Incredible Insects

I have this need to spontaneously combust today. I am embarking on this exciting new venture and I can assure you all there is lot more leg work than there should be... Especially when you don't have all the correct info ;-)

I hope that you have been having a blast with you children and the activities. I would love to see what you create with them so feel free to share your pics with me.

This week you will need some painting aprons...

PHOTO CREDITS: I loaded some of these ages ago and cannot find credits. If you know who to credit please feel free to let me know so I can adjust.

Butterfly Painting

WHAT YOU NEED: paint, white paper, paintbrush, pencil

WHAT TO DO: Fold your white paper in half. With you pencil draw very lightly the shape of half a butterfly. Get your little person to paint within that space being quite liberal with the paint. Once they have filled in the shape get your paper and fold in half so hat the painted side is on the inside of the fold. when you open it your paint should have transferred meaning that you now have a whole butterfly.

Ladybugs

WHAT YOU NEED: paint, scissors, 2 paper plates, black card or paper, glue and some googly eyes

WHAT TO DO: Take one of the paper plates and scissors and cut the paper plate in half. While you are doing this get your little person to paint the other plate black. Give your little person the cut plate and get them to paint in the colour of their choice. While you are waiting for the paint to dry cut our a small semi circle from the black card and glue on the two googly eyes. Once the paint on that plates has dried using their finger tips get your little person to dot black dots on the coloured plate. Then once all of that is dry glue the coloured plate halves onto the top of the black plate and then glue on the black semi circle. Voila... A coloured lady bug (or Gaston as Miss 3.5 calls it).

Toilet Roll Bees

WHAT YOU NEED: toilet rolls, glue, scissors, yellow paper, black paper, white card, beige card, permanent marker (or texts) and black pipe cleaner

WHAT TO DO: get the yellow and black card and cut them into strips as evenly as possible. get your little person to glue these onto the toilet roll creating a black and yellow striped bee body. Get the white card and cut out some wings. Attach these to your toilet roll. Using the beige card cut out an oval shape. On that oval shape draw on two eyes and a smile. Then cut the pipe cleaner in half and attach to the back of the beige card. Attach the beige card to the opposite side of the toilet roll as the wings. Ta Da! A toilet roll bee :-)

Ladybug Hat

WHAT YOU NEED: red card, black paint, black card, scissors, black pipe cleaners, red pom poms, googly eyes and white out, stapler or sticky tape, hole punch if you have one

WHAT TO DO: Get the red card and cut it in half lengthways. Get your little person to use their fingerstips to create black dots with the black paint (just like the Ladybugs plates). While you are waiting for the paint to dry cut a semi circle out of the black card, glue on googly eyes in the curve and use the white out to create a smile near the flat edge. Attach this to the middle of the strip, flat edge to the bottom edge of the strip. Get the hole punch (or scissors if you don't have the hold punch) to put two holes about 1cm apart in the top of the hat above the semi circle. Feed your pipe cleaner through these holes and bend them so that they create antlers. If you have pom poms attach these to the end of the pipe cleaner. Get the strip and measure to fit your little persons head, hold the measurement and get a stapler or sticky tape and fix the strips ends together. 

Colouring In Pages

Fnd some pages of insects and sit with you little person and colour them in. sometimes Miss 3.5 and Miss 1.5 love nothing more than sitting with me and colouring (apparently I don't do it right).

Outdoor Activities

Although the weather has been horrible 

 

and I haven't been able to do any of these activities with my little people, doesn't mean it is horrible where you are.

Chasing and Catch

What To Do: To tie this activity in with my insect theme I got the girls to skip and hop and flap their wings as if they were a butterfly when playing this game. It certainly made the game interesting.

Activity Dice

This activity does require some mummy or daddy prep prior to playing BUT once done you can store these and keep for another day. 

To Do: Create a box from cardboard (or if you are me buy two cube boxes), there are lots of templates on the internet. Decorate how you wish ( I just painted). 

