Our New Sandbox

My kids have begun to play together. Their favorite spot: T's new sandbox that Papa made her for her birthday. I absolutely LOVE watching them play together.







Of course, my head began turning with more play ideas...
T and I created a little jungle world for her Lion King toys. (With a few Disney princesses thrown into the mix.)


We even dug a long hole in the middle of the sandbox for a river. We both took turns using the hose to fill it up.





For some more ideas on how to expand on your typical sandbox play:

- Add some ramps to the sandbox as seen over at Happy Hooligans.
- Or do like Jenny at Let the Children Play did and add some sort of divider with holes and have different levels and spaces to play in.

Photo of the Week

summer time = bare feet

Boxes

So, I was just about to write my new post this morning but before I did, I read this over at Let the Children Play. (One of my favorite blogs, btw.)

Ummm... that is EXACTLY what I was going to post about today. Ha! Great minds think alike, right? :-)

Anyway, I love boxes. Mainly because of how much children love boxes. I will always keep boxes around the house before reusing them for something else or recycling. Kids never seem to tire of them.


And.. I've begun introducing baby L to them as well.


This kept him entertained for quite some time actually. This photo was taken a couple weeks ago though; now he is on the move and probably wouldn't stay sitting in that box for long these days.

Want more ideas on how to reuse your boxes?

Another D&G post - A Cardboard Home
Tinker Lab has 24 inspirational ideas - Cardboard Box Challenge
And, over at the wonderful, The Imagination Tree - Cardboard Box Town, Cardboard Play Tunnel, and A Discovery Box.

A New Tea Set

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." ~Robert Fulghum

Photo of the Week

T's Garden

More Shaving Cream

I just read a great article over at Toddler Times that discusses the benefits of sensory art for young children; here. It also mentions an article from Early Childhood News that explains how sensory explorations help young children learn through cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical, and creative development, along with some sensory ideas to do with your child.

I admit to having a soft spot for anything that gives young children fun sensory experiences. This is why I love to use shaving cream a LOT.

I invited my niece over to enjoy in another sensory exploration activity I had.

I set out food coloring, filled a bucket full of shaving cream, put them in their swimsuits and set it all into the bathtub. Then, they went to town.


It's always more fun with a friend.


And, they really got into it.


T asked to do this again a few days ago but I haven't picked up more shaving cream at the store yet. (It's on the grocery list though.)

I do have to warn that it got really slippery in the bathtub. But, it was SO easy to clean up. I actually was able to clean the entire bathtub afterwards.

Sometimes, I feel like maybe I overdo it with my activity ideas. Or it's just another crazy idea from aunt Jacquie. But, I really am just a strong believer that a child needs to be allowed to get messy. I firmly want to encourage this with my children.

T's Book Review

What could be a better book recommendation than straight from a 4-year old?

What library book was your favorite?
Room on the Broom

Why is it your favorite?
That's cause the witch loses her bow and her wand and her hat.

What happens in this story?
The broom snapped to two pieces and she found her wand. And that's it.















Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

This book contains a generous witch, repetitive rhyming, and helpful animals. I enjoyed reading this book to T.


Other favorites last month include:
The Growing Story by Ruth Krauss
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen
Emily and Daisy by Elsa Beskow
Bella the birthday party by Mandy Stanley


Also, I've begun to participate in The Imagination Tree's: 5-a-day-books. Every Monday, other bloggers post books that they are reading and enjoying. If interested in finding more great books to read to your children, head on over there on Mondays. I have a link in the right side bar to it as well.