Momma's Fun World: April 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

5+ things to do with baking soda and conditioner

Sensory play is a fun way for your kids to explore and play. We love to mix things together and experiment.

Below I put together some of the fun ways you can play and explore with 2 simple ingredients in your home. Then add 2 more ingredients to give it a different twist.

The fun started with mixing baking soda and hair conditioner together and we made some AWESOME snow play. This is a MUST TRY sensory play.

then with this awesome snow you can set up a fun sensory play for the kids.

Make your own snow

Then you can have some glow play fun.

Glow snowballs

Glow rocks

Then for all those Dinosaur lovers you can make some fun dino eggs.

Dino eggs

and erupting mud dinosaur sensory bin.

Erupting mud

One of our favorites Magic snowballs

Magic snowball science

Then a really fun imaginary play make your own ice cream shop.

Ice Cream Dough

You can also place it in molds and freeze it to make a fun fizzing science play.

Fizzing shamrock science

Fizzing jello eggs

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Fizzing Shape Art

We are working on shapes with Cate and I saw this great idea using popsicle sticks from A, Bee, C preschool. So I added our own little twist to it.

This is a fun and easy way for kids to learn shapes. After we put the shapes together I had the kids sprinkle kool-aid baking soda inside to make shape art. After the shape was formed they sprayed their vinegar on the shape and had fizzing shape art.

Materials:

Kool-Aid packet

Baking soda

Vinegar

Foam or popsicle sticks (we used foam sticks bought from the Dollar Tree)

This is a fun way to tie learning in with art, plus it is a great fine motor skill for preschoolers.

We love to add learning to our fun activities be sure to check out some other ways to below.

Jelly bean counting

Frog sensory game

Alphabet ice play

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Rainbow science

I took the kids to the science center when we were in Florida and there was this really neat book that had some simple but fun experiments to do with the kids.

So in the Florida sunshine we tried it.

Materials:

Glass of water (filled 3/4)

White sheet of paper

Bright shining sun outside

Hold the glass of water up so the sun is shining through it, then placed the white paper in front of it and move the paper to an angel. Then you will see the rainbow on the paper. The kids were amazed. Have to admit I even thought it was really neat.

Jake and Cate are too young to understand why it happens, but for older kids you can explain that the rainbows form when the light is refracts when it passes through the glass of water. It happens just like real rainbows form when the sunlight refracts through raindrops.

If you like rainbows you might like these links below:

Rainbow Kool-Aid Science

Volcano Ice

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Test tube science

Jake loves to make the Lava lamp we did last year. We have made it several times. So today I mixed the fun science up a little and we did in the test tubes we have.

Jake and Cate had a blast watching it bubble and fizz at the top of the test tube. You make them the same way you do the Lava lamp, but you just don't put the top on and it was pretty cool to watch.

Materials:

Test tubes

Cooking oil

Water

Alka seltzer

Food coloring

Be sure to check out our Science link for more science play and learning.

You can but the test tubes inexpensive at Science Bob's on-line store, we got ours at Lake shore Learning.

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

100 Days of Play with kids

We are taking part in the 100 days of play blog hop co-hosted by Sun Scholars and Life at the Zoo, the 100 Days of Play Blog Hop combines 100 blogs from around the world and 100 days to showcase simple ways to play.

So today we put together this fun, simple and inexpensive frog sensory learning game. The kids loved it and while playing they were learning numbers as well.

Cate my 2 y/o was counting and matching numbers. While Jake my 4 y/o was counting and adding the frogs.

Materials:
Craft foam
Frogs (Dollar Tree)
Container
Rocks (optional)
Numbers (we used plastic magnet numbers from Dollar Tree)
Water

This sensory bin is a fun hands on way for kids to learn and parents/teachers to teach kids. The lily pads and the logs are cut out of craft foam and then I used a sharpie marker to make the lines.

Hands on play is a great way for kids to explore. Kids grow up so fast enjoy and cherish the time you have with them. Be sure to check out the great list of bloggers below.