On one cube write some activities. Mine were: 

1. Dance like a ballerina; 2.Flap like a bird; 3. Run on the spot; 4. Jump like a kangaroo; 5. Skip around the room; 6. Hop like a frog. 

On the other cube write some stretches. Mine were:

1. Reach for the Sky; 2. Touch Your Toes; 3. Butterfly Stretch; 4. Pat On The Back; 5. Triangle Stretch; 6. Puppy Dog

Note: the best thing about activity dice is you can have them for anything activities in the kitchen, story telling, activities with grandma or daddy.

Where Does This Go

Go around the house with a washing basket and collect random items from each room. Get your children to select an item and ask them where it goes. Get them to take it to the spot they think that the item belongs. This is especially fun when you pick something that they do not usually see and you can see their little minds ticking over... It blows my mind sometimes what they do in this game...

Cooking

This is self explanatory... Find something fabulous to get them to help you cook. Children love to imitate the best people in the world to them (ie you) and they love cooking... (I caught Miss 3.5 "washing up" the water bottles today).

Chalk Drawings

Again this is fairly self explanatory. Gets some chalk (supermarkets do have) and sit outside, finding a space to do some drawings... Although not sure that I would be keen for that in today's rain ;-)

Hope that you have another fantastic week with your little ones.

Keep smiling

Lauren

xxx

Growing Gardens

Today I am sharing with you the activities for the next week and I warn you in advance that they are messy, require sunscreen and a good sense of humour. :-)

Growing a Herb Garden

I'm not sure about you all but I find that the smell of fresh herbs in my meals is divine. I am a bit of a plant killer (I'll admit that) but really wanted to grow my own garden so I had to find a happy medium. A way I could grow them without killing them. I found the way. It is with a product called Greensmart Pots. They are fabulous, especially for people like me who want that veggie garden but cannot necessarily rely on daily watering. Select a patch of yard or talk to your local nursery about pots or a pot that would suit your needs. Decide upon the herbs that you want to grow. at his activity can be as expensive or as cheap as you wish to make it. :-) Prepare your pot. I cleaned mine and selected a place for it so that I didn't have to move it regularly. Get some potting mix and any other minerals feeders that you may need. Place these in your pot (or turn it through your garden). Plant your little seeds or seedlings. Water. Voila! You have your little herb garden. You can involve your little person by getting them to help fill with the potting mix, planting the seeds or seedlings and watering. I LOVE my pots but my mum and dad had an old wheelbarrow that they used for their garden this looks fabulous (I do recommend lining this) here are some ideas for your herb garden.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1. winebarrelgardens.com.au; 2. en.wikipedia.org; 3. thecottagemarket.com; 4. thecottagemarket.com; 5. thesmallgarden.com.au; 6. spicerequest.com; 7. aspoonfulofthyme.blogspot.com; 8. repeatcrafterme.com

 PHOTO CREDITS: 1. thekingsgarden.com; 2. gardendoctor.wordpress.com; 3. orangepower.com.au; 4. allam.com.au; 5. stepbystep.com; 6. meltingmoments.net; 7. www.ecomarket.com; 8. www.hgtv.com

Fairy Garden

It is always fun to keep their imagination growing and feeding them a little magic. This is where the magic fairy garden is fantastic and so easy! I have to credit Kidspot for this fairy garden.

WHAT YOU NEED: Shallow box (wooden or plastic). Small potplants. 1 small dish for a pond. Shells and pebbles (beach or backyard), soil (or potting mix), decorative pebbles (Bunnings), I small terracotta pot and a small decorative frog.

WHAT TO DO:

Fill the box with soil (if you are using a plastic tub you could paint this first). Collect all the bits and pieces for your garden. Dig a shallow hole for your pond. Put in the dish that you chose and surround it with pebbles or shells. Put in your plants. Place the terracotta pot on its side to make a fairy grotto. Put some soil in to make it look authentic. Cover the soil with the pebbles. Use large pebbles from the beach or otherwise to make a stepping stone path. Fill your fairy pond with water.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kidspot

Herb Markers

I love all the different herb markers out there and I think that if I was clever enough with ceramics I would attempt some of them BUT I have decided on a far more Lauren friendly and kidlet involvement way of marking our little herb garden. Pebble markers!

