Amelia's 2nd Birthday Party...it really was fun.
Bubbles for Amelia
Yogurt for breakfast that ended up being yogurt painting
Luke's new rain boots from Grandma Diane...he LOVES them!
This is what happens when Luke eats a smoothie on his own.
3.28.2014
Random Picture Friday
Happy Friday everyone! It's going to be 70 degrees this weekend on the Trail. I. am. ready. Bring on the flip flops and tank tops because that's what Iowans wear when it's 70 degrees in March. Hope you all have a blessed weekend and you get to enjoy some warm weather as well.
Bubbles for Amelia
Yogurt for breakfast that ended up being yogurt painting
Luke's new rain boots from Grandma Diane...he LOVES them!
This is what happens when Luke eats a smoothie on his own.
Bubbles for Amelia
Yogurt for breakfast that ended up being yogurt painting
Luke's new rain boots from Grandma Diane...he LOVES them!
This is what happens when Luke eats a smoothie on his own.
Pinterest Love: Easter
Easter is right around the corner. I love the Easter holiday because it's when we celebrate Jesus' death and resurrection...the same death that paid for our sins and gives us eternal life with Jesus, as long as we know and believe in Him. The chocolate, family gatherings, and cute bunnies are just an extra perk. Here are a few things I found on Pinterest to make the Easter holiday a tad bit more special this year.
Easy, healthy Easter treats for kiddos
Breakfast Bunny
Awesome FREE Easter printables
Dyeing Eggs...the easy way
Easter poem for older children
Resurrection Rolls
Easy, healthy Easter treats for kiddos
Awesome FREE Easter printables
Dyeing Eggs...the easy way
Easter poem for older children
Resurrection Rolls
3.24.2014
Tot School {16 1/2 months}
This post is a little late, but, nonetheless, here it is. Luke and I kept busy last week doing this...
Rainbow Box
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Sensory development
Fine motor development
Activity:
I used an old Amazon box (we have lots of those around here) and punched some holes through it in several places. Luke and I took turns pulling the pipe cleaners out and pushing them back in.
Exploring Machines
***Luke's favorite of the week
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Gross motor development
Life skills
Activity:
We had some guys working on some drain pipes in a 'big digger' down the road and Grandma Diane picked Luke and I up to go take a look. Needless to say, Luke LOVED it. Anything that is big, moves, and has wheels, is Luke's cup of tea.
Clothespins in a Milk Container
Rating: 2/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Counting
Activity:
I put five clothespins in a milk container that I cut a hole out of the front. Luke took out the clothespins and I dropped them in the top. I am trying to get him to drop them in the top, but he more enjoys pulling them out of the bottom.
Poms through a Tube
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Colors
Activity:
A bunch of poms and a toilet paper tube is all Luke needs to have a good time. He loves this activity and seems to never grow tired of it. This time using the poms he mainly passed the poms from one container to another, instead of putting them down the tube.
Cup Stacking
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
I have lots of cups left over from Luke's first birthday and decided to see what he would do with them. I started by stacking, and, what do you know, he knocked them down. Luke loves to knock towers over.
Rainbow Box
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Sensory development
Fine motor development
Activity:
I used an old Amazon box (we have lots of those around here) and punched some holes through it in several places. Luke and I took turns pulling the pipe cleaners out and pushing them back in.
Exploring Machines
***Luke's favorite of the week
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Gross motor development
Life skills
Activity:
We had some guys working on some drain pipes in a 'big digger' down the road and Grandma Diane picked Luke and I up to go take a look. Needless to say, Luke LOVED it. Anything that is big, moves, and has wheels, is Luke's cup of tea.
Clothespins in a Milk Container
Rating: 2/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Counting
Activity:
I put five clothespins in a milk container that I cut a hole out of the front. Luke took out the clothespins and I dropped them in the top. I am trying to get him to drop them in the top, but he more enjoys pulling them out of the bottom.
Poms through a Tube
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Colors
Activity:
A bunch of poms and a toilet paper tube is all Luke needs to have a good time. He loves this activity and seems to never grow tired of it. This time using the poms he mainly passed the poms from one container to another, instead of putting them down the tube.
Cup Stacking
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
I have lots of cups left over from Luke's first birthday and decided to see what he would do with them. I started by stacking, and, what do you know, he knocked them down. Luke loves to knock towers over.
3.21.2014
Random Picture Friday
Are you watching basketball today? I am...and I'm loving it! It's one of my favorite times of the year and I am soaking it up. Hope you all have a great weekend...here are some pictures of our little week.
Watching the big digger on a chilly morning
Saint Patrick's Day...celebrating Maewyn Succat bringing Christianity to Ireland!
The big digger
Don't cry over spilled peas...Luke loved this.
One of our many trips outside this week
Watching the big digger on a chilly morning
Saint Patrick's Day...celebrating Maewyn Succat bringing Christianity to Ireland!
The big digger
Don't cry over spilled peas...Luke loved this.
One of our many trips outside this week
3.20.2014
16 Tot School Activities {14-16 months}
Here is a compiled list of activities that Luke and I have done during the past two months. I would love to hear any ideas you have...please share below!
Balls on Bubble Wrap
Skills:
Gross motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
Give your child a few balls and let your little one move the balls around on the bubble wrap. Discuss how it sounds and feels.
Sensory Baskets
Skills:
Sensory development
Activity:
Sensory baskets can be made around a number of themes. A winter basket, color basket, shape basket, or holiday basket are all ways to help your little one learn about the environment.
Magnets on the Whiteboard
Skills:
Fine motor development
Number recognition
Letter recognition
Activity:
Have your child practice placing magnets on and off the whiteboard. You can use numbers, letters, animal magnets. Not only is this good for letter and number recognition, it's great for fine motor development.
Exploring Lids
Skills:
Sensory development
Shapes: circle
Activity:
Give your little one different sized lids you have lying around the house. Talk about how they feel and make sure to slip in the word 'circle' a lot.
Straws in and out
Skills:
Fine motor
Activity:
Use an empty Parmesan container and give your child some straws (I stuck with five straws). Practice putting the straws in and out of the container. Your child will probably want to take them out more than put the straws in.
Skills:
Gross motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
Give your child a few balls and let your little one move the balls around on the bubble wrap. Discuss how it sounds and feels.
Skills:
Sensory development
Activity:
Sensory baskets can be made around a number of themes. A winter basket, color basket, shape basket, or holiday basket are all ways to help your little one learn about the environment.
Skills:
Fine motor development
Number recognition
Letter recognition
Activity:
Have your child practice placing magnets on and off the whiteboard. You can use numbers, letters, animal magnets. Not only is this good for letter and number recognition, it's great for fine motor development.
Exploring Lids
Skills:
Sensory development
Shapes: circle
Activity:
Give your little one different sized lids you have lying around the house. Talk about how they feel and make sure to slip in the word 'circle' a lot.
Straws in and out
Skills:
Fine motor
Activity:
Use an empty Parmesan container and give your child some straws (I stuck with five straws). Practice putting the straws in and out of the container. Your child will probably want to take them out more than put the straws in.
Animal Puzzles
Skills:
Animal identification
Fine motor development
Problem solving
Spatial awareness
Activity:
Puzzles are so good for the brain! I love them for this reason and also because they are just plain fun (especially when there's animal noises involved). These Melissa and Doug puzzles that we have are perfect for little hands.
Skills:
Animal identification
Fine motor development
Problem solving
Spatial awareness
Activity:
Puzzles are so good for the brain! I love them for this reason and also because they are just plain fun (especially when there's animal noises involved). These Melissa and Doug puzzles that we have are perfect for little hands.
Poms
Skills:
Sensory development
Color identification
Fine motor development
Activity:
Poms are such fun, little, fuzzy, round all-purpose poofs. Just place a container of poms in from of your child and let them go to town. For older tots, you could have them move the poms from one container on the left to another container on the right and work on directionality.
Skills:
Fine motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
Grab some play food and a mixing bowl and spoon. Show your child how to mix the food around in the bowl. You can also work on food vocabulary.
Poms in a Toilet Paper Roll
Skills:
Fine motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
Tape a toilet paper roll or paper towel roll to a cupboard or your refrigerator. Put a container of poms in front of your child and demonstrate how to put the poms through the tube.
Chalkboard
Skills:
Fine motor development
Pre-writing
Activity:
Super simple: give your child a piece of chalk and a chalkboard. Chalk is so great for kids who are still working on their fine motor skills. The chalk allows the child to make lots of marks because there isn't just one end that does this. Lots of positive reinforcement for writing.
Skills:
Sensory development
Color identification
Fine motor development
Activity:
Poms are such fun, little, fuzzy, round all-purpose poofs. Just place a container of poms in from of your child and let them go to town. For older tots, you could have them move the poms from one container on the left to another container on the right and work on directionality.
Play Food Mix-Up
Skills:
Fine motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
Grab some play food and a mixing bowl and spoon. Show your child how to mix the food around in the bowl. You can also work on food vocabulary.
Poms in a Toilet Paper Roll
Skills:
Fine motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
Tape a toilet paper roll or paper towel roll to a cupboard or your refrigerator. Put a container of poms in front of your child and demonstrate how to put the poms through the tube.
Skills:
Fine motor development
Pre-writing
Activity:
Super simple: give your child a piece of chalk and a chalkboard. Chalk is so great for kids who are still working on their fine motor skills. The chalk allows the child to make lots of marks because there isn't just one end that does this. Lots of positive reinforcement for writing.
Making a Fort
Skills:
Gross motor development
Activity:
Pretty self explanatory...and so much fun!
Sensory Bottles
Skills:
Sensory development
Activity:
Grab some old 4 ounce bottles or any small container and put beads, clothespins, anything will make noise. They are fun little shakers, perfect for little hands!
Dominos
Skills:
Fine motor development
Number recognition
Activity:
Dominos are great for kiddos. Count the dots on each side with your child and make piles, towers, and trains.
Skills:
Gross motor development
Activity:
Pretty self explanatory...and so much fun!
Skills:
Sensory development
Activity:
Grab some old 4 ounce bottles or any small container and put beads, clothespins, anything will make noise. They are fun little shakers, perfect for little hands!
