Mommy School Days: Matching Letters

This Mommy School Days was from last week, but I am a bit behind on blogging. I saw part of this idea on the internet...I apologize, I can't find the link. I went further with the idea by making it a "board game". I Google searched for a blank board game, and conveniently, I found one with 26 spaces. It was perfect for our alphabet Lightning McQueen racing game. I found some Lightning McQueen pictures, as well as a finish racing flag to add to our game board, and the basics were down. We just used one of Bug's Lightning McQueen Drifter characters for a game piece. I laminated the game board, and then wrote all the letters (this time not in correct order) with a dry erase marker.

The idea that I know I saw on the internet somewhere was the part where we matched uppercase letters to lowercase letters by putting wheels on a paper car. I found a Lightning McQueen profile image and cut it out, leaving the wheels off. In a Word Document, I cropped the wheels from the car image and pasted it 52 times. On each wheel, one of the 26 letters was typed on it, in both uppercase and lowercase. I cut them out and again, I laminated them so we could use this game again. The next part of the game was to get Bug to give his car wheels, by finding the capital letter and it's corresponding little letter that the next game board space had written on it. When he matched it correctly, he would then be able to move forward onto that space. This is a video of one of Bug's turns.

 

Bug did really well with this, and we added sound effects each time he correctly matched the letters...this just created some more fun for the learning game. At the end of the game, he got a little prize, which consisted of some Lightning McQueen coloring pages, stickers and notebook (from Dollarama).

The after part of the game gave us another hour of enjoyment, where he coloured Mater, Lightning McQueen and decorated them with the little stickers. All in all, this cost me about $5, and Bug enjoyed it immensely!

Word Document Link for Post

The Beauty of Us Created by Our Characteristics and Influences

Before I get into the craft that we made about a week ago, I started a Facebook group where I will be posting when a new post has been uploaded. I will also post a Word Document version for the Mommies out there who have wanted me to provide an easy printable version to store for later activities with their little ones. CLICK HERE for the link.

Now, back to our craft activity. I am constantly trying to teach Bug about the differences between individuals, and how we should always be accepting of everyone's unique traits. I'm also encouraging Bug to look at everyone with the acknowledgement that everyone is beautifully shaped by their different characteristics and influences in their lives.

I made 7 toothpick flags of characteristics that can be different among individuals. They were looks, family life, obstacles people face, individual abilities, beliefs, culture and friends. We spoke about each one and I gave Bug some examples of each to explain how these can affect who we are and who we become. I told him that all of these combined create unique people, who are wonderful and beautiful individuals; and how even if some things aren't the same in Bug's life, it doesn't change the importance of each person.

After those were made, I took a pie baking dish that was lightly greased and got Bug to pour in white glue (I bought a 3 pack of small glue bottles from Dollarama for $1 and we poured all 3 in).

Once all the glue was in the dish, Bug then proceeded to drip coloured paint into the pan.

Once the template for our art project was done, we took our toothpick characteristics and got to work. He would choose a flag, and I would quickly explain again what each one meant (these examples included simple things like the colour of the person's hair or skin, to someone who is blind or missing a limb, to kids who wear cultural attire and even kids who live with only one parent). Then he would dip the tip of the toothpick into the glue concoction and start swirling it around.

We weren't done until we worked through each of our flags. This was the final piece when we were done with the swirling.

After, I set it aside and let it dry. This took days to dry. The glue started lifting up around the edges when it was really starting to dry and before I peeled it all the way out, the glue become almost translucent. Once you could peel the whole piece out, it was still pretty soft so I let it lay flat for a couple of more days out of the pan. When it was completely dry, you could hold it up by the edge and it didn't fold in on itself. Which is the point I wanted it to be at as we made a wall ornament out of it. I am a perfectionist, so after it was 100% dry, I cut away the rough edges. I then hole punched it and put a ribbon through it to hang it on our wall. Bug loved how it morphed into something solid he could hold.

We made a few of them, just to show Bug that everyone was different but equally beautiful. This is the one he wanted to put on display in our house.