WHAT YOU NEED:

Pebbles (may be left over from your fairy garden), acrylic paints, spray primer, paint brush, permanent marker, clear spray, newspaper/paper

WHAT TO DO:

Put down your paper and add the primer to your pebbles. When dry paint the stones with the acrylic paint (Chickettes only painted one side, but being the obsessive I am I did both). Use the permanent marker to write on the stones. Then use the clear spray to protect the pebble. Allow to dry for a while. Voila! New pebble markers. This is a great activity to get the little ones involved with. They love painting right? If you have enough time and a grandma or grandpa that has a veggie garden these are a great gift from the little ones. ;-)

PHOTO CREDIT: Chickettes

Tomato Plants

This activity is the same as the herb garden activity. I have a separate pot for my tomato plant. Although I do recommend hiding this baby from your little people once you have planted it together as I know that my little people enjoyed picking off the unripened tomatoes.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Pot, cherry tomato seedling, potting mix.

WHAT TO DO:

Prepare your pot, place your potting mix into the pot. Water the potting mix and place plant into the pot. Use a stake to keep the tomato plant growing upward. Your little person can help you with all steps with this.

PHOTO CREDIT: Wikipedia 

Apple Stamping

This is a fabulous activity for little ones. You can create a fabulous gift for someone or for your little ones.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Apples, paint, calico bags, newspaper, plastic plate

WHAT TO DO:

Select your calico bags and lay it on some newspaper. Put paint on plastic plate. Cut your apple in half from top to bottom and dip it in the paint. Stamp onto the calico bags. Allow to dry. Voila! NOTE: Unless you use a fabric paint, washing an acrylic paint is not recommended - it might not stay pretty for long.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Lynn's Sweets

OUTDOOR:

Monday: Sorting Buttons

This is a fairly simple one but so effective and great for the little ones. You need some buttons (these can be bought from Spotlight or the supermarket. Sit with the child and get them to gather the buttons into colour groups. This is a good wind down and focussing activity after all the muddy fun that your little person would have had creating the family herb garden.

Tuesday: Gardening

This is a particularly good activity considering your beautiful garden creation. It assists teaching your little person some responsibility and I am not sure about your little ones but my little ones LOVE the watering can PaPa bought them.

Wednesday: Cooking

It doesn't matter what you choose to cook for this activity. With all the outdoor activities that you will do this week, this activity is a nice break from the great outdoors. My little girls love making mini cupcakes (thank you Betty Crocker) and this activity allows them to help you in the kitchen without creating too much chaos and mess.

Thursday: Bucket Balls

This activity is reasonably simple. You need a bucket and some balls (or beanbags). Get your little one to stand at a distance from the bucket and get them to throw their balls or beanbags into the bucket. This is fabulous for their gross motor skills.r

Friday: Jumping

You can do this however you like but I like to give the girls something to jump to. Perhaps a spot on the carpet or a toy. It is actually amazing that when you make it a competition they can go for forever (even more so if you get in there and do it with them).

Have fun with your kidlets this week.

Keep smiling.

Lauren

xxx

Under The Sea

As most of you know I have two toddlers and an infant. Some people think that we are crazy and some knew that even before we had children, I wanted my little ones close together in age. I am also a qualified teacher and I miss being in a classroom with lots of smiley kidlets but I wouldn't give up my time with my children for anything right now.

So I have decided on a happy medium. Last year I got really excited about doing some activities with the girls... Activities which to date we have not completed. Thus I introduce to you (drumroll please)... Kidlets Craft! Every Wednesday I am going to share with you all a weeks worth of activities for the following week. Now I understand some of you may be time restricted and that is totally fine. It's about having some activities in your " play" bank. Because I am a teacher I like things themed and in groupings (this also ties in with that perfectionism I have laughed about).