Skills:
Fine motor development
Number recognition
Activity:
Dominos are great for kiddos. Count the dots on each side with your child and make piles, towers, and trains.
 |
Muffin Tin Sorting
Skills:
Fine motor development
Activity:
Use a muffin tin and have your child sort caps, balls, cut up toilet paper rolls, or anything that you have sitting around.
Skills:
Fine motor development
Activity:
Use a muffin tin and have your child sort caps, balls, cut up toilet paper rolls, or anything that you have sitting around.
Yogurt Painting
Skills:
Art
Fine motor development
Pre-writing
Activity:
If you're worried about your little one putting paint in his mouth, this is the perfect way to introduce finger painting. As you can see, Luke put piles of it into his mouth before painting a little.
Balloons
Skills:
Gross motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
Balloons are so much fun for little ones. If you try this and a balloon pops, be sure to take away from baby ASAP, as it can be a choking hazard.
Skills:
Art
Fine motor development
Pre-writing
Activity:
If you're worried about your little one putting paint in his mouth, this is the perfect way to introduce finger painting. As you can see, Luke put piles of it into his mouth before painting a little.
Skills:
Gross motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
Balloons are so much fun for little ones. If you try this and a balloon pops, be sure to take away from baby ASAP, as it can be a choking hazard.
Linked up at:
3.15.2014
Tot School {16 months}
I'm going to be real (remember my post a few weeks back). We didn't 'do' Tot School much this week. We had a busier than normal week and that, paired with the fact that it was gorgeous outside, meant we just didn't get all the activities accomplished. I am okay with that. I'm giving myself grace to be imperfect and flexible and relaxed and okay with all of it. So all you Mommas that didn't get to everything this week...I'm with you!
Here is what we did get to this week...
Muffin Tin Sorting
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Colors
Counting
Activity:
I have been saving caps from different containers for some time now. I finally feel Luke is at the age I can give him smaller caps and he won't shove it down his throat. I was by his side during this entire activity just to be sure. We counted the caps, put the caps into the muffin tin, and, of course, dumped them out.
Balloons
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Gross motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
I blew up a few balloons and let Luke go to town. He loved throwing them, chasing them, and squeezing them. I am really surprised neither of them popped. If you try this and a balloon pops, be sure to take away from baby ASAP, as it can be a choking hazard.
Green Dot Painting
Rating: 2/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Colors: green
Pre-writing
Art
Activity:
I gave Luke a dot paint marker and I think he forgot what to do with it. I put my hand over his hand and we made dots for this activity.
Pillow Climbing
Rating: 4/5
Skills:
Gross motor development
Activity:
This was not on my plans for this week, but I was washing the sheets and Luke just happened to find my comforter and pillows. He loved climbing on top and then back down. Luke thinks climbing is the cat's meow.
Exploring Outside
***Luke's favorite of the week
"Learning is experience. Everything else is just information." -Albert Einstein
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Gross motor development
Sensory development
Life skills
Activity:
This is how we spent most of our week. We went on walks, Luke explored the wheels on the grain cart, the 4-wheeler, the dolly and then climbed hills, tromped through flower beds, and felt the breeze in his swing. He loved watching the wind move through the trees and branches and laughed at Abel as he was sunning himself on the hill. Not to get all mushy...but this is why I wanted to move out here and why I love the Trail so much...days and moments like these.
Linked up at:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com
Here is what we did get to this week...
Muffin Tin Sorting
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Colors
Counting
Activity:
I have been saving caps from different containers for some time now. I finally feel Luke is at the age I can give him smaller caps and he won't shove it down his throat. I was by his side during this entire activity just to be sure. We counted the caps, put the caps into the muffin tin, and, of course, dumped them out.
Balloons
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Gross motor development
Sensory development
Activity:
I blew up a few balloons and let Luke go to town. He loved throwing them, chasing them, and squeezing them. I am really surprised neither of them popped. If you try this and a balloon pops, be sure to take away from baby ASAP, as it can be a choking hazard.
Green Dot Painting
Rating: 2/5
Skills:
Fine motor development
Colors: green
Pre-writing
Art
Activity:
I gave Luke a dot paint marker and I think he forgot what to do with it. I put my hand over his hand and we made dots for this activity.
Pillow Climbing
Rating: 4/5
Skills:
Gross motor development
Activity:
This was not on my plans for this week, but I was washing the sheets and Luke just happened to find my comforter and pillows. He loved climbing on top and then back down. Luke thinks climbing is the cat's meow.
Exploring Outside
***Luke's favorite of the week
"Learning is experience. Everything else is just information." -Albert Einstein
Rating: 5/5
Skills:
Gross motor development
Sensory development
Life skills
Activity:
This is how we spent most of our week. We went on walks, Luke explored the wheels on the grain cart, the 4-wheeler, the dolly and then climbed hills, tromped through flower beds, and felt the breeze in his swing. He loved watching the wind move through the trees and branches and laughed at Abel as he was sunning himself on the hill. Not to get all mushy...but this is why I wanted to move out here and why I love the Trail so much...days and moments like these.
Linked up at:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com
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