Let's Start Planting

Today we started our spring theme.  We started out by making a book about how to plant seeds and then we planted some seeds.

Here’s what you’ll need: 8 planter shaped pieces of paper, glue, colored pencils and directions for planting seeds.

Color the directions for planting the seeds.

Glue the directions onto the planter shaped construction paper.

Our completed book- “How to Plant a Seed.”

After we finished our book we planted some grass.

Hailey scooped some dirt into a cup.

Then she added some grass seed to the cup.  We are going to watch the seeds and take pictures of the process.

Fall Activities

Our theme for the month of October is fall.  So, last week we did some fall related activities.

We started out by going to see some real pumpkins.

Hailey looking for the perfect pumpkin.

Hailey looking around at a (somewhat empty) pumpkin patch.

We also looked outside when we went on our walk and while playing in the back yard for some leaves.

Hailey finding some leaves to add to her collection.

Then we made a leaf collage.

Here’s what you’ll need: your leaf collection, contact paper, scissors and tape.

Put the contact paper onto the table, sticky side up.  I added some tape to the sides to tape it down to the table so that it wouldn’t pull up every time Hailey’s arm brushed it.  Then add your leaves to the contact paper.

After you finish adding leaves, put another piece of contact paper sticky side down on top of the piece of contact paper with the leaves on it.  Put them together so that the sticky sides are touching, this will hold your collage together.

Then we did a fall painting:

Here’s what you’ll need: paint, paper, and some fall related items- we used a pine cone and a leaf.

Hailey painting with the pine cone.

We had another fall related activity, but it also relates to our shape and color so I am saving it for tomorrow.

Homemade Wrapping Paper

I haven’t posted in a few days because we took a nice weekend getaway to visit with family.  I’ll be posting about it on my Livin’ With Me blog soon, so check there if you’d like to see what we were up to.

Last week was my nephews birthday so I decided to have Hailey make some wrapping paper to use to wrap up his present.

Here’s what you’ll need: bubbles, bubble wands, clothespins, bowls, food coloring and a large piece of paper (not in this picture).

We did this project outside and used the clothespins to pin the paper up to our fence.  If you do this inside, be sure to protect the floor where you stand to do it as it will stain your floor.

Pour four dishes of bubbles and then add food coloring to the dishes.   This will stain your skin and clothes, so be sure to dress in old clothes.

Stir the food coloring into the bubbles.

Blow the bubbles onto your paper.  As they pop they will leave color on the paper.  It was a little bit windy out when we did this and so the bubbles kept missing the paper.  But we had a blast anyways.

The finished paper.

Painting That Won't Make a Mess

Does your toddler or preschooler love to paint?  I think that painting is probably one of Hailey’s favorite activities.  But, there are some days when I don’t really feel like dealing with the mess that usually accompanies painting.  So, something that is just as much fun to a toddler or preschooler that doesn’t create a big mess of paint is painting with water.  On a warm day go outside and give your child a bucket of water and a paint brush.  Allow your child to “paint” the sidewalk, patio, deck, driveway, etc.  The only mess that might be created is a little water on your child’s clothes- which is fine for a warm day anyways.

Tags: free toddler activities, painting with toddlers, painting with water