Here we go. Remember I am trying to occupy two spirited toddlers... You don't have to follow this format. One thing I will add is make sure you have smocks for artwork... Big W, KMart or Spotlight have smocks (plastic are fab for wiping down) just check your local supermarket or dollar store sometimes they have stocks...

UNDER THE SEA

CRAFT:

Monday- Fish Decorations

Things needed: blue card (or paint some card in blue), white card, icy pole sticks, glitter, glue, sequins, tissue paper, scrap paper, paint

What to do: Cut out some under the sea animals from the white card and paint in chosen colours (you can use coloured card here instead). Cut a line about 2cm from bottom leaving about 2cm uncut at either end (this is to slip your icy pole stick through). Decorate your water scene and your sea creature. Once you have done that attach your sea creature to the icy pole stick.

Tuesday- Handprint Crabs

Things needed: white paper and paint (your choice of colour)

What to do: Get your little person (or people) to put paint on their hands. You can roll this on or get them to dip their hands in paint. Get them to place one hand on the paper. Place the other hand on the paper ensuring that the palms overlap. When the paint is dried draw on some eyes (or if you have them glue on some googly eyes).

Wednesday- Bottle Jellyfish

Things needed: empty water bottle, paint, plastic braiding string (dollar store, Big W, craft shop) googly eyes

What to do: Cut the bottle in half. Get your little person to paint the inside of the bottle. When it has dried poke some holes near the bottom of the cut edge. Feed some of the braid string through the holes (I found it easier to fold braid in half and feed that through holes then put lose ends of braid through the loops). Glue on the googly eyes.

Thursday- Thumbprint Fish

Things needed: Large white card, paint, coloured markers

What to do: Get your little person to put their fingers in the paint and place on the paper. Put as Manu on as you like. Once the paint has dried draw on your creatures ie tentacles for jellyfish, fins and tail for fish, legs for crabs.

Friday- Shark Hat

Things needed: white card, colouring pencils, sticky tape or stapler.

What to do: Cut a long strip of paper and fit it around your little persons head, get them to colour it in. Tape or staple together. Cut out another strip to go over the head, get your little person to colour this too. Measure this also and tape to the other strip. It will create almost a helmet look. Cut out a tail and a fin, again get your little person to colour this in also and attach the fin to the top strip and the tail to the back of the other strip. Now go and have fun playing games with the shark helmet.

Please if you find the credits for these images let me know so I can adjust.

Tips: I found that because my two are quite little and need some direction, I pre cut anything that needed to be cut and did an extra one so that I could do it with them and show them what I was doing. Make sure they are wearing smocks because inevitably the paint goes everywhere. My best advice is use the weekend to collect any items you need and have it all ready in a craft box for the week.

OUTDOORS:

Monday- Don't Fall in the Sea

Get some paper, card, placemats or cushions and place randomly over the floor. Make sure you place them so that with a small jump your little person can reach them. The idea of this is to get your little one to jump or step from one spot to the next one without falling in the sea. Best way to do this is play on their imagination. Tell them that the carpet, grass or tiles is the ocean and there are animals in there and the person that can jump from spot to spot without falling in the sea wins. This is a fabulous activity to work on your little persons balance.

Tuesday- Water Play

This can be a bucket, a water table, a bowl, the bath tub... It's a very simple one. Let them play.

Wednesday- Water Garden

I want my little ones to feel like they help in the garden because they really do love helping AND they love water. I just hook up the hose, put on their gardening shoes and our we go to water the garden.

Thursday- Bubbles

You can buy some of those bubble wands from a dollar store (or make up your own mixture - Google is fab) and sit in the yard with them and get them to catch the bubble.

Friday- Water Balloons

This one can be a little wet so pop some bathers on (and slip, slop and slap) and fill up a bucket with water balloons. Place them in the yard on the grass and get them to jump in the water balloons. Another idea for the older ones is to simply throw water balloons and the person that is the most dry wins.

 I hope these inspire you to have a little crafty, messy and totally memorable fun!

Keep smiling

Lauren

xxx