Awesome Activity for Under $1

1/2 New Sponge, 1/2C Water = focus, concentration and zero tv-time!

Just be sure to set up left to right so the transfer matches tracking for reading. Boom! Repeat as necessary. You can even leave it on a low shelf for future fun.

Simple Storage Ideas for Clean Up

There are a handful of issues that naturally come with having kids. One of those is clutter, aka junk, stuff, crap, toys, papers, gadgets, art supplies, trinkets, whatnots, legos, cars, bits, parts, pieces and everything else. You get what I’m saying, though, so here are my favorite ways to keep kids clutter to a minimum.

1. Easy-reach Shelf

Put a small wooden shelf in the kitchen, bedroom and/or nearby area. Choose between 6-8 items, games, activities and puzzles that your child can choose from. Rotate them regularly. Work together to keep items on trays, in boxes, in canisters, etc. Eventually, the kids will put things back themselves if they know to take out one activity at a time.

NOTE: if you have a two year old or younger, they love do dump the buckets and baskets (like you don’t know that already, I know!!) so be sure to choose items with few pieces that can easily be rounded up and re-shelved.

2. Plastic Drawers

I don’t like plastic BUT these things run about $20-30 at target/kmart (cheaper if you can scre them @ thrift stores/craigslist). They are easy to label and keep clean. Buy a few and find clever hiding spots for them such as under counters, in larger cabinets and in closets.

Label:

* paper
* art supplies
* crayons
* collage stuff
* etc.

Or accessories:

* hats
* socks
* gloves
* sports stuff (shin pads, cleats, etc.)

Then, you’ll know where to find what you are looking for…I have 5 of these around the house.

3. Storage Baskets

These work wonders for little parts and small collections of cars, trains, blocks, books, farm toys, and legos. They also hold tapes, cds, small stuffed animals, blankies, baby items and everything else. Find funky ones or earthy toned baskets at hardware stores, ikea, christmas tree shop, cost plus- wherever. Then, sit down and sort all the toys by type or theme.

4. Wall-Mounts & Metal Magnet Strips

These are awesome and you can put them by the front door, office space, kitchen walls, etc. Get one wall strip for each kid and use them to keep VIP (papers) readily at hand. Here’s an AWESOME DIY idea…

Here’s a great article that highlights a Wall-mounted Command Center, which can easily be used for kid papers, items, folders, artwork, etc. Wall mounting manila folders can be used to keep things like schedules, menus, newsletters, etc. organized. See this AWESOME from the article:

OTHER OPTIONS FOR WALL MOUNTED ORGANIZERS
…………………………………………………………………….

* Staples sells mesh in boxes in all shapes and sizes. (http://www.staples.com)
* The mesh wall bureau from City Living is more compact than a rail system. (http://www.citylivingstores.com)
* Living Comforts – wooden in boxes have two sections, clear dividers and a key holder. (http://www.livingcomforts.com)
* Ergo’s ultra-modern wall mounted system includes a mail sorter and a hanging file folder. (http://www.ergoindemand.com)
* Pottery Barn’s stylish daily system offers white boards, calendars, corkboards and file holders that can be mixed and matched. (http://www.potterybarn.com)
* The pocket-strip wall organizer by See Jane Work holds everything from calculators to clipboards. (http://www.seejanework.com)
* The Container Store’s silver mesh mail sorter works like an in box. (http://www.containerstore.com)
* Don’t limit yourself to office organization products: Organize.com’s wall mounted kitchen products can be used for office supplies, as can IKEA’s Forjoha cabinets and Bygel cutlery caddy. (http://www.ikea.com)

5. Letterboxes

You can also find these at marshals, tj maxx, etc. These are great for smaller puzzle storage (see labels on outside, so you can stack them!), school work, paperwork, games, activities (stamps, cards, photos, magazine clippings, etc.), and just about anything else you want to keep organized and within reach. There are also larger art storage boxes that hold those pesky puzzles.

Good Luck.

Salt Letters: Cheap Entertainment, Great Education

Easy and Educational Infant Activity: Baby Basket

This is a simple exploration activity. The coolest thing about it is that you can whip it up in five minutes and your baby will have a ton of fun. It is educational and explorative.

Practical Tip: Pack a Mini-SizedTravel Basket for Restaurants, Visits and Outings

Appealing for Infants 6-12 months.

DISCLAIMER: You must sit with your infant and supervise while he or she explores. Also, please CLEAN and disinfect all dirty items and replace anything that comes loose, soiled, broken, splintered. This is a great real-life experience and requires real-life common sense. Good luck!

Adapted from NAMC Infant Montessori Curriculum.

WHAT YOU NEED

A sturdy Basket. Plastic isn’t as exciting to handle so anything with texture that won’t splinter when held and put into the mouth.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

Gather ten-twenty items from around the house.

Make sure they are NOT plastic toys!

Items should vary in texture, color, weight, scent, material

Items May Include:

* Wooden clothpegs (not the pinchy kind)
* Tea strainer
* Bag with zipper (old clean makeup bag)
* Wooden Beads tied on a thick string
* Tennis ball
* Wooden spoon
* Clean (new) all natural sponge (or make-up sponge)
* Small brush
* Bell (on a string or a bike bell)
* Scarf
* Socks
* Curlers with rough texture
* Silver cuff bracelet or other shiny items from around the house
* Safe mirror
* Rattle
* Large food items like a gourd
* Hand towel
* Wash cloth
* Whatever you have in junk draweres that is child-safe but unusual in terms of texture, weight, color, etc.

Boredom Buster: 8 Different Playdough Recipes

Hey moms! Get into the mood and make some old school playdough! Nothing says “I’m a goldstar mommy” more than knowing a handful of playdough recipes off the top of your head. These are from the Creative Curriculum for Infants & Toddlers.

Cloud Dough

• 6c flour
• 1c oil
• water to bind +/- 1c

knead together
will be oily
store in airtight container

Homemade Plasticine (soft)

• 2 c flour
• 1c salt
• 1.5 c warm water
• 2 tbs oil

mix.
form into balls
store on open shelf- no container needed

“Beginner’s Playdough”

• 3 c flour
• 1c salt
• 1 tbs oil
• 1c water

mix.
store in container

Tempura Paint for One

• 2oz. water
• 1tbs dried tempera (whatever that is)
• 3 drops dish detergent

mix in an old jar/car. store w/lid.

Moist Modeling Clay

• 1.5cups flower
• 1.5c warm water
• 1c salt
• 2tbs oil

mix.
form into a ball.
store in a rinsed ziploc
place in aplastic bag, let out air, gather @ top

GOOP

• 3c corn starch
• 2c warm water

hard in the air. liquid in the hand. wierd

Baker’s Clay

• 4c flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1.5c water

mix. shape into a ball. store airtight container.

Paintable Playdough
2 c corn starch
1c baking soda
1c water

mix together.
cook over medium heat.
stir until it forms a ball.
allow to cool, knead.
store in plastic wrap.

NOW WHAT?
These can make your dough balls more fun…

• food coloring
• sculpt
• mold
• cut “snakes” with scissors
• roll, pound with mallets, cut with butter knife
• stick pipe cleaners in
• print with golf balls, textures items, cars
• collage paper etc to it.