Word Document Link for Post

Mommy School Days: Science Fun

Bug is in awe of anything new and when something reacts or changes in a way he wasn't expecting. So I ran with his zest for experimentation by planning a science day. This is probably one of the best days we have done. It didn't really cost anything, as I had mostly everything here. We already had a lab coat, but this is not necessary for this day to pan out. And the glasses we used to create the stereotypical scientist look were 3D glasses from a movie theatre, with the eye pieces taken out. Once everything was set up, Bug got dressed in his gear and we set off for some experimentation.

Our first experiment was probably the coolest we did. I got a paper plate and filled the bottom of it with milk. Then I got bug to pour some food colouring into the milk. Once all the colour was poured in, Bug took a q-tip dipped in dish soap and quickly touched the area with food colouring. What happened was so crazy...the milk, food colouring and soap reaction was for lack of a better word, magical! haha...honestly. There really are no words to explain it, so check out these two videos: Part 1 and Part 2

Seriously...it was so pretty!

The next experiment was putting an egg in hot water. This was one of the experiment ideas I got after a search for small child friendly science experiments. I was expecting this to be better than it was, but Bug liked it. Essentially, you ask them if there are holes in the shell of the egg, and obviously, he said no. But when put into hot water, little bubbles start leaving the egg. I was expecting way more than the 3 areas of bubbles (maybe my water wasn't hot enough). Anyway, Bug was still pretty thrilled with using his magnifying glass to look at the little bubbles floating to the surface of the water.

After, we did the typical oil and water experiment. I put both liquids in a container with a lid, so Bug could enjoy shaking it up and trying to mix them. Then he closely watched as the oil separated from the water.

Our fourth experiment was dancing raisins. I bought a bottle of Sprite and poured that into a clear container. Then I got Bug to drop the raisins into the liquid. This was probably our second favourite experiment. They literally would sink to the bottom, and then float right back up...only to do it all over again. I think the experiment lasted about 15 minutes before they stayed at the bottom of the container. Bug actually started trying to dance like the raisins...super cute!  Check out this video of these dancing raisins.

And we couldn't have a science day without doing the vinegar and baking soda experiment. We added a bit of old Jello mix we had in our cupboard to add colour to the vinegar in the container. Then Bug would drop a spoonful of baking soda into the liquid. He was a bit startled (in a good way), with the first drop of baking soda as the reaction happens immediately. But he kept wanting to do it again and again! He loved this!

Our second last experiment wasn't really an experiment but was 100% science related. I prompted Bug by asking him if our fingers had tiny little spiral lines on the tip. He, of course said no, so there was definite excitement when he took his magnifying glass to look at our stamped fingerprints.

Our last experiment was brought on by Bug's love for helping out in the kitchen when we are cooking. I thought it would be fun to show him how ice melts to water and water boils to vapour. We quickly spoke about each phase of water, then I got Bug to place a bunch of ice cubes in a pot on the stove.

He turned into a very goofy boy while we waited for the ice cubes to melt!

He was pretty excited when he looked over and there were no ice cubes left...

And he was thrilled when the steam started coming off the water.

So that was our science day. Bug loved it!! And I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a quick photo with my little scientist!

Word Document Link for Post 

Pour Painting on Canvas

This was a quick but super fun craft that I did with Bug. We are working on Christmas presents, and this was perfect for a few of the VDV galleries that exist with our extended family. It didn't cost too much...I bought canvases at Michaels when they were on sale, and 6 different coloured paints that were $0.99 each. I think each canvas was just over $5.00 each.

I set up a piece of paper on the floor and then on the wall where I was going to set the canvas against (I love painting and such, but figured splattered paint on my walls and hardwood floors would be a bit excessive). Then I laid the canvas against the working area and gave Bug his paints. I showed him first how to drizzle the paint over the top edge and then just let him have free range.

Bug loved this. It held his attention and each canvas was really quick so he didn't get bored. It was very simple for my 4 year old and he loved watching the paint drip down. He thought the final piece was beautiful!!

I think I have to agree. This was so fun and the final art piece is so bright and wonderful.

