Transferring Fruit!

Drake loved transferring the Halloween erasers so while I was at the Target dollar spot...
... I saw these! They are so cute!! I thought the would be perfect for tongs. I bought three baskets(dollar each!). I bought two baskets of fruit and one basket of Veggies. For the activity I only used one set of fruit but used both baskets. For those of you who don't know about transferring with tongs: The idea is to use the tongs to transfer the fruit from one basket to the other. It is simple and yet they are practicing so many skills(strengthening hand muscles, concentration, empty vs. full, fruit identification, and colors!)

Here are the veggies and the other set of fruit

Me and Caden also played grocery store! More on that later but it was so fun!!

Birthday Chain

This is a classic! Caden and I sat down together during our alone time and wrote all of the things he was looking forward to about his birthday on to strips of paper. Balloons, cake, friends, Grandma and many others. Once they were all written out we worked on putting them into a pattern then into a chain! Caden is very excited to pull one off each day and talk about the exciting thing that is written on it! It also helps him see how much time is left till his Big Day!

DIY Spinny Speller

I made this "Spinny Speller" after seeing it at the Let's Explore Shop! If you can't make your own I recommend buying one. It is a great tool for learning the connection between sounding out letters and forming words.
If you want to make your own...
You need:
5 1in wood cubes
1- 4 1/2in long, 1/2in thick wooden dowel
A drill with a 1/4in bit and a a 5/16th in bit.

Step 1. Drill holes all the way through three blocks, dead center, with the 5/16th bit.
Step 2. Drill holes 1/3rd of the way in two of the blocks using the 1/4 in bit.
Step 3. Slip the three blocks on(they should spin freely)
Step 4. Use the two other blocks to cap the ends. Squeeze a drop of glue on before you put them on.
Step 4. Apply stickers or use a marker or paint or ink stamps? the letters I used were, MCBH AEOU GTDP

If you don't make one, I recommend buying one! Also there are a lot of other great things at the Let's Explore Shop.

What's Out Wednesday!

We have a new area this week!

The Dress Up Area!

Some of you might think that boys aren't into dress up as much as girls but they are(OK, maybe not as much but they are interested!). I think you just have to put out things that interest them. What we have out right now is; trick or treat bags, Halloween costumes, beads, a yellow purse(someone gave this to me with a plant in it and the boys think it is excellent for toting cars about!) cow boy hat, cowboy boots, and a basket with cell phones, keys, wallets, glasses and an old Ipod.

Table Toys

wood jar and stones for filling and spilling, card stock squares with sticker sheets, square nesting cups, ring sorting game(dollar store), puzzles, transferring Halloween erasers with tongs.

Floor Toys
Solar System floor puzzle(Caden is so interested in the planets, the Sun and the Moon so we are going to do more with them soon), stacking cubes, Drake's favorite Dinosaur(It was Nate's when he was a little boy:), shape sorter, and big foam blocks(they are finally into these!)

Sensory Tub

Tiny pumpkins(thank you Grandma) and black beans

Science and Discovery Table
...or what's left of it! The boys have had a ball carving this little pumpkin to bits!!

We also have out the good old wagons full of cars and a homemade cardboard ramp thing.

Halloween

...is not over!


So here are my 2 reasons for doing holiday themed activities.


1-It helps them understand and have fun with the Holiday and get excited for it to come.


2-Is to use the excitement of that holiday to help them practice skills.


Well, number one worked perfectly. The boys were very excited for Halloween. Number 2 worked well too but the boys weren't really sure what Halloween was! Now that they have experienced it they are so excited! So it would be silly to put it all away now! Not us! We are going to use that excitement to have all kinds of fun learning! Here's a little of what we've done today!

Writing with our new Pumpkin Pencil! Thank you Grandma!

Using our Halloween erasers for um...Counting:)

Mini Pumpkin Carving! (cheap! after Holloween!)

Making a pumpkin shape sorter! Caden loved this one!!

Dressing up in our costumes, with a few extra accessories!

Plus! You can get so many thing for so cheap after Halloween!

Need a Last Minute Costume???

I did!

I made these from old T-shirts of mine and Nate's! I put Nate's white shirt on Caden and cut two arm holes. Then I just cut jagged lines up and down. Paint his face white... Tada! He's a ghost!

For Drake I used an old black T-shirt. I cut up the front all the way to the collar without cutting the collar. Then I laid it out flat and cut it into a large triangle shape. Black pants, red shirt, and a little face make up...Tada, Dracula!

I also wanted to share this little activity I put together for our church party. I took a cardboard box and used dollar store napkins with ModPodge to cover the box. I filled the box with black beans oops...I mean spider eggs! They could hatch any minute so you had better search for your treat fast! There is a Mommy and Daddy spider standing guard:)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

Box Fun!

We bought a new bed and the boys are having so much fun with the box!! I'm sure we will think of things to do with it for days!