Exploring Textures with Playdough

I love playdough.  I love the texture of it.  I love the creations. I even love the smell (am I weird?)  But what I love most about playdough is the educational benefits.  Playdough is probably the number one way to play to strengthen those small muscles in little fingers.  While they are molding and smooshing and manipulating the playdough, those little finger muscles are getting a workout.  And strong finger muscles are needed to hold a pencil properly and control it and write.  Who knew playdough was so amazing, right?

Today, we explored playdough and pasta (lions and tigers and bears oh my!).  We rolled the pasta across making ridges and made flower or gear impressions by pressing the end of the pasta into the playdough.

Phew!  That was a mighty good workout!

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Makin Monsters

 Wanna make some crazy monsters or creatures or maybe aliens?

 Super easy. Super fun. Give your kiddo a glob of playdough, some straws, pasta, googly eyes, and other materials you have on hand.

 Let them poke poke poke away, adding whatever they like. I had fun making one, too. Playdough is therapeutic, I think.

What will you make today?

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Two Hedgehogs - a tale of sibling rivalry

Once upon a time, two princesses aged 4.5 years and 21 months shared a playroom. The sisters mostly got along, but sometimes the younger princess got in the other one's last nerve.

The youngest princess wanted everything the older princess had. Everything. And if she didn't get it, oh my it was a royal tantrum that scared away the fiercest Dragon or biggest giant.

What's a nanny to do?

Well, when possible, encourage sharing and turn taking. Sometimes, I even set a timer to say when time is up. When possible, I have 2 of the most loved toys, but that could get expensive.  It all boils down to sometimes princesses scream and throw fits. Sometimes there is only one royal hedgehog. Sometimes, it doesn't seem like "just a phase", but it is. (until they become teenage princesses and fight over royal t-sshirts, ball gowns, and glass slippers, but that is another Grimm fairytale).

Teaching patience is difficult. It's a difficult concept for adults to learn in modern day I have to have in insta-now. But in the end, Cinderella had wait for her Fairygod Mother. Snow White had to wait on the Prince's kiss. Rapunzel had to wait on her hair to grow.  Patience is worth it.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Straw Necklace Update

Our straw necklaces turned Put super cute with this orange polka dotted ribbon that we had left over from another project. Miracle of miracles, we had just enough ribbon for BOTH necklaces! Simple and easy easy project.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Whimsical Garden Play Mat

This whimsical garden playscape play mat is now on etsy.  www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

There are so many ways to play with this wool felt play mat is all hand stitched. Each playscape takes me about 6 to 8 hours to complete.  This one hosts a large rainbow garden, a hollow log that toys can actually pass through, a meandering path, grasses, teeny tiny mushrooms, and more.  It's just waiting for a child's imagination.

Have a fun and playful day.
Mel

Straw Necklaces

This morning, we practiced some scissor skills by cutting up these happy color straws.

After nap, we are going to string them into ribbon to make necklaces - which is good small muscle exercise.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Chick Days

We live in the city.  Well, not the city city.  But close. What I mean is, if we want the farm experience, we have to drive a ways.  I mean like 30-45 minutes.  I saw a sign saying "Chick Days" and pulled right in.

It was a farm supply kind of store and they has hundreds of these baby chicks chirping, cheeping away.  They were sooo cute and fluffy.  We loved them.

Lots of questions followed.  Why is that light in there?  Where do they get their food?  Why are they all huddled together?

Who knew an impromptu stop would be so educational?  Never know when a learning opportunity will pop up.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel