G is for... and B is for..

G is for garden.
We went to the Thanksgiving Point Gardens. We looked at the flowers for a little bit but spent most of our time in the children's garden. M* had lots o' fun hiding in the trees and running in and out of the bear cave.
G is for grow.
I found these at the dollar store you put them in water and then they grow. M* wasn't terribly impressed with the growing part but had lots of fun putting the beans in the water and then taking them back out.
G is for green.
We did a "green" scavenger hunt where we looked for things in the house that were green. M* decided about 10 mins into it that she was done finding green things and wanted to find pink things instead. What a girl.
G is for goat.
We also got a book from the library on goats and made a trip to the farm to look at them but of course we mostly looked at the bunnies instead.

Other things I wanted to do but we didn't get around to was make a giraffe puppet here are the instructions here, plant some flowers (garden), and make gingerbread men.


B is for balloon.
We did a couple things with balloons. The first thing was I hung balloons from the ceiling and let M* hit them with a bat. In the picture below though she had decided that the golf club was a better tool for the job. She was quite distracted by the static electricty. You will notice her small amount of hair is sticking up.
We also painted some balloons. It was a nice change to just painting on paper. I taped ours down onto bigger paper it was easier for her to paint and easy clean up for me. I also saw an idea on perpetual preschool that said to tape a few balloons (not full of air) to a dowel and let the child use it as a brush but we didn't try it so I don't know how well it works.

B is for bird.

We did some bird watching outside our complex. We live right by a canal so there is nice variety. We also took some bird seed out there and threw it out for them.

B is for bubble.

The library had a bubble party (this was my sole reason for doing b on the week we did). M* had lots of fun. We were going to try an activity at home where you tape a clear lid (like on a pringles can) to a flash light and catch the bubbles on it. It's supposed to make it easy to see all the colors in the bubble. I bought cans just for the occasion and threw them out without thinking about it.

Other things I had planned but we didn't have time to do were float some boats in the bath tub (you could make your own or just use a toy boat), and go bug hunting.

The Little Gym & Gymboree

Both of the mentioned above have a free class offer where you can go try their class out without any obligation to sign up, (of course they want you to sign up else they wouldn't offer it, lets not kid ourselves this is a marketing ploy).

We went to a trial class at both these places and we had a lot of fun. They both have tons of locations across the United States for kids of all ages.

Gymboree has a different theme every week. The theme for the class we went to was "on and off". So while we played with the equipment, balls, parachute, and bubbles the instructor emphasized "on and off". The pros about Gymboree is that they are just a bit cheaper than the little gym, they offer different types of classes (Ex: music, play and learn, art), and they have an open play that you can go to at certain times. The cons about Gymboree is I felt like we were just at an indoor play ground and was glad I hadn't actually paid for it because I can go to the park for free. Here is the website where you can schedule your free class www.gymboreeclasses.com

The Little Gym is different in that they let the kids play but they incorporate basic basic basic gymnastics. Rather than being an indoor playground it's pint size gymnastics equipment padded to the nines with fun little niches made everywhere. Which when I went I was thinking, what can they really teach my little girl who just learned how to walk but wow! they really do teach them some great stuff. And it's not like a gymnastics class with older kids where you stand in line and wait your turn to do something, your child gets to wander and then throughout the class your instructor shows you how to use the equipment and how to spot your child and let them do it when they are ready. They also do the group activities like bubbles, balls, parachutes, etc alternatively every week. Here is their website where you can schedule your free class
www.thelittlegym.com

I only compare the two because these are the only parent-child classes I could find in my area. We signed up with The Little Gym, I had every intention of signing up with Gymboree because they were cheaper but after going to their class it was obvious to me why it was cheaper. Different people like different things though so maybe Gymboree is for you. Even if you don't want to sign up for a class, the free class is still a nice 45 mins away from the house.

Feet-er Paint

We have been so excited for spring at our house. Unfortunately we thought it was here, unfortunately winter hasn't gone down without a fight, so we've been inside more than we would like. But we've done a couple fun things, this one is definitely the messiest-and the funnest (is funnest a word?).

Materials:
Butcher paper (I've been saving the paper they wrap your things in from Thai Pan for a while just for such an occasion)
Tape
Washable Finger Paint (I know it says washable but are you SURE it's washable?)

Tape the paper down to cover a spot or your whole kitchen floor. I would somehow barricade the carpet areas-our kitchen has a very small entrance so I just put a chair there so M* couldn't escape easily. I put the finger paint on plates but I think it would work even better if you just put it straight onto the paper. Let your kid go to town walking with the paint all over the paper. Towards the end she sat in some and then scooted down the paper, that was a riot, then we just painted with our fingers. Be sure when you are walking to keep fresh paint on your little ones feet because once it becomes a little dry little feet start to stick to the paper.

Alternative: Put on some music and dance whilst feet-er painting.

Just a tip have something to at least wash your feet off so that you can carry you and your child straight to the tub.

A Day on a Matteress

I hesitate putting this on here but it really is a great activity. I just took the bumpers off of our crib and thought it would be easier to pull the mattress all the way out to change the sheets without the big hinderence there. I was right it was easier, just in case you were wondering. My daughter thought the matteress on the floor was the COOLEST thing ever.

Materials:
Matteress on the floor
Pillows (I would say NOT optional but I suppose they really are optional)

Of course the first thing she did was jump up and down on it. I grabbed some pillows to put on the side once this started...safety first...I guess...maybe I should've put a helment on too.

Next she looked through many many books, while on the mattress.

All her stuffed toys were brought to the mattress given a bounce and laughed at as they fell dejected on the floor.

Then she stood on one end of the mattress and threw her doll to the other end. If it didn't make it off the mattress she stood where it landed and threw it off-I promise we didn't teach her that.

I was on one end and she was on the other and she would drive her car down on the mattress and then I would chase her back down the mattress with it. Bring on the giggles.

She was pretty upset when I put it back and I was worried she wasn't going to go to sleep on it now that she had found out its great playing potential but I guess once it was in the crib it wasn't cool anymore.

Children's Museum

A children's museum is a place where kids get to touch everything, perfect right? If you live near one take advantage of it! Check out this website to find a museum in your area.

www.childrensmuseums.org/vist/us_members.htm

Jumping Gym

Materials:
Couch Cushions
Pillows
Blankets
Mattress

You can make this as simple or complicated as you want. Our "gym" consists of our couch cushions stacked on top of each other and some pillows. I think M* likes crawling on the couch without cushions as much as she likes crawling on the cushions with no couch. Variation: Use the same materials to set up an obstacle course for your child to crawl through.