Cereal Necklaces

Make sure your child is old enough to wear a necklace responsibly. Always supervise wearing of necklace to ensure child will not choke on cereal or strangle themselves with floss.



Dental Floss, Child's Plastic Needle, O Cereal of Choice (we used 365 organic fruit o's), bowl

I started by measuring the length of floss. Make sure floss is long enough for child to place over head on own. You could used elastic cording if you had it. Thread needle. I doubled the floss and tied one O to end to act as a stop. This will prevent frustration. Pour cereal in bowl and let child thread O's onto floss. I left bowl at the kitchen table and when she felt like it she could work on her necklace. She spent anywhere from a few minutes to 15 minutes at a time threading O's. In the past we have used Wagon Wheel teether's as a medallion in the middle. It is a simple activity that helps develop your child's fine motor skills, concentration and is also entertaining. Not to mention fun to eat afterwards.

Valentine's Day Hanging Hearts

An easy and adorable Valentine's Day Craft. Great for toddlers practicing their fine motor skills. An added bonus, Lulu spent 10 minutes just sorting the beads by color and which ones she liked.


4 Pipe Cleaners (3 for the larger hearts / 1 cut in half for the 2 smaller hearts)
Beads
String to hang your masterpiece

Fold pipe cleaner in half & twist to make loop
Have child place beads on each side of the pipe cleaner (leaving a 1/4 at end to close heart)
Don't worry about forming heart shape until you've twisted off the bottom
Twist and wrap loose end around pipe cleaner / cover by sliding bead over twisted part
Shape into a heart (Don't be afraid to go at it)
Repeat 2 more times
Form smaller hearts / make sure you connect 2 larger hearts together
Hang string at top

Craft Kit Exchange Moms: This is part of my kit for you -- so don't make this yet!

For the birds...

http://ordinarylifemagic.blogspot.com/2009/01/valentines-for-birds.html

Ordinary Life Magic has very cute heart shaped bird popcorn bird feeders. As we have been house bound with a virus for going on 5 days now...I improvised. I used thread instead of floral wire and we just made a garland of popcorn. Lulu (Emme was napping) and I made popcorn the old fashioned way. Which was a fun activity in itself. She measured out the oil and popcorn and helped me put the lid on our heavy pot. Then we waited for the sounds of popcorn popping. She got so excited! "I can hear it! I can hear it!" she chanted. When the threat of oil splashing out was over I lifted the lid a bit and popcorn came flying out. This sent her over the edge. She squealed with delight. Then the threading of popcorn & cranberries began. I placed the item on the needle and Lulu eased it down to the end. I thought she might get bored of this quickly but she did not. I wanted to tie it off much sooner than she did! She had a clear idea of how she wanted it to look too! Cranberries on the ends with popcorn in the middle.

If you find yourself housebound and stir crazy try this activity it was fun, easy, and cheap.

Great Site / Free Printable Paper Projects

http://www.thetoymaker.com

I already printed out the Fairy Box, The Bear wagon, and the Habitat for Humanity House (Which I am going to have the girls color then I will assemble. I love this site!! I'll post pictures later.