Word Document Link for Post

Crafting with My Bug

As I've said before, I'm a crafty person; so it's no surprise that doing crafts with my children, especially Bug is an easy outlet for quality time for me. Seeing as Halloween is coming up, and this year, I have planned a Halloween party for the boys and their little buddies, we are making Halloween crafts that will be on display during our extravaganza. So throughout October, we are making Halloween items...which is a fun way to build anticipation and excitement for this Fall event as well as instil a sense of pride for my boy(s) as their art pieces will be on display for all to see.

Our first craft was a door wreath. I purchased most of my items from Michaels, and utilized the coupons, so it wasn't too expensive. The wreath base was found in the floral section. There are foam ones (which surprisingly were more expensive), and then there was this flat wooden one. We used that one as we weren't using any fake flowers and we didn't need the dimension of the foam one. I bought the multi-pack bag of googly eyes, again with the coupon. The 4 different kinds of ribbon were all on sale. I bought the foam Halloween items from Dollarama, as well as the gauze. I already had a glue gun and glue sticks, but those can be purchased for pretty cheap at Michaels.

Obviously, this craft was VERY adult supervised and I had a huge part in the ribbon wrapping. But I let Bug use the glue gun and place the dollops of glue where I needed them. When it came time for the decorating, Bug chose the items and where they were to be placed on the wreath.

 He was very proud of the finished product and he said it was "very beautiful"!

It will be the first thing our ghoulish friends will see when they come to our house for the Halloween party, as it is proudly displayed on our front door!

A friend of mine recently asked if there was anyway I can make a printable version of my blog posts so she could print her favourites off and save them for when her daughter was older. I figured out how. Click the link below.
Word Document File for Post

Mommy School Days: Doctor Bug and Learning 911

So this past week, I've been talking to Bug about how our weekly activities were now going to be indoors. I told him that Camp Mommy was over for the year, as it's too cold to be outside but he can name our new fun day. He called it Mommy School Days, which is perfect because while we are inside, I really want to focus on learning and activities that remind him of school (as my little Big Boy is now a preschooler).

On our first Mommy School Day, we utilized the ultra cute scrubs and stethoscope I purchased for Bug a while ago. It was definitely an unnecessary purchase, and one you wouldn't have to buy in order to make this activity come to life. I just couldn't talk myself out of buying these for him, as Mommy has her own pair(s) too for work. He was pretty excited to be dressed like Mommy and he asked if we were going to go see my working friends (that's what he calls it when I go to work).

From Dollarama, I purchased a roll of brown craft paper. It is something you can purchase from Staples as well. I cut out a piece long enough for Bug's body, and then taped the edges to the floor. Then I got Bug to lay on it, and I traced his body. This was quite humorous as Bug kept saying I was tickling him. After I gave Bug a marker and we went through all the parts of the body, labelling them appropriately, giving Bug lots of writing practice. He is getting so good at writing...I'm so proud of him! His (kind of) creepy body tracing is hanging in his room right now, and he keeps talking about it. We will do this again in the future, but start talking about organs. I'm one proud Respiratory Therapist mommy as my Bug already knows about lungs, what they do and where they are in the body.

To complete our Doctor imaginative play, I thought this would be a good opportunity to introduce the idea of what to do if there was an emergency at home, especially with Mommy or Daddy. We spoke about 911 and then got his toy Ambulance, as well as some of his little toy people to play out scenarios. Bug really enjoyed this, especially when he got to pretend one of his characters fell down out of the blue and he needed the ambulance. I gave him the actual phone so that if he ever had to call 911, he would know how to do it on the real cordless. I was very diligent with hitting end call before it even connected, but I wanted Bug to know that in order to call 911, he would have to hit the big Talk button on our cordless. Here is a link to a video of our 911 scenario.

We finished off our day with cuddles in Bug's bed, with his best Stuffed buddy Dreyfus (an adorable, fluffy dog). He took his play stethoscope, and listened to my heart (which apparently wasn't beating) and then to Dreyfus' chest, who had a heart beat...oh dear! haha.

 

Word Document Link for Post