Playdough pizza

Kids get creative with playdough at Make and Play. This activity is wonderful for hand skills and spatial awareness too. Will you make your own pizza or make one together?

Exploring Light, Shadow and Reflection

Brilliant scientific discovery of light

Storytelling Cards

 

Handmade inspiration for telling stories.
Make and Play

Rainy Day play ideas: indoor picnic

Amusing children on rainy days can be a challenge. I like to keep some toys packed away and bring them out so they seem more special just like we do with the special crockery when guests come over! (Does anybody really do this anymore?)
Well strangely enough one of these packed away toys in my cupboard is a miniature porcelain tea set that I bring out for a teddy bear's picnic on rainy days.

MATERIALS:

WORD FOR WEDNESDAY

The first Word for Wednesday was Imagination and my favourite was from Bowerbird Blue  Imagination and Goodbye Holidays at Bowerbird Blue
                         

What will be today's word?                    OUTDOORS

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."  John Muir, 1913

MEANING: out·doors   taking place, existing, or intended for use in the open air out·doors also out-of-doors

adv. In or into the open; outside: walking outdoors for fresh air.

n.

1. The open air.

2. An area away from human settlements.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

Noun

1.

outdoors - where the air is unconfined; "he wanted to get outdoors a little"; "the concert was held in the open air"; "camping in the open" open air, out-of-doors, open exterior, outside - the region that is outside of something

If you would like to join in please post your outdoor play post's url in the comments and it will be added to this post. Simple?

WORD FOR WEDNESDAY

imagination

noun.

1. a. The formation of a mental image of something that is neither perceived as real nor present to the senses.

b. The mental image so formed.

c. The ability or tendency to form such images.

2. The ability to confront and deal with reality by using the creative power of the mind; resourcefulness: handled the problems with great imagination.

3. A traditional or widely held belief or opinion.

4. Archaic

a. An unrealistic idea or notion; a fancy.

b. A plan or scheme.

Please join in the first inaugural Word for Wednesday here at Play Ideas.

Maybe you have previously done a post about imagination or maybe you would like to do one.

Leave your url so I can post your links here, over the week:

imagination

imagination in pretend play at eath sky sea child

Imagination and Goodbye Holidays at Bowerbird Blue

RIP Steve Jobs

REFERENCE: The Free Dictionary

Why every home should have a blackboard.

So writing on a blackboard is fun, yeah? And it allows creativity in a different, freer way 'cause we can just wipe it off when we are finished or if we don't like it or want to try again. But as far as development is concerned there is so much happening:

• fine motor skills
• learning correct finger grip
• getting ready for writing
• handedness - or learning which will be my preferred hand
•  control of back and arm muscles develops in an upright, standing  position
• colour recognition - that each chalk is different is the beginning of this discrimination
• visual memory and imagination

HANDY HINTS FOR GROWN UPS
Scribbling develops the mind so don't rush ahead and show them 'how' to draw.
They may not look like things to you but from about 2 years of age they are to the child.

Of course the bigger the blackboard the better but if you only have space for a free standing one make sure it is sturdy and won't wobble or tip over. If you have space consider painting a wall with blackboard paint

Don't forget, when the children aren't using it, you can use the chalkboard for family messages, happy sayings or a shopping list.

You can get chalkboard paint here
There is a great array of easels to choose from

Dress ups

Don't throw away your Christmas tinsel as it makes great head dresses and leis, bracelets and anklets which make you feel like a different person.