Lessons Learnt Journal » yarn

Squishy Worms Painting

Pauline — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:54:10 +0000

The rains have arrived in Sydney; a sure sign that Autumn is here. I take a deep breath of the crisp cool air as I savour the arrival of my favourite season. The rains have brought my sons delights of their own. The rains have beckoned worms to the surface. My preschool twin sons N&M poke at the worms with sticks. My toddler son E doesn’t bother finding a stick. He uses his fingers. Squishy worms; Bear Grylls, eat your heart out.

Materials
Yarn
Thin Acrylic Paint
Paper

Method

Dip the yarn into the paint to make some squishy worms.

Swish and wriggle the squishy worms around paper to make some squishy worm prints.

Experiment with different types of yarn.

Relish those squishy worms!

N & M: 3 years, 9 months
E: 1 year, 8 months

This post was shared with:
It’s Playtime

The post Squishy Worms Painting by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

Patty Pan Mobile

Pauline — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:19:37 +0000

Fine motor skills describes the way we use our hands and fingers. Having four children between the ages of 3 months and 3.5 years, I note the remarkable way fine motor skills develop as children grow. Making this patty pan mobile involves two fine motor skills activities: using a paper punch and threading. It’s great for: using both hands together; hand and finger strength; shoulder and elbow stability; in hand manipulation; pincer grasp; open-shut hand action.

Materials & Equipment:

Patty Pans
Hole Puncher
Yarn

Press the punch and make holes in the patty pans.

Move patty pans around to create lots of holes in the patty pans.

Thread patty pans onto a piece of yarn to make your mobile.

N & M: 3 years, 9 months

This post was shared with

For the Kids Fridays
It’s Playtime
Sharing Saturday
Kids Co-Op

The post Patty Pan Mobile by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

DIY Bubbles & Dancing Yarn Discovery Bottles

Pauline — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:56:13 +0000

I feel like a mad scientist. Glue gun in one hand. An assortment of curious fiddly things sprawled out before me. Empty bottles waiting to be filled with bold liquids. The creation of a new discovery (bottle) awaits! Eeeek!! Making these is so much fun.

Here are two new discovery bottles to add to our collection.

Bubbles Discovery Bottle:

Water
Dishwashing Liquid
Yellow powered tempera paint
Coloured matchsticks

Dancing Yarn Discovery Bottle:

Water
Coloured yarn
Coloured beads

Little E made up a tenpin bowling game. He lined up our discovery bottles, found a soft toy ball and in true Little E fashion (with much influence from his older twin brothers to be sure), he threw the soft toy ball at the bottles with all his might.

Because the ball was so soft and the bottles quite heavy, most remained standing. MUAH HA HA HA! Not for long! Reminiscent of the mighty Hulk, Little E got in amongst the bottles and whoosh! With a few swings of his little arms the bottles conceded victory to Little E.

Check out our other discovery bottles.

E: 1 year, 7 months

This post was shared with

It’s Playtime
Play Academy
Sunday Showcase

The post DIY Bubbles & Dancing Yarn Discovery Bottles by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

bird in a cage: mummy therapy

Pauline — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:38:23 +0000

Eager to provide a slimy opportunity, we kicked off the week making string birdcages. It sounded simple enough to make: blow up a balloon; wet string with glue mixture; wrap it around the balloon until it resembles a cage.

As with all our slimy activities, a tub of water was nearby for N & M to rinse their hands.

The tub of water makes the activity more bearable for them, but before I knew it, they were more interested in playing with the tub of water…

… and blowing bubbles.

I then started wrapping string around the balloon, hoping that they would follow my lead and continue with the craft. It worked for a few more minutes, but they soon returned to the tub of water and blowing bubbles. Oh well, at least they gave the slimy craft a good try and without complaints.

I consider the rest of the craft as mummy therapy. It’s so easy to forget craft is also fun and relaxing for adults. (I can get so absorbed in the world of kiddy crafts). I continued wrapping string around the balloons. It’s been awhile since I’ve done craft myself. I think I had too much fun with it because I wrapped too much string around the balloons!

I let the balloons dry for a day. Then cautiously, I deflated the balloons and took them out, leaving balls of string which were now my birdcages.

Then, using some black felt, I cut out silhouettes of nightingales. I sewed some thread to the silhouettes and attached it to the birdcages. I wished that I had not gone overboard with the amount of string I wrapped on the balloons, because the birds are hard to spot through the masses of yarn, but hey I was enjoying the moment.

Lesson learnt: mummies need craft time too.

N & M: 3 years and 4 months

Mummy: who’s counting?

This post was shared in the following linky parties:

No Time for Flash Cards Link & Learn

After School

Living Life Intentionally

It’s Playtime

The Nurture Store Play Academy

Kids Art Explorers: Yarn

The post bird in a cage: mummy therapy by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.