Cake Mix Play

I hardly think there is anything much more fun than playing in boxed cake mix.  This past week I placed these baking materials in our sensory table in honor of my youngest's 2nd birthday and my girls played in this stuff for literally HOURS.  And the main reason I liked it so much...  It was easy and took NO effort on my part.  And I don't know how this part managed to happen, but neither one of them fought the whole time we had it out.  They played together the entire time and shared so nicely. This very rarely happens in this household for extended amounts of time with a 2 year old who still likes to tear things up and a 4 year old who is very particular.  Not a good combo I tell ya! 

Christmas Sensory Table

Materials Included:

Green rice (pine needles)

gingerbread man (it's actually a silverware holder)

pretend presents (Hobby Lobby)

Mini ornaments (Hobby Lobby)

stocking ornament from our tree

ribbons

Christmas tree buttons

Jingle bells

scoop

"Ohhhh I wonder what's inside?!"

Her favorites and just perfect...playing Christmas in our jammies!

"Apple Pie Making"

Apples, apples, apples!  Our main topic of choice these past couple weeks.  I believe I got this idea from "Growing a jeweled rose" and then tweaked it a little myself.  I made regular old cloud dough that we've done before following the recipe: 7 cups of flour to 1 cup vegetable (or baby) oil.  But this time I added in some crushed up chalk (that I smashed with a hammer) to give the red color and put in some cinnamon for a yummy smell (I didn't have any sort of apple spice).  

They used their muffin tins to make yummy apple pies!  This turned out to be an activity that they stuck with for a LONG time over the course of a couple days AND it was a handy activity that they were able to do right outside the door on the back porch while Mommy made lunch.  Score!  The apple letters I had originally made for a different activity but never got around to it so we threw them in there too.  Big K liked putting them in alphabetical order and spelling out her name with them.  I tried to stretch the activity with spelling other words too but that interest didn't last too long.  Not yet at least! =)  

And this of course is what eventually ended up happening with it...making a lovely icky mess on my back porch! What toddler/preschooler can continue to play with something messy in a contained space? But it was enjoyable during the process so well worth it! 

The Early Days

Just felt like taking a trip down memory lane today and sharing some old photos of Big K doing some sensory activities before she was even two years old!  I can't believe she's going to be 4 next month!  I was so good at doing these types of things with Big K and feel like I have slacked entirely too much with Little K but let's just face it...  many things seem nearly impossible when you have a toddler and preschooler running around the house all day.  Maybe finding these should be my inspiration to get more going again.  Who knows???

Playing in shaving cream (still one of her favorite things to do)

Sponges and a tub of water is never a problem!

Finger painting

I've always loved this photo.  It's just perfect.  

And she really can create something quite beautiful! =)

Jello Sensory Experience

Ok, I have to admit in advance, I went a little crazy with the picture taking in this one.  But I just couldn't help it.  They were so darn funny!  

I mixed up 3 batches of jello and placed some shapes in (to reinforce shape recognition with Little K).  Once it was set, we plopped it in our sensory table and I just let the girls have at it however they liked.  

We talked about all the words we could to describe the way it felt.  Cold, smooth, slimy...

But it sure didn't take long for this little one to realize it was edible.

Then they both went after it!

Squishy!

 And would not stop eating it!!!

They were even slurping it out of the shapes! haha

Never do I ever choose to take an activity away but this time it eventually became necessary.  They would have eaten those entire three batches of jello and had some serious tummy aches!  I just let them have their fill and get all messy, then jump in their pool!

Jellyfish Art/"Beachy Day"

I set up a tiny beach scene with play doh this morning before my girls got up. Placed some shells in the sand they could make imprints with...they LOVED it! And I do realize my items are no where near to scale with each other! The starfish is larger than the entire ocean/beach combined and if I found shells that were half the size of a whale I would sure set some sort of world record.

And this is what came of the beach.  It got transferred to a cookie sheet on the floor for a place for Tinkerbell fairies to hang out and observe a "giant fish." 

Later in the day we made our sea creature of choice craft, a jellyfish.  They really so turn out very adorable.  

Only need a few supplies lying around in that craft closet.  Glue, goggly eyes, paint, paintbrushes, ribbon and styrofoam bowl.  (and I am aware that jellyfish do not have huge eyes on the side of their bodies like that =) )

Or four on the top as Little K decided to create...

"Look Mommy what I made!" 

Mud Day!

Apparently June 29th is "National Mud Day."  We decided to take advantage of it and get a little messy ourselves and making mud pies!  We chose to strip down for this one as I really didn't want to spend forever getting mud out of clothes later in the day.  My girls of course ended up not wanting to get too messy so that wasn't really a problem.  Obviously June 29th is over for this year...(I came a day too late) but we will definitely make sure to observe this holiday every year!  Or any other day for that matter! Kids love getting messy so get them outside and get them dirty!