This post is my contribution to "100 Days of Play" challenge. The play challenge is about simple play ideas that you can do on a daily basis. Setting aside at least 30 uninterrupted minutes of play per day for the kids is great for them. You will find ideas for simple play that will let you connect with your kids without fancy play set ups or even fancier toys. New ideas are shared each day from 4/1 – 7/20 on various blogs. 100 Days of Play is brought to you by these wonderful bloggers:

SunScholars . Frogs, Snails & Puppy Dog Tails . Playful Learners . Train Up a Child . Fantastic Fun & Learning . Scribble, Doodle & Draw . Learn. Create. Love. . Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas . Nothing if Not Intentional . My Little 3 & Me . Buggy & Buddy . Sun Hats & Wellie Boots . Twodaloo . True Aim . The Educators’ Spin On It . Blog Me Mom . Life At The Zoo . Putti’s World . Kitchen Counter Chronicles . Triple T Mum . Busy Kids Happy Mom . Crystal’s Tiny Treasures . Rainy Day Mum . Momma’s Fun World . My Little Bookcase . Craftulate . One Perfect Day . MumCentral . Artchoo! . Little Artists . Simple. Home. Blessings. . JDaniel4′s Mom . NurtureStore . Me & Marie Learning . Child Central Station . Mamas Like Me . Mama Miss . Making Boys Men .Powerful Mothering . Craft to Art . 3 Dinosaurs . Domestic Goddesque . Lessons Learnt Journal . Royal Baloo . Smiling Like Sunshine . Adventures at Home with Mum . B-Inspired Mama . PragmaticMom . Eazy Peazy Mealz . Gluesticks . TheBoy&Me . Learning is Messy . My Nearest & Dearest . Growing Book by Book . How to Run a Home Daycare . Here Come the Girls . Think Magnet . Dandelions Picked . 123 Homeschool 4 Me . Our Ordinary Life . Parenting with Professor Poppins . 2 Little Hooligans . Fun-a-Day! . The Non-Martha Mamma . Angelique Felix . My Very Educated Mother . Creative Playhouse . Go Explore Nature . Zing Zing Tree . Sense of Wonder . Childhood 101 . Crayon Freckles . KZ & Me . Serenity You . This Mumma’s Life . Leapfrog & Ladybugs. Blue Bear Wood . Growing Together . KC EDventures . Mommy Lessons 101 . Nature & Play . Like Mama Like Daughter . Mums Make Lists . From Wine to Whine . Messy Kids . Babble Dabble Do . Sugar Aunts . Teaching @ Home . Preschool Powol Packets . Clothed in Love . Curiosity Creates . The Magnolia Barn . Strong Start . Stay-at-Home Mom Survival Guide . Learn with Play at Home . Mummy… Mummy… MUM! . Science Sparks . Toddler Approved .Thrive 360 Living . Rockabye Butterfly . Mud Hut Mama . Coffee Cups & Crayons . Playing with Words 365 . My Lil Love Bugs . Creative Connections for Kids . LalyMom . Love, Play, Learn . Kindergarten & Preschool for Parents & Teachers . The Pleasantest Thing . Teach Beside Me

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Rainbow and cloud art

Spring is in the air and we love rainbows. So I gathered the art materials and we made a fun rainbow craft.

Materials:

Cotton balls

Glitter(optional)

Glue

Cardstock paper

Pipe cleaners

Scissors

Beads

Hole puncher

This is a great craft for working fine motor skills, along with eye/hand coordination.

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Friday, April 19, 2013

How to keep mold out of bath or water toys

Kids love bath and water toys so you are bound to buy some or even get some as gifts for little ones. My son loved the rubber duckies for bath when he was little. You would buy them and after several baths the water would store inside and cause mold. YUCK!!

Good thing I didn't invest too much in squeeze toys with him. But my daughter well she loves all those toys and we went to Disney several months ago and my mom bought Cate the princess collection of squeeze toys for the bath. I didn't want them messed up so I kept them from going in the bath.

Well now I don't have to worry about it. YEAH!! Thanks to the great mom's over at We Love Being Moms with their GREAT idea to hot glue the hole so you get no mold.

I did this great trick and it works!!

All you need is a glue gun, can buy one at the Dollar Tree. Heat it up, then fill the hole with the glue and let it dry. I applied 2 layers of glue to seal good and let it sit for couple minutes. Worked great!! See picture below.

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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Down on the Farm sensory play

Sensory bins are a great way for kids to explore and for use their imagination during play. The kids got

They've been having a blast playing with them so I decide to put together a farm sensory bin. I am not sure who had more fun mom putting it together or the kids playing with it.

I used hay, jello, cut up bushes from the yard and mud. Jake and Cate loved the mud play with the pigs and it's a fun science twist to add.

The pond for the ducks is made from jello, then just added some small rocks around it.

Below are some other sensory bins we have set up that you may like.

Make your own snow

Make your own glow sand

Dinosaur ice

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Mother's Day handprint crafts

As a Mom of 2 little ones I love homemade gifts for Mother's Day. To me they are the BEST gifts a kid could give. Also, it doesn't get better then to have their handprint as part of the homemade gift.

So below I gathered some of the many handprint keepsakes I liked from Pinterest and put them in a post.