Printing activities

I have been looking for some simple printing ideas that I can use with paint and chocolate with some of the families.  Here are some fab, cheap ideas that can be used time and time again.  

1. How about this fab rolling pin?  Funky foam shapes have been glued onto an old rolling pin ready to be rolled into some fab messy chocolate or paint.  To find out more about this idea pop on over to Filth Wizardry http://www.filthwizardry.com/2008/08/rolling-pin-printing.html  Lots of other fantastic ideas too!

2. How's this for a great invitation to have fun?  Lots of recyclable materials instead of brushes etc.  Pop on over to learnwithplayathome.com

 

3. Bubble wrap painting.  How cheap and easy is this one?  If you havent got a rolling pin you could use an empty drinks bottle and wrap the bubble wrap around it.  For more ideas for this and more pop on over to http://www.artbarblog.com

4. Flower printing.  This is a really cute idea instead of using paintbrushes.  For more brilliant ideas pop on over to Learning 4 Kids

5. Bottle top printing.  Recycle bottle tops and glue funky foam shapes to the tops of them. Cheap and cheerful and lots of fun. Find out more over on https://vanessasvalues.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/create-with-kids-make-your-own-bottle.html

6. And don't forget the good old potato printing.  One i remember fondly from my childhood days.    

http://hubpages.com/art/Arts-and-Crafts-with-Potatoes

Beach scavenger hunt

If your going to the beach while we have some nice weather at last or going on holiday, how about popping on over to http://bloggingbabiesandthebayou.com/beach-travel-printable-for-kids-beach-scavenger-hunt-bayoutravel/ and then printing out this fab beach scavenger hunt sheet?  You could even laminate to use over and over again.

Mud, mud glorious mud...

One of my favourite things in the world to play with is good old mud.  I love squelching and squishing in it with my wellies as well as my hands making mud pies.  

There are so many things you can do with mud so you can only imagine how happy I am that I have just come across this amazing lady and her site....Creative Star Learning Ltd with lots of great ideas and information and lots more.

http://creativestarlearning.co.uk/nature-play-learning/10-ideas-for-mud-play/

You can find ideas for mud mapping, a dinosaur swamp, drippy castles, smelling mud and wait for it........a mud 'Master chef'!

And who knew that there was an international mud day....so much fun to be had!

picture from dreamstime.com

Learning through play

This valuable information can be found on the 'Family Lives' website http://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/toddler-preschool/learning-play/how-children-learn-through-play/

This is a great site which has advice on so many different areas including:

• Pregnancy and Baby
• Toddler / Preschool
• Primary
• Secondary
• Teenager
• Family life
• Bullying
• Divorce and Separation

Learning through play

Play is one of the main ways in which children learn. It helps to build self worth by giving a child a sense of his or her own abilities and to feel good about themselves. Because it’s fun, children often become very absorbed in what they are doing. In turn, this helps them develop the ability to concentrate. Providing children with a range of playthings will help them learn in a number of ways:

• Sand and water play can be an early introduction to science and maths, eg learning that water is fluid, not solid, and that it can be measured in different sized containers.
• Playing with dough, drawing and painting pictures, dressing up, playing with dolls can encourage creativity, imagination and expression of feelings.
• Building blocks, jigsaws and shape sorters can help with recognising different shapes and sizes, putting things in order and developing logic.
• Playing ball games, dancing, running, climbing all help to develop body movement, strength, flexibility and co-ordination skills. 
• Games help with turn taking, sharing and mixing with others.
• Singing, playing simple music instruments help to develop rhythm, listening and hearing.

It's important that learning is fun at this age. It needs to be about doing things with them that they like. They might find unusual ways of doing things - for a toddler, building blocks aren't just for making towers, and paint can be used without a brush! Show them how things work, but if they want to experiment, let them.

Don't push your child too hard. Children develop in their own ways and in their own time. Try not to compare them to other children. You can also encourage reading, by reading to and with them. Look at the pictures together; this will help younger children make sense of the words.

It's also good to talk to them a lot, about everyday things while you are cooking or cleaning. This will give you a chance to teach them how things work and they will be able to ask you questions. Get ready for lots of “why’s?”

Baby and toddler play ideas

I have just come across these fab ideas over on the NHS web page for play ideas for babies and toddlers.  There are ideas for playing safely with water, reading with your baby, play ideas form 4 months to 30 months and some great advice about toy safety.  To find out more head over to the page using the link below.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/play-ideas-and-reading.aspx

Glitter and hair gel squidgy bag play

Here's a video of the glitter and hair gel squidgy bag in action.  Very relaxing sensory play!

Hair gel and glitter messy bag

Here's another really easy version to put together for a messy bag without the mess.  

You will need:

• A zip lock bag (or a sandwich bag with a good seal for a smaller version)
• Hair gel (I used two pots of the cheaper gel at 50p per pot)
• A selection of coloured glitter

Firstly add the gel to the bag and close securely.  Smear the gel into all the corners with your hands.

Then open the bag and add the different coloured glitter, seal securely again.

Then have fun mixing the glitter together with the gel in the bag using your hands.  I loved the way that this one ended up looking like a very starry scene as well as feeling so relaxing to squidge the glittery gel around the bag.